Last-Minute Fallout Protection

Post this in your home for use if needed. For Advance preparation more complete plans are available
from your county Extension Office or county Civil Defense Office.
When You First Hear That Nuclear Attack Is Underway:
1.	Keep listening to the radio to learn when fallout is expected to arrive in your area.
Shelter is especially important during the first few days after fallout arrives.
2.	If you do not have a special-built shelter, pick your best place and make it better. A basement corner, a walled-off basement area, or a storm cellar can usually be improved quickly to provide adequate protection.
3.	In general, the greater the weight of the material between you and the fallout dust the greater will he your protection.
Basements:
When entirely below ground level, over-head protection is all the extra protection that is needed.
If partially exposed, some additional side protection will also be needed.
The additional weight needed can usually be provided by material equal in weight to 4" of sand or a row of bricks placed on their side.
4.	A strong table, work bench, or inside doors from your house will support bricks, canned goods, containers of water, dirt or anything that provides weight.
5.	Homes without basements would not provide enough protection except in case of very light fallout. People with such homes should plan to seek shelter elsewhere—a public shelter or a basement shelter of a friend.
6.	Laundry tubs and the washing machine provide likely storage spaces for water. The water heater and toilet tank are sources of useable water. Be prepared to disinfect water by boiling for 3 minutes or using 16 drops of liquid chlorine laundry bleach or tincture of iodine for each gallon of water. These methods do NOT remove radioactivity.
7. In addition to SHELTER, WATER and RADIO, it would be desirable to have the following items readily available. If time permits, take them to the shelter area before fallout arrives. If not, plan carefully to avoid unnecessary exposure when and if it becomes necessary to obtain any of them.
food	toilet articles	supply of newspapers	large covered container for	human waste disposal
can opener	special medicines	plastic and paper bags	flashlights and extra batteries
paper towels	suitable clothing	bedding or sleeping bags	candles, matches, lanterns
disinfectant	civil defense manuals eating and cooking utensils	first-aid supplies and books
8.	Stay in your shelter until you are informed that it is safe to leave.
A permanent shelter which has a dual use—such as a	doors, sawhorses and heavy materials. Below right is a
snack bar in the basement—would be best. Free plans for	lean-to basement shelter improvement. This frame should
permanent and last minute shelter improvements, are	be built ahead of time. Filler material can be sand, bricks,
available from your State Civil Defense Office. Below left	concrete blocks or other heavy material,
is an example of basement protection improvised using
Cover entire table for improvised fallout shelter.
lean-to fallout shelter Improvement.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University, and U. S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating, H. G. Diesslin, Director, Lafayette, Indiana. Issued in furtherance of the acts of May 8, and June 30, 1914.