Householder's Guide to Survival in Nuclear War

[ColumboHere]

This was the title of a booklet printed by a local uk council and dropped through household letterboxes in 1980.

Would anyone be interested in their advice? Here is the intro:

"This booklet has been prepared in response to public demand for information about the effects on civilians of nuclear war. Readers will have widely differing opinions on the moral and other issues associated with the use of nuclear weapons and preparations for defence against a nuclear war. However, the fact remains that the County has a statutory duty to make plans to deal with a nuclear attack on the country, no matter how remote the possibility of a catastrophe may be.

From the following pages it will be seen that there is no truth in the rumour that "there is nothing we can do - we will all be dead anyway". Indeed scientific advice is that 60% of the population would survive a serious nuclear attack on this country - if action suggested here is taken in time.

It is hoped that this little booklet will be useful to those who wish to know what they can do on a self help basis. It is in no way intended to cause alarm or to indicate that the County considers that nuclear war is imminent."

It then goes on the detail what the householder should do to maximise their 60% chance of survival.

I kept the booklet as I thought it might be of historical interest one day.

[bellinisurge]

Hi , I have an old Protect and Survive which I presume says the same kind of thing. Grim reading but interesting.

[catsofa]

I've got a few books and things about this. Lots of people just think they wouldn't want to survive, but there are plenty of scenarios other than a direct hit.

If a bomb goes off anywhere in the world we'll all be glued to the tv watching reports of where in the world they think the wind is going to take the fallout, it'll be far too late then to start educating ourselves about what fallout is and how to protect ourselves from it. We should all have at least a vague working knowledge.

There are more and bigger nukes in the world now than there ever were in the 1980s.

[maxig]

Hi

Would it be possible for you to scan and email me a copy of this as I am stage manager for a play called when the wind blows and this is mention in that.

many thanks Maxine

[maxig]

Hi

Would it be possible for you to scan and email me a copy of this as I am stage manager for a play called when the wind blows and this booklet is mentioned in the play.

Many thanks Maxine

[cozietoesie]

I wouldn't bother. (Sorry, catsofa.)

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Realistically, few houses have basements/cellars these days which is a fairly big issue...makes me think preparation for this may be somewhat futile.

[Akire]

I remember this booklet vaguely from being a small child. Basically told you to stick a coat over your head if outside and to all climb under the table which you covered with doors and the like and you lived there! None of which would have helped I imagine

[cozietoesie]

'Historical interest' is about right. Although - to be fair for once - what else could they have issued?