Radioactive Fallout and Shelter (U.S. Public Health Service and U.S. Office of Civil Defense, 1965)

Film focuses on what ordinary people should do to protect and medically treat themselves in the event of exposure to radioactive fallout, if there are no trained medical personnel available to help. Using animation, the film examines "what happens when a nuclear weapon is exploded near Earth." From blast and heat to initial radiation to residual radiation, and depending on one's distance from the blast and length of time of exposure, effects can range from mild to fatal. Radioactive fallout consists of particles of gamma ray radiation, which is extremely penetrating and destructive to living cells. However, canned or packaged food is safe to eat if you wash or wipe away the particles on the packaging. The extent to which building materials can be penetrated is explored. Symptoms of radiation sickness and how to treat them are described. The film urges viewers never to try to diagnose whether or not someone has fallen ill because of radiation, but simply to address the symptoms, which may include fatigue and nausea. Tea and rest are recommended. Best of all is to seek shelter and avoid fallout.
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#medicalhistory #radioactive #nuclearweapon

[@rosalindr4975]

I was taught in the 1970’s to look for the fallout shelter signs.
& haha, we had drills where we’d crouch under our desks. Never made sense.
Get iodine tablets unless you have a thyroid problem like me.

[@flxmkr]

Yep! I had that drill in kindergarten. I stayed up at my table coloring my picture while everyone was on the floor, covering their heads like idiots. Teacher kept telling me to get down on the floor. I wasn't a genius. But even at the tender age of five, I knew if a bomb was to drop on our building, no amount of head covering was going to save us, and I had a purple dog to finish coloring, dang it!
The iodine tablets were to purify the contaminated water. 🙂

[@tiaperkins8649]

that's what the fuck I was thinking. wtf

[@lindathrall5133]

I SURE DO REMEMBER THESE SIGNS NEVER FORGOT THEM

[@carla-tg1qp]

Randomly flicking through relaxation videos to help my anxiety...thanks

[@jezz_tat2]

How fitting. Especially right now

[@carla-tg1qp]

Yeah your in a blocked out protected room and the radioactive fallout is flowing into his ear 👂 emmmmm

[@g0stface23]

Umm