RADIATION SAFE HAVEN, 1950'S STYLE Public Deposited
The E-Sylum: Volume 5, Number 9, February 24, 2002, Article 8
RADIATION SAFE HAVEN, 1950'S STYLE
Tom Fort adds: "Please let everyone know that according to
AAA there is a safe place to store your valuables, including
your books, to protect them against possible radiation
damage -- your car. The following editorial is from the
October, 1951 edition of The Pittsburgh Automobilist:Are Atomic Bombs Coming? Then Stay in Your Car
Your automobile is one of the safest places to escape
contamination after an atomic attack, said E.C. Timmermann,
Jr., Secretary-Manager of the Automobile Club of Pittsburgh,
AAA."Atomic bursts on or near the ground usually leave a limited
area of heavy and often dangerous pollution near the explosion
point," as the AAA official, who based his information on
advice from the U.S. Civil Defense Administration.People in the contaminated area should take refuge inside a
house or get into a car and roll up the windows, he said.
It may be necessary to stay undercover for as long as three
or four hours."Car owners are advised by Civil Defense authorities not
to leave the family car parked on the street during or after
an atomic attack, because the way should be left clear for
emergency vehicles," Mr. Timmerman said. "Keep the
windows rolled up to prevent contamination of the interior
by ground or underwater bursts. Radioactivity will not
interfere with the operation of car fuel and ignition systems,
nor will it otherwise impair the operation of the car."The Club official said the battery-operated car radios
may provide a vital connecting link between civilians and
emergency authorities during and after an attack. Therefore,
motorists should leave their auto radios on, in order to
receive instructions."There, now all the book dealers who travel from show to
show will know that their stock is safe from the evil designs
of Saddam Hussein."- 2002-02-24
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