Name ivil Defense at School During the height of the Cold War, there were many drills, routines, film strips and pamphlets designed to help citizens survive a nuclear attack. What were some of these things, and who designed them? President Harry Truman created the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) in 1950 in an effort to help the nation prepare for the possibility of a nuclear attack. The FCDA did many things throughout the 1950s and ‘6os to help people maintain a level of awareness. ‘There were many efforts undertaken, largely focusing on schools and educating children about proper procedures. Home Economics classes taught girls what items should be included in a fallout shelter. Comic books were even created Children “ducking and cover and distributed to school children that promoted nuclear safety. turing an air raid dvi, Probably the most famous effort to educate children eame through the use of “Bert the Turtle”. Bert was an animated turtle who appeared in film strips promoting the “duck and cover" safety strategy. Bert instructed that, in the event of a nuclear attack, first, one was supposed to “duck” out of the way to protect from flying debris and then “cover” your head and body to prevent burns and serious cuts. The films were accompanied by a catchy song that many could still sing years later. Schools took other measures as well. Many districts began practicing weekly air raid drills that utilized a similar “duck and cover” method. When the students heard the ‘warning siren, they were instructed to hide under their desks to protect their heads from falling objects. Other school districts took even more extreme measures. Some went as far as purchasing identification bracelets for all of their students. This was to make it easier to identify victims in case of a major attack. ‘These precautions and many others serve as a reminder of just how frightening it might have been to have lived during the Cold War era, Reading Through History { }Name, Defense at Home Schools were not the only place where the Federal Civil Defense Administration was attempting to make people safe. Outside of school, they were also trying to help the general population understand what steps they could take to be safer. How did the FCDA try to accomplish this task? ‘There were many different steps taken by the FCDA. Brochures, films and radio segments all focused on “what to do” in the event of a nuclear attack. The FCDA also distributed millions of instruction manuals and handbooks, such as “How to Survive an Atomic Bomb”. Most of these manuals were optimistic in nature and stressed that the most important thing was “to stay calm and not panic” The FCDA encouraged women to take the lead in civil defense in many different ways. Women were taught that good housekeeping was one of the first steps in preventing fires. They also received tips on how to stock a first aid kit and medical tags, how to prepare a shelter ina basement, and how to recognize the different types of air raid sirens. ‘The FCDA even began a program known as “Grandma's Pantry” in which it was recommended. that all homes keep a supply of at Jeast two weeks of non-perishable food in their pantry. The name of the program was to remind everyone of a simpler time when “Grandma always had enough food in her house to protect the family from any natural disaster.” ‘Women also frequently served as “block wardens” throughout the 1950s and ‘60s. A block ‘warden was supposed to organize families (usually about 25 to 30 families), so that the neighborhood would have a coordinated plan in case of an attack. ‘The FCDA often referred to block wardens as “the backbone of civil defense”. Aside from block wardens, there were other volunteer positions as well, such as fire wardens, rescue wardens, first aid wardens, evacuation wardens, and communications wardens. Some citizens also volunteered for the important position of “spotter” for the US Air Force. These ‘were civilians who were trained to watch the skies and keep an eye out for enemy aircraft. ‘These and many other measures helped the average citizen feel more secure during the troubled times of the Cold War era. Reading Through History