Atomic Blast Preparedness

These first few images are a series of photos taken in Los Angeles in the early 1950s showing how to "survive" an atomic blast. The last few images are just miscellaneous goodies from Los Angeles about an atmoic attack.

All photos from the UCLA Library collection Changing Times: Los Angeles in Photographs, 1920-1990.



UNEXPECTED-- An atomic bomb (presuming United States and Russia reached state of open war) could explode above and behind you without warning. Lora Elliot and Lyle Bettger, Paramount studio actors, demonstrate



FLASH--First indication of an atomic air burst is a sudden and tremendous increase in the general illumination. First natural reaction to overcome is a tendency to look at the light source. Here the couple resist impulse to look at deadly ray



TIME TO RUN--After 10 seconds the couple rise and look quickly for better cover against flying wreckage. These pedestrians dash around corner into a doorway



PROTECTION--They drop instantly to the ground, covering as much of body as possible against searing rays. Coat thrown over face will help. Air blast which causes wreckage arrives some seconds after instantaneous light flash



JUST AFTER--Whirling away from window, she drops to floor and huddles under her desk, thus obtaining protection from light rays and flying glass. She remains beneath the protection of desk for a least a minute



Atom bomb drill at school in Los Angeles, Calif., circa 1951



Charles Caudle using puppets and props for lecture on the do's and don'ts during an atomic bomb attack in Los Angeles, Calif., circa 1951



Three women standing before Alert America (civil defense) posters in Los Angeles, Calif., 1952