The Nuclear War Survival Book
The information in each of the following chapters comes from a book titled The Nuclear War Survival Book. (To read each chapter, click on the associated link on the right side of this window. To learn more about what each chapter contains, read the Table of Contents at the end of this page.)
According to its author, this book was "written for the majority of Americans who want to improve their chances of surviving a nuclear war."
Those portions of this book which are part of the revised version are copyrighted. However, the remainder of the book is public domain having been written by a government employee at the time of its writing. Thus, to fulfill the author's intent, this book is provided in full, with a few exceptions. Reformatting to fit into an HTML format has been done, and so too has some light editing to fix minor errors (mostly typographical or grammatical). In addition, the book's original page number references have been removed to prevent confusion. Also, the original copy of this book that I received did not save with the figures in tact. Consequently, I have initially put this book out here without the graphics, but will be researching and adding them if I can find them, and as time permits.
Even if you don't believe a nulear attack on the United State is ever likely, you should still consider reading this. In today's world, we Americans are probably more likely to feel the effects of nuclear fallout as the result of one small third-world country attacking another, than of a direct attack on America by any major power (particularly since the downfall of the Soviet Union). However, if nuclear explosions occur anywhere on this globe, we can all suffer the consequences. Those of us who are prepared will still be around to talk about it later.
Even if you don't choose to read this book for you and your family's safety from nuclear fallout, at the very least, the projects in it can be great Boy Scout/Girl Scout projects.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 - The Dangers from Nuclear Weapons: Myths and Facts
- Chapter 2 - Psychological Preparations
- Chapter 3 - Warnings and Communications
- Chapter 4 - Evacuation
- Chapter 5 - Shelter, the Greatest Need
- Chapter 6 - Ventilation and Cooling of Shelters
- Chapter 7 - Protection Against Fires and Carbon Monoxide
- Chapter 8 - Water
- Chapter 9 - (Missing from my copy. I'm trying to find it.)
- Chapter 10 - Fallout Radiation Meters
- Chapter 11 - Light
- Chapter 12 - Shelter Sanitation and Preventive Medicine
- Chapter 13 - Surviving Without Doctors
- Chapter 14 - Expedient Shelter Furnishings
- Chapter 15 - Improvised Clothing and Protective Items
- Chapter 16 - Minimum Pre-Crisis Preparations
- Chapter 17 - Permanent Family Fallout Shelters for Dual Use
- Chapter 18 - Trans-Pacific Fallout
- Appendix A - Instructions for Six Expedient Fallout Shelters
- Appendix B - How to Make and Use a Homemade Shelter-Ventilating Pump: the KAP
- Appendix C - A Homemade Fallout Meter: the KFM--How to Make and Use It
- Appendix D - Expedient Blast Shelters
- Appendix E - How to Make and Use a Homemade Plywood Double-Action Piston Pump and Filter
- Appendix F - Means for Providing Improved Natural Ventilation and Daylight to a Shelter with an Emergency Exit
- Index