Meet your Air Raid Warden!

Meet your Air Raid Warden!

World War II

Small, thin, double-sided leaflet outlining procedures for air raids

U.S. Government Printing Office

1941

F.H. La Guardia, U.S, Director of Civilian Defense

Pamphlet

English

Ravi Hughes and Valerie Flores

1

Good, slight fading and tears at the bottom of the pamphlet. One stain on front side in the middle right side of the pamphlet as well as on the back side on the middle left side.

These pamphlets would have been distributed to communities in order to prepare people for possible air raids during World War II. The pamphlet outlines the best procedures to follow in the case of an air raid as well as tips for people to be prepared.

World War II

1941

1940s

Thin, fragile paper pamphlet

U.S. Government Printing Office

English

FRONT: Read and save this leaflet; it may save your life some day! MEET YOUR AIR RAID WARDEN! Your Air Raid Warden brings you this leaflet so you may know what he or she can do to help you protect yourself in case of air raids. Your Warden is your friend. Welcome him get to know him. He has some advice for you on which your life may depend! Do these things when the Air Raid Warden calls: 1. Have him meet every member of your family. 2. Tell him where you are to be found when you are away from home where you work. 3. Tell him about any member of the household who is ill or handi-capped. Tell him about all small children. 4. Show him the room you intend to use as a refuge room, ask his suggestions for fitting it up. Follow them he knows! 5. Ask him what are the official air raid warning signals, the official "all clear," for your community. 6. Show him your attic or garret, ask his suggestions for protecting it against incendiary bombs. Also garages or outbuildings. 7. Show him where gas and electric shut-off switches are, in all buildings. 8. Ask him to point out good shelter in the neighborhood, should you be caught outdoors in a raid sometime. 9. Answer his questions trust him; he is a sworn public official, and must know in order to protect you. 10. Carry out his suggestions for storing emergency water, sand, etc., cheerfully and promptly. 11. Ask him how you can help, where you should go to volunteer your services. Calm, strong, able people are needed for volunteer service. Do your part. Remember what your Air Raid Warden's name is, what he looks like, where he is to be found. He is your best friend in an emergency. He can protect you and help you to do your share in defeating the Japs, Nazis, or any other enemy! BACK: Read and save this leaflet; it may save your life some day! Should an air raid come to your community, you can do your part while protecting yourself. Remember these six simple rules: 1. Keep calm and cool. 2. Stay home. 3. Put out lights. 4. Lie down. 5. Stay away from windows.' 6. Don't telephone. Don't run--walk. Don't scream--be quiet. Don't crowd into public places. If the raid starts when you are away from home, lie down under shelter. Keep your mouth open by rolling your handkerchief and putting it between your teeth. Put your hands over your ears. Protect the back of your head. Don't look up. In the house, go into your refuge room and close the door. Make yourself comfortable. Relax. If bombs fall near you, lie down. A good place is under a table with sturdy legs, or a strong couch turned upside down. Keep away from windows. Don't look out. Put out all lights you cannot closely screen, so no light reaches the street--the light that's out or covered tight will never guide a Jap! Revised instructions: Make no attempt to shut off the main gas valve. Simply turn off the stove burners that are lit, not the pilot light. If the house is badly damaged, the main gas valve should be shut off. Once the main valve is turned off, for any reason, do not turn it on again yourself. Call for a trained man. Your local gas company is working out further detailed directions with your local defense council. Watch for these instructions, then follow them. If an incendiary hits your house, go put it out with a spray (never a stream, jet, or splash) of water. It will burn out rapidly under a fine water spray- a splash or stream makes it scatter molten metal. When it is out, go back to shelter. The chance your home will be hit is very small. Keep cool. Stay off the streets. Again we say keep cool! Appoint one member of the family for your home warden to remember all rules. Mother makes the best! Stay quiet indoors or under shelter till the "all clear" sounds. Don't believe wild rumors. Don't crowd. Don't scream. Don't telephone. Don't start disorder or panic. Do what the Air Raid Warden tells you to do. Be strong, be calm, be orderly. Lick the aggressors everyone can help. Do your share!