Civil defense

And so the training for becoming emergency manager, becoming an emergency manager, um, is kind of in a process of evolving right now.

Um, the profession dates back to the Civil Defense era in the 1950s.

Um, but it's really since the 19- late 1970s, early 1980s that we have kind of emergency managers as we think of them today.

Um, historically, most of our emergency managers have come from more of a military background.

I think it's a great thing that you're taking the youth and giving them this discipline, this military training.

But now this latest initiative by the Prime Minister of the Civil Defence, again, you see, because you have to do it.

And it's a good idea to do it because you have the youth bulge, you have the dividend.

I mean, it's like, let's say, another way of scaling up the NCC of your early olden days.

oh, oh, O'Reilly!

section one of in time of emergency this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org in time of emergency a citizen's handbook on nuclear attack natural disasters by united states office of civil defense introduction a major emergency affecting a large number of people may occur any time and anywhere it may be a peacetime disaster such as a flood tornado fire hurricane blizzard or earthquake it could be an enemy nuclear attack on the united states in any type of general disaster lives can be saved if people are prepared for the emergency and know what actions to take when it occurs with the aid of federal and state governments cities and counties in all parts of the country are developing their local civil defense systems the fallout shelters supporting equipment and emergency plans needed to reduce the loss of life from an enemy attack while these local government systems have been set up mainly as safeguards against nuclear attack they have saved lives and relieved suffering in many major peacetime disasters people have been warned of impending storms and similar dangers told how to protect themselves sheltered from the elements fed and clothed treated for injury and illness and given help in resuming their normal lives experience has shown that as cities counties and towns develop their systems to preserve life under nuclear attack conditions they also become better prepared to deal effectively with peacetime disasters in cooperation with the u s office of civil defense and the states many local governments are improving their civil defense systems by preparing community shelter plans these plans include instructions to local citizens on what to do in the event of a nuclear attack this handbook in time of emergency contains basic general information on both nuclear attack and major natural disasters this general guidance supplements the specific instructions issued by local governments since special conditions may exist in some communities the local instructions may be slightly different from this general guidance in those cases the local instructions should be followed part one is concerned with nuclear attack and basic actions to take part two discusses preparations and emergency actions that will help individuals cope with major natural disasters floods hurricanes tornadoes winter storms and earthquakes in addition to following the advice given in this handbook and the instructions of their local governments people can prepare themselves better to meet any major disaster by taking training courses to develop their emergency skills especially recommended are these courses Personal and Family Survival, 12-hour course, a basic orientation course in civil defense, which also tells people how to improve their protection against the effects of a nuclear attack.

Medical Self-Help, 16-hour course, how to care for the sick and injured if a doctor or nurse is not available.

First Aid, courses of various lengths, how to help the sick and injured until professional medical assistance is obtained.

care of the sick and injured twelve hour course how to care for patients after they have received professional medical treatment information on these free courses which are given in most communities is available from local civil defense offices county agricultural extension agents local public health departments or american red cross chapters Special advice for rural families on emergency actions related to crops and livestock is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

End of Section 1.

Section 2 of In Time of Emergency, A Citizen's Handbook on Nuclear Attack, Natural Disasters by United States Office of Civil Defense.

This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

The outbreak of World War II again rattled the nation, and this time it was not just men who fought.

Thomas's own daughter volunteered in the Civil Defense Service, manning air raid sirens during blitz.

The war saw the rapid advancement of technology, including the development of radar and code-breaking at Bletchley Park.

Thomas learned that intelligence could decide battles as easily as artillery.