Fall Out Room

ANYTHING THAT KEEPS
OFF THE SUN’S HEAT WILL
HELP TO GIVE
PROTECTION AGAINST
THE HEAT OF A NUCLEAR BOMB.
A PAINTED SURFACE,
THE SHADOW OF THINGS
THE PROTECTION GIVEN BY CLOTHING DEPENDS ON THE DISTANCE FROM THE EXPLOSION.
THE CHANCES OF ESCAPING SERIOUS BURNS ARE INCREASED
BY WEARING HAT AND GLOVES AND SLACKS OR TROUSERS.
WHO HAD ON WHITE COTTON DRESSED WITH A DARKER PATTERN,
SUFFERED BURNS ONLY BENEATH THE PATTERN.
THE SKIN UNDER THE WHITE MATERIAL ESCAPED.
THIS WAS BECAUSE WHITE OR LIGHT-COLORED
REFLECTS HEAT WHILE DARK ABSORBS IT.
COLOUR APART, WOLLEN CLOTHES
WOULD BE LESS LIKELY
TO CATCH FIRE THAN COTTON.
IF CLOTHING DID CATCH FIRE AND THERE WAS NO TIME
THE BEST WAY TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES
WOULD BE TO ROLL OVER AND OVER ON THE GROUND.
WOULD GIVE FULL PROTECTION
AGAINST THIS DANGER,
AND A FEW MINUTES WARNING
OF THE FULL ATTACK WOULD GIVE PEOPLE TIME
TO TAKE COVER.
IF THEY HAD NOT HEARD A WARNING,
PEOPLE AT A DISTANCE
WHO TOOK COVER EVEN
A FEW SECONDS AFTER THE EXPLOSION
OF A HYDROGEN BOMB
WOULD ESCAPE SOME OF THE HEAT.