Politics & Governance / Domestic Politics / National Security & Intelligence

Nuclear Attack & Natural Disasters: What 1968's Secret Survival Manual Reveals

U.S. Office of Civil Defense

In 1968, the U.S. government released a classified citizen's handbook on surviving nuclear attacks and natural disasters. This video breaks down the shocking truths from that manual: radioactive fallout is not contagious, the best defense is mass shielding (4 inches of concrete equals 14 inches of books), and common mistakes like barricading basements during floods can actually destroy your home. We cover life-saving facts for earthquakes, blizzards, and nuclear fallout—plus the right way to administer first aid, from artificial respiration for infants to avoiding burns treatments that worsen injuries. Watch to learn the counterintuitive survival rules that could save millions of lives. Author: U.S. Office of Civil Defense.