During this time they would need certain supplies and equipment in order to stay alive and well, and to cope with emergency situations that might occur in their shelters.

This chapter tells you what supplies and equipment to take with you if you go to a public fallout shelter, and what items you should keep on hand if you plan to use a family fallout shelter at home.

WHAT TO TAKE TO A PUBLIC FALLOUT SHELTER

To augment the supply of food and liquids usually found in large buildings, most public fallout shelters are stocked—­and others are being stocked—­with emergency supplies.  These include water containers, emergency food rations, sanitation items, basic medical supplies, and instruments to measure the radiation given off by fallout particles.

If the public shelter you will use in a time of attack contains these or other emergency supplies, you should plan to take with you only these additional items: 

—­Special medicines or foods required by members of your family, such as insulin, heart tablets, dietetic food or baby food.

—­A blanket for each family member.

—­A battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and extra batteries.

If the public shelter you are going to does not contain emergency supplies, you should take with you all the above items, plus as much potable liquids (water, fruit and vegetable juices, etc.) and ready-to-eat food as you can carry to the shelter.

STOCKS FOR A HOME SHELTER

If you intend to use a home fallout shelter, you should gather together now all the things you and your family would need for 2 weeks, even though you probably wouldn’t have to remain inside shelter for that entire period.

All these items need not be stocked in your home shelter area.  They can be stored elsewhere in or around your house, as long as you could find them easily and move them to your shelter area quickly in a time of emergency.

* THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES.  There are a few things you must have.  They are water, food, sanitation supplies, and any special medicines or foods needed by family members such as insulin, heart tablets, dietetic food and baby food.

* THE COMPLETE LIST. In addition to the absolute necessities, there are other important items.  Some of them may be needed to save lives.  At the least, they will be helpful to you.  Here is a list of all major items—­both essential and desirable.

WATER.  This is even more important than food.  Enough water should be available to give each person at least one quart per day for 14 days.  Store it in plastic containers, or in bottles or cans.  All should have tight stoppers.  Part of your water supply might be “trapped” water in the pipes of your home plumbing system, and part of it might be in the form of bottled or canned beverages, fruit or vegetable juices, or milk.  A water-purifying agent (either water-purifying tablets, or 2 percent tincture of iodine, or a liquid chlorine household bleach) should also be stored, in case you need to purify any cloudy or “suspicious” water that may contain bacteria.