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 If you know you have time when an alert sounds, be sure to shut the doors and windows and pull down the shades. This will help keep out fire sparks.

If you have shutters or venetian blinds, or heavy drapes, they will also provide some protection against harm from flying glass.

Several other household precautions should be taken promptly. Atomic bombs set off high above ground seldom cause breaks in underground gas or water mains. However, shaking and twisting of the buildings by the blast wave sometimes snaps

off household inlets at the point where they enter the basement. This may allow gas or oil to flow into your cellar.

To lessen the danger of fires and explosions that could result from this leakage, you should throw the electric switch that shuts off your oil burner.

Your local utility companies can give you detailed instructions about your gas, pilot lights, and so on.

If you have a coal-burning furnace or wood stove, be sure to close all its fuel and draft doors. In other words, do all you can to prevent sparks and to put out or cover open flames.

Should attack come without warning, take these same precautions right after the raid. Keep at least one flashlight handy and don't strike a match to light your way down into a darkened basement. Gas or oil fumes

may be present and an explosion could result. Rh