WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BIOLOGICAL WARFARE
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Year Published: 1951
Format: 16mm
Description: "What You Should Know About Biological Warfare" is a short black-and-white film produced by the United States Office Of Civil Defense. The 1951 educational film was meant to be a public service announcements meant to educate the populace on the steps to take in the event of a biological attack from our Cold War enemies. The film opens with a montage of scenes from farmland to bustling cities as the narrator explains how in the event of war, our enemies may try to disable our people or our production no matter where. Although we may be attacked with a traditional bomb we may also be attacked by other means, and at mark 01:14 we see clips of shadowy men wearing fedoras spraying aerosolized substances into air shafts and pouring unknown yet suspicious-looking liquids into rivers are interspersed with information on washing contaminated food and clothes, on the necessities of mass inoculation, and on the voluntary provision of blood samples. Starting at mark 02:12 the film explains three types of biological warfare: germs, toxins, and plant growth regulators, followed by additional information on what to do in the event of an actual attack. As various "worst case scenarios" are shown, the narrator remarks at mark 07:22, "Above all, don't listen to scare talk, rumor, or myths …. We can successfully combat biological warfare!"
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Transcription
[Music] as a nation we are justly proud of our resources the people who produce our food the towns and cities where they live in event of war enemies may attempt to destroy or disable our people and our production by striking directly at the civilian population denied the products of our farms and factories we could not wage war on any front we can be attacked in spite of our excellent offensive attacks may be made in many ways with bombs or with biological weapon this might be one form of biological warfare it could make people think so they couldn't work that's what it actually does but you may have heard the new poison one ounce can kill all the people in the United States germ warfare can wipe out an entire city nothing could be further from the truth biological warfare what do they expect me to do about it it's not my headache you're raw you had better find out the facts about biological warfare or BW it can be aimed at you in your home or at work at your food rot your livestock biological weapons can be divided into three groups germs toxins and plant growth regulators some germs cause cholera others cause typhoid fever plague in such diseases toxins are special poisons produced by other germs they do the harm in diseases like food poisoning and diphtheria special plant growth regulators can destroy food crops just as weed killer can destroy weeds the public health nurse and the many other members of our public health system and infighting nature's biological attacks for years we have proved that our health and medical systems check the spread of infectious diseases our livestock and crops are guarded by a nationwide network of federal state and local agencies and experts government regulations assure the purity of many food products but BW attacks can be made in spite of our health safety scissors aerosols containing disease germs should be used these aerosols could be spread over large areas submarines could release aerosols near coastal cities specially designed germ carrying bombs should be dropped enemy agents could contaminate the city water supply how can we protect ourselves from BW attacks keep yourself and your family clean don't help germs by making things easy for them germs have trouble living in clean places enroll in a Red Cross home nursing court then if sickness does come to your home you will know what to do always report sickness promptly and dr. Mary's temperature is over oven good morning here's the news civil defense headquarters announced today that the sharp increase in the number of cases of illness during the last few days have led authorities to suspect that a biological warfare attack may have taken place as yet the cause of this outbreak has not been identified civil defense health authorities recommend that you should take the following precaution if such an announcement is made in your city don't give way to fear just remember that scientists would already be working to control the outbreak probably some of the people in your neighborhood would become sick reports of the disease would start pouring into health and medical authority the number and location of cases would be plotted on a map of the area scientists would go to work immediately to identify the cause of the disease meanwhile the outbreak would take on a definite pattern there are important things you can do in your home you are told a biological warfare attack has taken place be careful what you eat and drink and bottle goods are safe let's scrub them before opening packaged foods in cupboards and refrigerators are probably not contaminated oil or cook all exposed food before eating water used for drinking or washing after an attack must be bored wash all contaminated garments thoroughly to remove germs or toxin if your doctor recommends sending a member of your family to the hospital cooperate [Music] local health and medical authorities would distribute instructions so that the outbreak of the disease could be control follow their instructions closely if you are called upon for a blood sample don't hesitate to give blood samples would be extremely important in helping the scientists identify the germs or poison [Music] health and medical authorities would identify the cause of the disease as soon as possible the recovery of those already sick would be speeded up with the use of modern drug mass inoculations might be necessary to keep the disease from spreading this would require the cooperation of everyone remembers VW attacks can be made against food crops livestock and people our health and medical systems are the foundations of our defense against biological warfare our food supply is guarded by a nationwide network of federal state and local agencies of experts if we are attacked with biological warfare health and medical authorities will tell you what to do so that the disease could be brought under control cooperate with the authority above all don't listen to scare Jacques rumors or miss get a copy of this official booklet at the first opportunity read it and remember it do your part and we can successfully combat biological warfare [Music]
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