The protection of your home against air raids / Home Office.

Date:
1938
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The protection of your home against air raids / Home Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    How to deal with an incendiary bomb You can tackle a small incendiary bomb yourself (better if you have someone to help you) if you will follow these directions.. You will also be able to get proper instruction about it. The bomb will burn fiercely for a minute or so, throwing out burning sparks, and afterwards less fiercely. It will set fire to: anything inflammable within reach. You should try to deal with it before it has caused a big fire. Before you can get close enough to do anything, you will probably have to cool down the room with water, preferably with a line of hose. (See page 20 for a simple hand pump.) There are two ways of dealing with the bomb itself. I It can be controlled by means of the Stirrup Hand Pump. (see page 20), with a spray of water which, although it does. not extinguish the bomb, makes it burn out quickly and. helps to prevent the fire spreading. Water must not be used on a bomb in any other way. 2 If it has fallen where you can get at it, it can be smothered with dry sand or earth. A bucket full of sand or earth is enough to cover and control a small bomb. The best- method of applying it is by the Redhill sand container and scoop (see page 19); but a bucket will do if you have a. long-handled shovel to use with it. Immediately the bomb is smothered, shovel or Scoop it: into the sand container or bucket and take it out of doors. If a bucket is used, 2 or 3 inches of sand or earth must be kept in the bottom to prevent the bomb burning through. Remember that the bomb might burn through the floor before you have had time to remove it, and you might have to continue. to deal with it on the floor below. ACT PROMPTLY. PROMPT ACTION MAY BE THE MEANS OF SAVING LIVES. PROMPT ACTION WILL SAVE PROPERTY. PROMPT ACTION WILL PREVENT SERIOUS DAMAGE. PROMPT ACTION WILL DEFEAT THE OBJECT OF THE RAID.