Your gas mask : how to keep it and how to use it masking your windows / issued from the Lord Privy Seal's Office.

Date:
1939
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Your gas mask : how to keep it and how to use it masking your windows / issued from the Lord Privy Seal's Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    NEVER TRY TO LIFT THE MASK OFF UPWARDS OR BY PULLING THE CONTAINER OR THE EDGE OF THE RUBBER AT THE CHIN. To prevent the window from misting over when the mask is worn, wet the end of a finger and rub it on a piece of toilet soap. Then rub the finger all over the inside of the window so as to leave a thin film of soap. PUTTING YOUR MASK AWAY After the mask has been used you will find that it is wet on the inside with moisture from the breath. This should be wiped off with a soft dry cloth and the mask allowed to dry before it is put away in its box. Do not try to dry it by applying heat. The contents of the container do not deteriorate either with age or with wearing the mask when gas is not present. But if you suspect any flaw in your gas mask you should inform your local air raid warden. It is a good thing to get out your gas mask occasionally and put it on, so as to get used to wearing it, and if you take the simple precautions set out above you will ensure that it is always ready for your protection. MASKING YOUR WINDOWS In war, one of our great protections against the dangers of air attack after nightfall would be the “ black-out.’’ On the outbreak of hostilities all external lights and street lighting would be totally extinguished so as to give hostile aircraft no indication as to their whereabouts. But this will not be fully effective unless you do your * part, and see to it that no lighting in the house where you live is visible from the outside. The motto for safety will be “* Keep it dark !”’ Every occupier of rooms, house or flat would be responsible for darkening his own lights. Lights in the halls or on the staircases of blocks of flats or dwellings would be the responsibility of the landlord or owner. Of course, the most convenient way of shutting in the light ts to use close fitting blinds. These can be of any thick, dark coloured material such as dark blue or black or dark green glazed Holland, Lancaster or Italian Cloth. If you cannot manage this, you could obscure your windows by fixing up sheets of black paper or thick dark brown paper mounted. on battens.