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Filmedia Corp.What to Do in a Gas Attack (1942)

Explains what war gas is, how it is used by the enemy, and how simple household items, such as bicarbonate of soda and bleaching solution, may be used to prevent casualties.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Filmedia Corp.
Sponsor: N/A
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: World War II: Gas; Chemical warfare; Civil defense

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Spuzz - - September 10, 2005
Subject: There's a naked man on the porch!!
Interesting film here, as IÃÂve never seen or heard anything about the threat of a gas attack during the war until now. Much like the nuclear bomb, this apparently threatened middle America and thus the authorities made this film to tell you what you should do!!

Again we have the usual, ÃÂkeep windows closed!ÃÂ take off any infected clothes! (we see a man strip to his skivvies on his front porch lol) bathe bathe bathe! Among the oddities? It says to make a baking soda - water convocation ÃÂin advanceÃÂ and to ÃÂkeep it handyÃÂ for any eye emergency, Make sure you have an Enema bag handy too!

Make sure you wash out your nose too.

Highly highly weird and silly, this is highly recommended

Reviewer: Shyranis - - April 22, 2005
Subject: Mustard Gas and Showering
Water is NOT a good idea when attacked by Mustard Gas. Mustard gas gets STRONGER and becomes a POWERFUL ACID when it comes in contact with water. In the first World War, Mustard gas was used frequently. Until the point that both sides has developed true gas masks, the Canadian troops jury rigged masks out of cloth and thier own urine (chemicals in urine keep the gas out. Smells awful though). Water or anything else with the rag would not prevent injury and in fact (in the case of water) would cause the gas to burn your skin in contact with it much quicker (and if it was only a rag or if you were unprotected alltogether, made little difference.) the water in your lungs would turn it into a horribly caustic substance in your lungs. Resulting in almost quaranteed death for the lucky ones.

That being said, a very telling film about big brother's advice you'll never use and are probably better off not listening to in the first place.

Reviewer: Chuck B - - March 9, 2003
Subject: What a Gas
Actually...the advice is still relevant today. The only part I would take out would be the advice to use chlorine on your skin...that is not a good thing. Of course, the chances of someone spraying your community with mustard agents is pretty slim. But, if it did happen to me I would sure hop in the shower. I wonder if they have an anthrax film?

It might make a good prank. TO pretend to contaminate an area and then see everyone stripping off their clothes before going into their homes.But of course no one has seen this film so they would know what to do in the event of a gas attack. Oh well, so much for that thought. Good film, some useful advice...but the reality of an air attack of gas is unrealistic these days...maybe they have a subway scenario in another film. Now that would apply today. Remember the Sarin attack in Tokyo in the 80s. 4 stars for entertainment value...3 stars for useful info.

Shotlist

Explains what war gas is, how it is used by the enemy, and how simple household items, such as bicarbonate of soda and bleaching solution, may be used to prevent casualties.


Chemical warfare Poison gas World War II Civil defense Civilian defense Baking soda First aid health and safety Danger Lurks