AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 89, 1 May 1937, Page 11

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

Firemen's Anti-Gas Training

* The measures taken hy ihe-London Cpunty Council, at the Government's tequest, to co-operate in the formulation of a scheme of air-raid precautions, are the subject of a report prepared hy the General Purposes Committee of the Council. • Memhers of the fire brigade have ttndergone aaiti-gas training at the tiovernment's anti-gas school in Gloueestershire. Twenty-six have - been trained, and these men are instructing the 2,000 officers and men of the brigade. Ahout 50 per qent. have now been trained. A scheme for providing llre protection for London in emergency eonditions is being worked out by the ehief offieer of the brigade, iu con•ultation with the Home Office. Consideration is being. given to the protection of education,* public health, mental hospitals, main drainage, dnd other vital services, and members oi the staff have -been, or are being trained in anti-gsris and other pTotective measures. . t for decontaminating the pa,rks from the Volimteer squads.'have been recruited effects of gag. The protection of the itaff, at the Coimty Hall^ and other eentrai offices is' also being dealt with. The borough /councils and the City Coiporation, i£ the event of * a raid, scould be responsible for services such

as .decontamination of areas, rescue of casualties, removal of debris, ahd provision of air raid shelters. The enforcement of lightlng restrictions, recruitment of a staff of gas detectors, and co-ordination of repairs to essential services will be dcalt with centrally by the Government. The Committee states that the Council -*s decision to co^operate in these measures contained a condition that «my expenditure beyond what is necessary for the norma! maintenance of the service should be borna by the State, and the Committee xeports that re-, presentations to the same effect have been made to the Home Secretary by a deputation from the , Association of Municipal Corporations. Courses of instruction in . anti-gas measures have been given, to .the medical staff s at- some of the general and mental hospitals. One course has been completed, and it is hoped to complete the training at another . course ,now being arranged. The trained medieal staff will instruct the nursing staffs. The question of how bcst to" deal with schools and school children in an emergency is bemg considered by the Government, adds the repdrt. ' Arrangements to train teachers in anti-gas work are now.receiving attention."