What is the Real Best Way to Survive a Nuclear Blast?

The BrainFood Show

Cloud10

History, Education

4.9 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 6 May 2026

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ever wonder what the best way to survive a nuclear blast is? Well, wonder no more! There was a turtle by the name of Bert, and Bert the turtle was very alert. When danger threatened him he never got hurt, he knew just what to do: He'd duck and cover! Duck and cover! So goes the title tune of the infamous Cold War instructional film Duck and Cover, released by the United States Federal Civil Defense Administration in January 1952. In the film, the cartoon character Bert the Turtle, along with narrator Robert Middleton, explain how best to survive and avoid injury in the event of a nuclear attack- duck and cover. Happen to be out in the open when the bomb drops? No problem: just dive into a ditch, behind a fence or wall, or lie flat on the ground - making sure, of course, to cover your neck and head as before. It’s that simple! In the present day, Duck and Cover and similar Cold War instructional films have become widely mocked, emblematic of America’s dangerously naive and optimistic attitude during the Atomic Age. Indeed, today the entire premise of the film seems patently absurd; after all, a school desk can’t possibly offer any protection against a nuclear weapon! But is that mocking actually valid? After all, scientists then, as now, are pretty incredibly smart. This now brings us to the question of the hour- how effective was “ducking and covering” and just what is the best way to survive a nuclear blast? Well, grab your survival rations, Geiger counter, and squeeze yourself into your refrigerator, and let’s find out, shall we? Author: Gilles Messier Editor/Host: Daven Hiskey Producer: Caden Nielsen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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