Civil Defence Information Bulletin


Civil Defence Information Bulletin were a series of seven public information films dealing with civil defence measures individuals and families could take in the event of a nuclear attack on Great Britain. They were produced for the Home Office and the Scottish Home and Health Department by RHR Productions United Kingdom in 1964. The writer was Nicolas Alwyn and the producer Ronald H. Riley. The films are in black and white.
In the event of an international crisis, these films were to be broadcast by all television networks in the U.K., in much the same manner as the Protect and Survive films were to be broadcast in the 1980s. It refers to Civil Defence Handbook No. 10, entitled Advising the Householder on Protection against Nuclear Attack.

The films

Topics included in the films include:
Note: the grey warning was discontinued after 1968.
Each film was a few minutes long and would feature the ominous jingle with the civil defence logo. Then there was a blank title card on the subject matter and then a mix of live-action clips, animation and still images. Majority of the advice is similar to Protect and Survive such as the idea of building a core and the idea of white washing the windows to prevent fires. However, there are several things that is featured that is different from other films. The warning system features 4 coloured warning systems whereas in later films there is simply attack, fallout, all clear. No colours. Also, there is advice on evacuating afterwards whereas in Protect & Survive the key emphasis is Stay at Home.
The series is currently viewable on YouTube. The films themselves are as follows:
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