“Duck and Cover” – Futile Measures, or a Life-Saving Plan?

Boy, do I remember these… 

-DB

Every American who went to school in the 1950s or 60s will remember air raid drills, the “Duck and Cover” slogan, and talk of fallout shelters. Images of elementary school children huddled under their desks with their hands over their heads are burned into American cultural history.

However, these measures stopped being used in most schools in the 60s, and fallout shelters began being repurposed in the 70s. Why would that be the case? Would these drills have saved thousands of lives in the event of a nuclear attack, or did they merely serve to terrify young children?

Source: “Duck and Cover” – Futile Measures, or a Life-Saving Plan?