Culture: Japanese Gas Attack Posters From 1938

Japanese Gas Attack Posters From 1938

A series of Japanese posters from 1938, as part of the Anti-Aircraft Defence Law, used to inform people of what to do in the event of a gas attack. In March of 1937 the Imperial Japanese Government established the Anti-Aircraft Defence Law, in order to prepare civilians for the event of attack by enemy forces, prior to the start of WWII. Showing that the government were fully preparing for the event of imminent war. They created a campaign to inform the citizens of Japan about how to deal with a variety of attacks, like fire-bombing or a gas attack. Through a series of information posters, they hoped to instil anti-aircraft defence actions into the minds of ordinary people.

In 1941 the government stepped up the campaign, and devised laws that forced their citizens to deal with emergencies directly, rather than escaping from them. They imposed punishments for people who didn't comply with the new laws. The law was further revised, so that any citizen who didn't follow the new wartime special criminal law, could be punished by execution. In 1942, the government imposed further restrictions on its citizens, living in urban environments. They prohibited them from moving to the countryside, to escape from air attacks, and instead ordering them to build air-raid shelters near to their homes, and to be prepared to fight potential fires and deal with the potential of attack by gas.

Gas Detection: Smell and Color - Asphyxiant gas (chlorine, phosgene, etc.): Pungent or hay-like odour. White or yellowish in colour. - Blister gas (yperite/mustard gas, lewisite, etc.): Mustard or geranium-like odour. Colourless in gas form, reddish-brown in liquid form. - Tear gas and sneezing gas: Odour resembles pepper, spicy mustard or bitter almond oil. White, yellow or colourless.

Gas Masks: Type and Purpose Military use - Full protection - Rubber face mask - Body suit (rubber) - Filter - Gloves (rubber) - Boots (rubber) Civilian use - (Right) For any gas except blister gas and tear gas - (Center) For various types of gas - (Left) Transparent visor

Poison Gas Symptoms - Asphyxiant gas: Accumulation of fluid in lungs/ Suffocation (dry drowning) - Blister gas: Blisters/ Respiratory inflammation/ Inflammation of the eyes - Tear gas: Watery eyes - Sneezing gas: Salivation and nasal discharge/ Coughing/ Chest pain/ Vomiting/ Sneezing

Phosgene Poisoning: Progression of Symptoms and Death (Based on British Army research during the War in Europe) Death rate by day: - Day 1: 81% - Day 2: 12% - Day 3: 4% - Day 4: 2% - Day 5: 1% Progression of symptoms - Fluid begins to accumulate in lungs within 2 to 8 hours, causing difficulty in breathing. - Fluid seeps into alveoli. - Victim turns pale in mild cases, ashen white in severe cases. - Fluid in lungs becomes increasingly evident. - Absorption begins. - Recovery. Caution: Sudden death may occur within minutes or hours.

Yperite (Mustard Gas): Progression of Symptoms and Death (Based on British Army research during the War in Europe) Death rate by day - Day 1: 1% - Day 2: 2% - Day 3: 5% - Day 4: 8% - Day 5: 23% - Day 6 to 30: 61% Progression of symptoms - Initial 2 to 8 hours: Itchiness - Day 2: Pain - Day 5: Rupturing of blisters, intense itchiness Recovery takes 2 to 7 weeks.

Asphyxiant Gas: Evacuation and Aid. - Do not allow victims to walk. Carry them gently. - Head to a nearby shelter. - Move to a safe location upwind.

Treatment of Blister Gas Victims (Part 1) 1. Undress. 2. Clean the skin of poisonous substance. (Use cotton or absorbent paper.) 3. Apply solvent (oil, benzene or alcohol). 4. Sterilize. (Apply calcium hypochlorite.)

Treatment of Blister Gas Victims (Part 2) 5. Wash thoroughly with soap. (Dispose of mask after washing.) Decontaminate with water if no medicine is available. 6. Wash eyes (2% baking soda/water solution) and put on clean clothes. 7. For poisoned lungs... 2% baking soda/water solution Gauze mask Caution - Immediate action required, at least within 15 minutes of exposure. - Treatment within the first few minutes of exposure may prevent the development of blisters. - Symptoms begin to show within a few hours. - Failure to quickly remove poison from the skin will result in death.

Effectiveness of Gas Masks (Based on British Army statistics from the War in Europe) - April 1915/ No masks/ Chlorine gas (weak)/ 7,000 casualties/ 85.7% casualty rate - December 1915 - August 1916/ Primitive masks (cloth)/ Chlorine, phosgene gas (strong)/ 4,207 casualties/ 24% casualty rate - July 1916 - July 1917/ Canister gas masks/ Phosgene, diphosgene gas (strong)/ 8,806 casualties/ 6% casualty rate Canister gas masks reduced the casualty rate by a factor of 12. Primitive masks reduced the casualty rate by a factor of 4.

Making Gas Protection Tools - For small children, prepare a gas-tight baby carriage or bag with attached oxygen supply. - Keep this type of protection on hand at all times.

Gas-tight Room and Mosquito Net 1. Seal all gaps in the ceiling, doors and floor to create a gas-tight room. 2. To create a gas-tight tent, keep the bottom hem of the mosquito net pressed to the floor and place a layer of paper over the tatami. 3. Assuming there is one person per tatami mat and you stay calm, you can remain safely in the room for 7 hours and in the tent for 3 hours.

Blister Gas Decontamination (Part 1) Chemical treatment - For mustard gas, use calcium hypochlorite. - Wash rubber products 30 minutes after exposure. Wet-heat treatment - Steam: 20 minutes - Boil: 15 minutes - Hot water (80 degrees Celsius): 30 minutes Dry-heat treatment - Incinerate

Blister Gas Decontamination (Part 2) Wash and wipe Sun-dry - Winter: 5 days - Spring/Autumn: 1 to 3 days - Summer: 8 hours Burial - Disappearance of gas odor is a sign of decontamination. - Do not allow residual gas indoors when decontaminating.

Treatment of Asphyxiant Gas Victims 1. Bed rest and warmth 2. Fresh oxygen supply - Do not use an artificial respirator (victim may worsen if moved). 3. Blood draw - Do not perform if the victim is pale. 4. Heart stimulants and beverages - Strophantin/ Digitoxin/ Caffeine/ Camphor

Gas Attack and Emergency Escape Quick emergency mask - Gauze - 2% sodium carbonate/water solution - 10% urotropin-water solution Simple homemade masks - Can contains charcoal particles Use when no gas shelter is available or when your home has been destroyed.

Blister Gas: Evacuation and Aid - Toxic area! Run! Flee! - Better to seek soap and water nearby than to travel to an aid centre far away.

Devastation of Urban Gas Attack.

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