"Duck and Cover" was a civil defense instructional method used in the United States during the Cold War, primarily from the 1950s to the early 1970s. It was designed to educate children and the general public on how to protect themselves in the event of a nuclear attack. The concept was popularized by a film of the same name produced by the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) in 1951.
The basic premise of "Duck and Cover" involved teaching individuals to quickly assume a protective position in response to a nuclear explosion. The suggested actions included:
- Duck down to get low to the ground, reducing exposure to the blast and heat.
- Cover your head and neck with your arms and seek shelter under a desk, table, or any other solid structure to shield against debris and fallout.
The program was aimed at reassuring the public about safety measures while highlighting civil defense in the context of nuclear threats during the Cold War. While some believed in the utility of "Duck and Cover," critics pointed out that it offered a false sense of security given the overwhelming destructiveness of nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, it became a well-known part of American culture and a symbol of the era's anxieties regarding nuclear warfare.