Iranian photocopied guide for Protection against Chemical and Biological Weapons (1989)

Protection against Chemical and Biological Weapons (1988)

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In the last years of the Iran/Iraq war, at the time of the battle of the cities, chemical bombardments had become a daily occurrence at the front. There was fear that Tehran would come under chemical attack.

This photocopied guide along with a pair of nylon gloves (the kind used by bakers and butchers), a big plastic bag with a piece of charcoal wrapped and attached to the middle of a sponge, was distributed to the troops. The soldiers were told that in case of an aerial attack, they should wet the sponge, cover their heads with the bag, put the gloves on, and run to high ground.

Only a written notice remains from this kit. According to the instructions in the guide “protection against chemical attacks is easy and possible.” The notice also recommends that, “in case of a biological attack, boil water and food for ten minutes before consumption.”