Circular to Local Education Authorities,10^th May 1941

                                                                                                       BOARD OF EDUCATION

                                                                                                       Branksome Dene Hotel

                                                                                                       Bournemouth, Hants  

                                                                                 

                                         SCHOOLCHILDREN’S GAS MARKS

Introduction

The Board recently asked Local Education Authorities through their Inspectors for information about arrangements made in their areas with regard to schoolchildren’s gas masks. The replies received to these enquiries showed that in the majority of areas satisfactory arrangements have been made. In view, however, of the position in some areas the Board consider it necessary to re-state their advice on this question and to indicate certain modifications arising from developments during the course of the war. In communicating with Authorities on this matter at this juncture the Board do not wish it to be thought that gas attacks are necessarily to be regarded as imminent. The possibility, however, that the enemy may resort to the use of gas cannot be ruled out and it is essential that all schoolchildren should be protected against potential attacks.

Need for Carrying Masks

2. The first essential is that all children should take their respirators with them to school on all occasions no matter where they live. 

Practice in Wearing Masks

3. It is also necessary that children should get accustomed to wearing their masks. They should therefore be given practice in wearing their masks as well as in putting them on quickly and taking them off; a sufficient period for wearing the masks would be, to begin with, five minutes at a time, extended by degrees to ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, once a week or fortnight.

Regular Examination of Masks

4. It is essential that arrangements should be made with the Local A.R.P. Authority for the examination by qualified persons of all schoolchildren’s gas masks at regular intervals and for the repair or replacement of t hose found to be defective.
5. The examination of the masks should take place at not less than monthly intervals and at the beginning of each school term in order to discover any defects that may have developed during the holidays.
6. The exact arrangements for the examination of the masks must be left to the Local Education Authority to work out in consultation with the Local A.R.P. Authority, but in the Board’s opinion there are considerable advantages in having the examination of masks and any necessary repairs carried out, where possible, on the school premises, at any rate in the case of the larger schools. This will secure that any necessary repairs are executed at once, and occasion could usefully be taken to emphasise to the children the importance of taking care of their masks. 

Cost of Repairs

7. The Board have been in communication with the Ministry of Home Security with regard to the repair and replacement of children’s gas masks and as a result A.R.P. Authorities are being advised that the gas masks of schoolchildren attending grant-aided schools should be reserviced or replaced without charge unless the Local Authority consider that the damage is not due to fair wear and tear and no satisfactory explanation is forthcoming.

 

H G Holmes