Were Shelters Safe ?

Question 1

What was life like in the shelters ?

Answer 1

• shelters where often crowded and very unsanitary
• buckets used as temporary toilets
• overcrowding often meant people had to stand throughout the night
• some lacked lighting or ventilation

Question 2

What where the governments rules on shelters ?

Answer 2

• government tried to prevent people sheltering in the underground
• feared they could become trapped, not want to leave or a bomb could hit causing a flood

Question 3

What was good about Aldwych?

Answer 3

• a new shelter built in an unused station
• walls painted to improve lighting and toilets where fitted
• bunk beds had been fitted and wardens looked after people
• medical clinic and first aid, library and canteen were provided
• however there was a ticket system

Question 4

What where private shelters?

Answer 4

• places like John Lewis offered shelter to customers who shelters in their basements
• hotels offered shelters

Question 5

What did the government do to investigate the shelter conditions ?

Answer 5

• set up a committee to investigate and the ministry of health investigated shelters
• as a result sheltered made improvements and eventually many large shelters had medical services, libraries and even entertainment

Question 6

What was Mickeys shelter ?

Answer 6

Some people got impatient waiting for the government to fix things
- Mickey Davis and his wife decided to collect money from wealthy donors to pay for medicine and first aid stations
- they brought in bunks and canteens
- this showed the government it was possible and managed to convince them to make new rules