During World War II, Seattle-area communities set up volunteer civil defense groups to help in case they were attacked. Men, women and even children joined up to help with such things as fighting fires, running air raid shelters, driving ambulances, and caring for the injured. Each community held periodic drills to make sure that everything would run smoothly in an emergency.

This photo, taken in early March 1942, shows civil defense workers during a first aid drill on Vashon Island.

Heading and title from original inventory: World War II--Civil defense, Students by school bus in civil defense drill, Vashon Island
Written on original envelope: World War II-Vashon Island Washinton-Civilian Defense
Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a month or more): March 9, 1942