The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-18
FIRE DRILL NOT THE RULE
AT LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
Attendants at Hospitals and Asy.
Inns, However, Are Instructed
for Emergencies.
SPIRAL FIRE ESCAPES
Automatic Device Is in Use at
State Insane Hospital-Offi-
Gals Make Statements.

An investigation of the different public
institutions I'm regard to the safety in case
of fire was made by the Journal last night
1t seems that most of the buildings are
well protected in the way OF fire apparatus.
but fire drill is not used in any of the
places with the possible exception of the
City Hospital
DIR. George Edenharter of the Insane
Hospital, said last night: I'VE do not have
a so-called fire drill, but every employee is
drilled in the use of the hose reels, how to
unroll the hose and turn on the water and
how TO direct stream in order to get the
best effects from II. They are also drilled
in the use OF the ladders
I'VE have spiral fire escapes here and il
does not take much work for any of the
patients to get down one of these All one
has TO do II to put the patient inside the
escape and he slides to the ground In each
ward there are rules telling each attendant
just what to do in of fire. In case
where there are two attendants In one ward
where there is fire. one of them goes to
the telephone and notifies the office and the
other marshals the patients into line and
marches them out of the building
NURSES HOLD FIRE DRILL
When new attendant is started in he
Is told OF these rules by the supervising
attendant and is required to acquaint HIM
self with them at once. There has been no
fire drill among the patients since 1 came
here, as 1 believe that ii excites them too
much But in case of fire / believe that
every one could be got safely out of the
buildings and that there would be no loss
or life at ali.
DR.. Paul Martin. of the City Hospital
said: Il think that we are very we'll 'fixad
IN case OF fire. Every one here is drilled in
dem rrr
OF fire. During the day the engineer
and the janiIors are drilled in the use of
tre apparatus and in the use of the lad
The nurses and the orderlies are drilled
In the use of carrying stretchers and
blankets so as TO remove those who are
not able tc walk in case the building should
catch fire. At night every ward is called
up by the house phone by the man in the
Office at stated intervals.
NO TROUBLE IS FEARED.
should fire break out at night the
nurses would be marched from their dormi-
tories 10 their respective wards 10 assist
in the removal OF the patients. These nurses
are all under the leadership of a supervis
Ing nurse The orderlies at night and the
watchmen are instructed in the use of car
rying stretchers and also of using the fire
apparatus We have a stairway at end
OF each hall. There is only one fire escane
on the building. That is at the hack Of fhe
building and has been there ever since H.
building was built.
There should be more fire escapes here
fauents are usually instructed what to do
I'm case OF fire and do not think that there
would be much trouble along that line on
account o. TIE wide halls and the easy ar
rangement OF the stairways there could
hardly be any trouble in removing anv of
the patients - 10y "
superintendent Johnson. of the State Deaf
and Dumb School. when seen last might
said: We have organized fire drill bere
among the students. We have a number ~
fre exunguishers and there are numerous
fire escapes on each building There ar,s
three buildings and each one is connected
with steel corridor. I do not thinL tha~e
would De much excitement In case of a fire
as fire escapes can be easily reached from,
any room I'm the house.
Superintendent Wilson OF the Blind In
stftute. could not De seen last night ~,
II was learned that there are a number M
extingulshers in the buildings but there Is
no fire drill used