The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-06
VOL. LIFE
SAVERS
AT WORK

From the long drowning record along
our Atlantic seaboard. each summer II
Is estimated by experts that by far the
greater part of the fatalities would have
been prevented had there been active and
intelligent persons trained in the art OF
resuscitation of the drowned. near at
hand 10 render assistance Immediately
upon their removal from the water. In
this state which has almost as much
water area as land. drownings are far
too common and from an examination or
the records of a large number or the re-
cent sad fatalities, 1t is seen that the
first step OF the persons who have taken
unconscious persons from the water. Is
TO send for a physician. while the inani-
mate form is left on the beach or car
ried 10 a nearby house where. as soon
"a the physician arrives, in a half or
three-ouarters OF an hour. life is pro-
noupced as extinct and the medical ex-
aminer Is called In.
IL when a person has gone down Tor
the third time and remained beneath the
surface for 1870 or even 80 minutes there
was a person understanding the process
of resuscitation OF the apparently drown
ed at hand I'm nearly every case breath
ing can be restored within two hours, py
prompt work That is the principal on
which the local members or the humane
Volunteer Life Saving corps. now being
organized In this state are working,and
as rapidly as possible the men OF the
crews are taught what 10 do In such an
emergency. so as 20 be ready when the
need arises.
On steamboat wharves, docks, yacht
CLUB landings, private wharves ana at
bathing places, life buoys and lines are
placed. and by the end or summer
throughout the whole stale fhere VIII De
a chain OF crews OF active young fel-
lows whose employment or inclination
taxes them TO the water front. each mem
Der OF which will be ready TO save lives.
working intelngently and with dispatch
n is designed to lower the death rate
from drowning in this state, as IL mas
unouestionably been lowered In the state
of New York by the w. ). " L. 3. C.,
as shown by the annual report or the or
ganixatiop TO the state legislature IN
1908.
A couple of years ago start OF the
organization was made IN this state, but
several unauthorized persons collected
money and caused much trouble for those
who was endeavoring to put the corps
upon a proper basis
A number OF buoys or aluminium ana
of the ring variety were placed at dan
.erous localities and have at various oc-
.asions proved OF great service TO per
sons who have fallen into the water
Capt. Elmer Crooker, inspector or the
department of Massachusetts. who has
zoo active young men In his division Is
working In this state for couple or
weeks organising crews and assisting
Capt. w. e. Longfellow. who Is In charge
of the Rhode Island district.
No person is collecting funds for the
corps at this time with the authority of
the local officials, IL was stated today
by the commanding officer.
Representatives of these crews. Kir-
wins Beach. Pawtnxet. ana Pawtuxet
Canoe club united at Rhodes-on-the-ta raw
tuxet last night In a life saving and re-
suscitation drill that proved interesting
to a number of people.
The Canoe club members proved very
proficient I'm throwing the ring buoy plac-
ing Il IN reach OF the persons who were
being carried down stream every time.
A medicine chest. containing first aid
20 the injured, has been placed at Rhodes
boathouse and at Kirwin's Beach, and
others are to be placed soon.
Crews are also being organized by IN
spector Crooker at Bristol, Riverside
crescent park, Washington park. Field
Point and on the wharves around the
barhor. Several acts of bravery Will
be recognized by the corps In proper
manner.