The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-04

THEIR FIRST AID TO THE INJURED

NEW YORK, Dec. Accidents have
always been a serious factor in coal
mining Millions have been spent in
safeguarding workers in the anthracite
mines of PENNSYLVANIA. And now a
new force has been added to the army
of men employed to detect and ward
off the approach of menace from gas,
flood and falling earth, stone and COAL
The latest step taken to protect the
miner is the establishment OF FIRST
Aid to the Injured Corps" by many Of
the anthracite operators Formerly an
injured man had to be CARED aWk-
ardly through the subterranean pas
sages, hoisted to the surface and con-
viewed to a distance before he could
get any relief. Now the miners hurts
are first relieved on the spot and even
broken limbs can be set and band
aged by the trained miner doctors" al
ways at hand.
Instructed by Experts.
The first aid corps of the Philadel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron COM
pany at it's co!lieries n 'ar Pot -sville,
has attained unusual proficiency. From
five to fifteen young miners from every
colliery of the company make up the
corps. They are instructed by DR..
George H. Halberstadt Of POttsville,
employed by the company to take
charge of this welfare work.
AS a result of his instruction the
members Of the corps can set and put
splints on broken limbs. help to Undue :
artificial respiration in cases of suffO-
cation, sop quickly a dangerous flow
of blood, dress burns and bandage the
different kinds of wounds, with near
approach to the skill of an experienced
physician They are taught how to
carry an injured miner along the
steep gangways and over the obstruc-
lions in the mines, to the shift. If the
heavy litter of the army style, with
which they are supplied, is not avail
able, the members of the corps know
how to make one from blankets or
clothing After the injured man is
in the cage ard lifted to the
surface he is put in an ambulance
which tie con. 3any maintains at all
Heres and is taken to hi
home or to the hospital.
No Stops for Refreshments"
One of the most imperative instruc-
lions is that the first aid man, who al
ways accompanies the miner in the
ambulance, must see to it that the
driver never stops on the way TO the
hospital. Before the advent Of the first
aid corps, the driver generally stopped
to water his mules before saloon or
hotel, which was frequently remin-
der that he as we'll as the mules needed
refreshments. While he was obtaining
it the injured man had to lie neglected.
Frequently whisky would be given to
him also. in such quantities that after
a long and injurious delay he would
reach the hospital with his minor
juries complicated by another trouble.
The watchfulness of the corps, man
now prevents all this. To avoid the
danger Of mistakes the corps is for
hidden to give any medicine save hot
black coffee-never whisky. AS soon
as the injured man is taken home the
responsibility of the first aid corps
ceases.
To test the understanding of this
important rule, DR.. Halberstadt at a
recent lecture asked one of the corps:
Suppose a man is burned in the mines
and you dress his injuries and accom-
pany him home. What method of
treatment would you adopt when you
visit him the next day." 81 would
not treat him the next day." was the
quick reply because 1 would be liza
BILE to arrest for practicing medicine
without license
This shows that the first aiders have
learned the ethics of their profession:
as we'll as manual skill in IL They only
act when some member of the regu-
lar medical stats are not quickly avail