The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-03
Expert Hospital Corps Organized in
Hard Coal Regions,
PENNSYLVANIA TAKES LEAD IN WORK
MEN WHO TOLL UNDER THE
GROUND INSTRUCTED TO
SUccOR THEIR FELLOWS

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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 carried awk-
wardly through the subterranean pas
sages, hoisted to the surface and con-
veyed 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 bandaged
by the trained miner doctors" always
at hand.
Trained by Experts.
The First Aid Corps of the Phila-
delphia and Reading Coal and Iron
company at it's GOLFERS near Potts
From five to fifteen young miners
from every colliery of the company
make up the corps. They are instruct
ed 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 induce
artificial respiration in cases of suffo
cation, stop quickly a dangerous flow
of blood, dress burns. and bandage
wounds with a 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 distractions in the mines to
the shaft. If the heavy litter of the
army style, with which they are sup
piled. is not available, the members of
the corps know how to make one from
blankets or clothing. After the injured
man is placed. in the cage and lifted
to the surface he is put in an ambu-
lance which the company maintains at
all of it's collieries and is taken to his
home Or to the hospital.
No Stops on the Way.
One of the most imperative instruc-
| tons is that the first aid man, VINO
always 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 a remind
er that ne as well as the mules need
! ed refreshments. While he was OBJ
tanning it the injured man had to lie
neglected Frequently whisky would
| be given to him also, in such Quanti-
ties that after a long and injurious
delay he would reach the hospital with
| his mine injuries complicated by an
| other 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 and no
stimulant may be administered 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
recent lecture asked one of the corps:
Suppose a man is burned in the mines
and you dress mis- injuries and accom-
pany him home. what method of treat
ment would you adopt when you visit
him the next day." Il would not treat
him the next day. was the quick re-
ply, because 1 would be liable to ar
rest for practising medicine without
license"
This shows that the first aiders have
learned the ethics of their profession
as we'll as manual skill in it. They
only act when some member OF the
regular medical stats are not quickly
available.