Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-12-01
RESCUE SERVICE
FOR the Miners
Bureau Of Mines Sending Out
Life Saving Cars.
RED CROSS STAFF E|STRUCTS

RED CROSS STAFF IElSTRUCTS
Miners Taught to Aid Contradictory
gen Helmets Carried to Protect From
Poisonous Gases In Explosions, as
Five Miners Are Killed Out Of Each
Thousand Annually.
A life saving service for the rescue
of miners in time of disaster is being
inaugurated by the United States
bureau of mines. Six specially con-
structed cars, fully manned by a corps
of miners trained in rescue work and
equipped with the latest rescue appara-
tus and first aid to the injured appli-
ances. are being located in the midst
of the great coal districts in different
parts of the country. These cars will
be ready at q moments notice to pro-
coed to the scene of a disaster. where
the rescue corps, in cooperation with
the state mining officials, will do every
thing possible to save entombed min
erS.
This is the first important step taken
by the new bureau Of mines in it's
efforts to reduce the appalling loss of
life in American coal mines.
Death Totals Large.
During the year 1909 there were
2,412 miners killed in the coal mines
and 1918 injured. In the coal and in
the metal mines it is estimated that
5000 men were killed and 10000 were
injured in 1909. For every 1000 men
employed from three to five men are
killed each year in the mines of the
United States. In foreign countries
from one to two are killed in each
1000 employed. In those European
countries where the deaths are least
per 1000 men employed rescue APP
paratus has been in use for some time,
and it is with the hope that European
conditions can be approached that the
rescue apparatus is being introduced
here.
The saving of human life will tie
the emergency feature of a general
| SoIlpa1Sh VI CulSGIlOllil WIN <AAloIiS
the miners, who will not only be taught
the use of the rescue apparatus, but
also the proper way to take care of
an injured miner.
A mining engineer and 4 surgeon Of
the American Red Cross will accom-
pany each car and deliver illustrated
lectures on the use Of explosives, cleo
trical equipment. fire prevention, sani-
tation and first aid surgical treatment.
These lectures will be given in the
cars wherever q suitable place cannot
be procured. The cars will remain long
enough at each place so that miners
may go through the training in rescue
work, which will be in charge of the
foreman OF the car, a practical miner.
Every effort will be made to encourage
the miners to form rescue corps at the
mines where they are and to have the
operators equip them with rescue ap-
paratus.
The cars will each contain eight SO
called oxygen helmets, a supply Of
oxygen in tanks, one dozen safety
lamps, one field telephone with 1000
feet of wire, resuscitating outfits and
a small outfit for use in demonstration
and actual practice Of equipment re,
lating to the first aid to the injured in
connection with mine accidents.
Demonstrations Given Miners.
One end Of the cars is fitted up as an
air tight room to be used in training
the men in the use of the so called
oxygen helmets. This room will be
filled with noxious fumes. and the
miners, wearing helmets, will remain
inside for two hours in an atmosphere
that would kill without the helmets
These are the helmets that permit one
to enter a mine Immediately following
an explosion. while it is still filed with
poisonous gases, and breathe artif
: cially.
Car No. l, in charge of Charles En-.
zian, mining engineer, left Pittsbure
the morning of Oct. 81 for Monon'
gahela City, Pa. 1t is then scheduled
to visit Mariana, Brownsville. Union.
town, Connellsville, Scottdale, Indiana
Johnstown, Windber, South Fork, Por.
tage, Cresson, Punxsutawney. Clear.
field, Philipsburg and State College.
Car No. . went to the bureau OF
mines rescue station at Urbana. Ill.
Nov. 1. After remaining in Urbana
for several days the car will proceed
to Danville, Ill; Terre Haute, Ind, and
on through southern Indiana to Evans
vile.
: Four other cars similarly equipped
are being made ready for delivery tc
the bureau Of mines within a few days
They will make their headquarters al
Rock Springs. Wyo.: Billings, Mont.
3 Salt Lake City, Utah, and Knoxville