The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-01
FIRST AID TO INJURED
.Educs,flonss Work of DIR. NJ J.. shields
Among Miners In Coal Fields Is
Very EHectivc-WOrk of
Red Cross Society
by JONATHAN WINFIELD

appalling.
These figures that tell story of in
credulous horror are official and as a
result the American National Red Cross
society has inaugurated, and Is success
fully conducting, campaign to lessen ac-
cidents in the coal fields
Since the first of the year, when the
Red Cross society took up the task, Dr.
M. j. Shields of Scranton, Pa, an officer
in the medical reserve corps of the army,
has been visiting the coal fields and in
structing the miners in the art or rem
dering efficient aid to those who are in
jured. He has visited the fields of west
ern Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, and is
now in Ala bama During the three months
that he has been at his task he has in
structed 10000 miners in the work of rem
dering first aid to the injured. These who
have received instructions are distributed
of the coal mining companies Gall of
which are enthusiastic for the instruction
of their mem states that since the inau-
guration of the movement accidents that
generally terminate fatally to their men
owing to the lack of immediate medical
attention, have decreased 60 per cent.
Red Cross Campaign
Carrying out still further the idea of
instructing the working classes, who are
liable to injury in the rendering of eff
ficlent first aid to the injured, the Red
Cross will shortly start a campaign of
education among the railroad workers OF
the country. private car fitted out as
an instruction hospital. donated by the
Pullman company, manned by medical ex-
perts of the United States army medical
reserve corps, will tour the country, Civ
ing instructions to classes of railroad
men at the different railroad centers
These instructions, it is planned, will not
be confined solely to railroad men, but
extended to all persons
The prevention of accidents Is Just as
important as taking care of person after
injury" declared Secretary Charles Ma
gee today. 1.-THE work of instructing the
workers of the country in first aid to the
injured is most important. 1t is a new,
but successful, departure on the part of
the society"
The most important work of the Amer
lean Red Cross at present however is
the aid it is extending in the war being
waged on the white plague" The So
ciety maintains six camps for consump-
tives. They are located at Indianapolis,
-1~sA"Ae, PtoShtoii, kdl., MILWAUKEE, New
York city and in Washington Aid in
the way of finances is also contributed to
the camps maintained by state organ
izations. +.
In the last two years the society has
raised $350,000 through the sale of its
Christmas stamps. This money is all
used in anti-tuberculoss work The pro.
oeeds from the sale of stamps are used
In the locality where the stamps are sold
hanco rtc
paigns have local as well as a national
Significance.
Total Funds
Since the reorganization of the Amer
lean Red Cross in 1905 the total amount
of funds received for various relief oh
Jects has been $4,s95, 759. / OF this sum a
little more than one-tlaifd of 1 per cent
has been used for administration pur-
poses. The accounts are audited annually
py the war department. The society has
Its Headquarters in the state, war and
navy building here
The society has, however many contri-
buttons which are given solely for adj
illustrative purposes. 1t Is this fact
which enables the society to administer
the funds for relief at such small ex-
pense. This low percentage compares fa
vorably with the administrative expenses
of many charitable societies. 1t is small
compared with the operations of the
Washington Associated Charities.
The object of the Red Cross society. as
stated in the charter granted by Con-
gress, is to carry on a system of national
and International relief In time of peace.
and apply the same in mitigating suffer
ing caused by pestilence, famine, fire.
flood or other great national calamities.
OF course. the society is ready to carry
out the duty imposed of 1t by it's charter,
duty that caused it's creation, which
Is to furnish volunteer aid to the sick
and wounded of armies in time of war.
Since it's reorganization in 1905 the Red
Cross has rendered relief in connection
with the following disasters: Philippine
typhoon. Japanese famine, Vesuvian erup-
ton, California earthquake. Gulf storm,
Chinese famine, Kingston earthquake,
Russian famine, Calabrian earthquake
QS0O, Mississippi cyclone. South Caro-
lima and Georgia floods, Michigan forest
fires, Canadian forest fires, Italian earth
quake Q9OS), Armenian massacres, Monon-
gah mine disaster, Cherry. ILL.,, mine dis
aster and Paris floods.
Three Departments
The work of the society is divided into
three departments: War relief. national
relief and international relief. These de-
partments are each controlled by a board
Miss Mabel T, Boardman, a member of
one Of Washingtons millionaire families
Is chairman of the national relief BOARD !;
Huntington Wilson, assistant secretary
OF state, Is chairman of the internati
relief board, while Surgeon General
George Torney, u. S., A., is chairman of
the wal. relief board.
The first aid work and the national
committee on Red Cross nursing service
are under the war chef board, with Maj
Charles Lynch of the medical department
of the United States army I'M charge of
the former and Miss Jane A. Delano,
superintendent of the United States army
nurse corps, as head OF the latter.
The President of the United States is
the active head of the Red Cross So
ciety Since Its reorganization, which
occurred while President Taft was serv-
ing as secretary OF war in President
Rcosevelt's cabinet, the President has
taken a deep personal interest in the So
ciety and its work OF the many who
give their time and money to the Red
Cross only two are salaried or receive
Director Ernest p. Bicknell, who was
formerly with the Chicago Bureau Of
Charities and Secretary Charles L..
Magee. The society has a membership
of about 10000 and an endowment fund
of more than $500, 000
The society has recently established
what Is known as an institutional mem
be rship. The better and larger associated
charities and charity organisation So
cieties are enrolled as institutional mem
ters and it is from these that the Red
Cross In occasions of disaster obtain its
trained corps ,f workers. This plan
places at it's disposal the most efficient
trained workers without cost to the So
ciety except when actually engaged in