The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-10-28
.co..o.I.0.s .. ..ss.ssssss
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF FIRE.
(By Prof. John MarshallO


WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF FIRE.
(By Prof. John Marshall)
Perhaps no single ejaculation is
capable of producing so instantaneous
and so widespread an alarm as the
cry of Fire." Nor is this surprising
when we remember that fire is each
year responsible for an almost meal
culable loss both of life and of prop
erty.
Fire drill nowadays has it's place in
the routine of every well conducted
school; nor can it be doubted that the
capacity for prompt and intelligent ac-
ton thus inculcated in the minds Of
young people of both sexes has, in
emergency, proved the means of pre-
venting appalling disaster. But while
this capacity for combined action is
desirable, there seems to be a danger
of fostering it at the expense of what
one may term fire education" Every
child should be taught by means Of
precept and experiment what to do
when a fire breaks out in his own
. house. He should be instructed how
to 90 to work coolly and methodically
either to extinguish the flames or, If
necessary, to escape from the build
ing. Lessons of this kind, impaired
by practical methods, would become a
source of strength in after life and
would go far to check the recurrence
of fire outbreaks, with their entailed
loss of life and capital.
Take, for example, the case of an
overturned oil lamp. There is a sud
den and alarming blaze; but if action
is taken at once the damage may be
confined to the carpet, cloth, or upon
whatever the lamp actually rests. To
The burning oil will only be forced
over a larger area. The aim should
be to absorb the oil and smother the
flame as much as possible, and this
may best be done by means of some
nonfammable powder-such as flour,
sand, earth from the garden, or any
thing of the kind.
Another point worth remembering
is the use of the soda water siphon
as an extinguisher. When lamp or
candle has ignited a curtain the 81
phon squirted over the flames will
work wonders. Not only does the
force with which the liquid leaves the
tube allow of it's being directed well
above the operators head, but the
carbonic acid with which the water is
charged helps to deaden the flames.
If the dress of a woman catches
the floor and should crawl in this po-
sition either to bell pull or door
and call for assistance; or she should
roll herself in a rug or blanket.
In the event of a man rendering
help he should at once lay the patient
down, take off his coat and roll her
in it, unless he can obtain a blanket
or rug, or roll her on the carpet. If
woman renders assistance she must
be careful not to allow her own cloth
ing touch the victim, but to hold
rug or blanket in front of herself
while approaching the flames,
A few words may be added respect
ing the treatment of burns and scalds
prior to the arrival of doctor. The
main point to bear in mind is that the
air is to be excluded from the affected
part as quickly as possible. 1t may be
done by dredging the part with flour
if the skin is not broken-and not dis
turbing it for some time.
Any vegetable oil-such as salad,
sweet, or linseed-may be used with
advantage, a cloth being soaked with
it and used to cover the wound. A
good application is made by mixing
equal parts of linseed oil and lime
water forming "carron oil"