The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-01-26
Mine RESCUE CAR PRESENTS
MOST INTERESTING FEATURES
Wonderful Equipment That is of Especial In
terest to West Virginians Now
on Exhibition Here

A representative Of the Mail paid
visit this morning to the Mine Res
cue Car which is now stationed in the
rear of these, 90: Freight depot near
Morris street, and was greatly sur,
prised at the wonderful appliances
which have been, perfected for the sake
of rescue work I'm mines after a dis
aster .....r .,.S"i!."
On entering the car. which is a
PULLMAN, especially reconstructed for
the needs OF the purpose, a casual
glance shows stretchers arranged on
either side at tho roof, first aid boxes,
oxygen tanks, helmets. safety lamps,
and numerous other devices for aid
te-fHihefS- after-a- holocaust. ------
About two-thirds Of the car is de-
voted to these appliances and the other
third is fitted for complete living
quarters for the regular crew of four
which always accompany the car. A
stereopticon outfit is used for instruc-
ton The first device which was
explained by the First Aid man was
the safety helmet This is an affair
which clossly resembles the one used
by deep sea divers and is composed of
leather frame having a large hood
at the back for protection against
water and fire. The front is composed
of a circular heavy mica window, so to
speak, proteetedShy nickeled bars. On
the inside of the window is pneu
matte ring which encircles the face
and whose action is controlled by
rubber bulb on the outside. At the
bottom of the window is a valve which
connects the hood with the oxygen
tank carried Oft the back Of the opera
tor. Attached to the inside Of the
window is a sponge moving on a pivot.
This is used TO clean the surface of the
window Of the vapors from the lungs
and is operated from the outside.
There. are four. helmets always carried
on The car. in dOnning the !elmet,
il is put oxr" the head. the valve
opened. and the rubber bulb on the
outside pressed 10 fill the pneumatic
cushion encircling the window until
the chamber for the face is practically
alright The harness. to which the
fastened. is then separated from the
shoulders and connection made he
tween the supply hose from the tank
and the valve in the helm IT.. The
oxygen is then turned on and the
operator ready: for a rescue, breathes
pure oxygen.
The arrangement. weighing about
40 pounds, which supports the oxygen
tank, is an interesting thing in itself.
| 1t IS made up of n harness to which is
att1tEaa In oxygen Tank on one s'he
and a potash tank on the other. These
tanks are located. on the ba2E In
| front very much like an apron. is Il
Ieather-covered lnbbed bag which con-
| tains enough Oxygen to support man
| for IL minutes. and is used during the
! Interval in which a used tank Of oXy-
gen or potasl: is exchanged for a fresh
orc by the operator. All Of The resc lie
men carry an sX1ra tank Of oxygen
and potash and are required to work
IN pairs
Each tank is charged with pure
Oxygen and registers pressure Of va
latmospheres enough. to last for two
hours. Attached to the harness is
a guage which registers in minutes
the time the operator has left for safe
ty. When 1t registers one half hour
an exit is started or a new tank con
nected. The expired air goes through
hose to the potash tank in the rea
and passing through the chemical, j
purified. Encughl potash Is placed il
this tank to take up Initiated All
preached during two hours. In ad
Gition to the safety: helmet and tanks
each rescue man carries first AID pack
ages furnished by the American Rel
Cross Society.
In the car are to be found a collap
sible cage with 1000 feet Of steel cable
This cage can be set up and lowered
in five minutes. There are also fire
extingnishers, and numerous othe1
emergency devices.
An interesting machine for the re
suscitation Of men overcome by deadl.
cages Is the pulmoter. This instru
ment consists Of an Oxygen tank con
nected to n rubber hose ending i'll {
mask which fits over the patienf's f&ce
Wien the patient. is unconscious, thu
rubber mask is placed over his mouth
ard a valve turned on. The machine
= IL automatic and WORKS precisely a
the normal lungs would perform thei
functions. This instrument has Al
ready saved several lives after tire
hours work BY physicians have beer
, Of no avail
The electric safety lamps both 70
czrloration and for actual rescue WORK
arc of great value. Each i9 Charge
with 40 volts and will last severa
hours before being recharX(d Tb
t Wolf safety lamp IS also carried on III