Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-09-14
death RATE
IS REDUCED
Life Saving Campaign in Coal
Mines Has Been Effective
the Past Year ....
Training Given Underground
Workers Has Resulted
IN PleCautiOD

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-Encour.
aged by a reduction of more than 300
in number Of deaths in the coal mines
Of the United States in 1911 as COM
pared with the previous year, and
with the purpose of furthering the
l%ife.saving campaign among the
miners, the Bureau OF Mines has
called for a national conference of
mine managers, superintendent, com.
pany surgeons and first-aid experts to
meet at the experiment station Of
the bureau in Pittsburgh, Pa, Sep
TENDER %, "a, Is and 26.
Since the bureau, together with the
American Red Cross society and the
Pittsburgh Coal Operators ~associa-
ton, held a national mine safety dem.
onstration one year ago in Pittsburgh,
which was attended by forty first
aid and rescue teams of miners from
all over the country and more than
10000 miners as spectators, there
has been a wonderful development in
both rescue and first-aid work at the
mines. While figures are not avail
able, it is estimated that at least
1000 mining companies are now
equipped either with trained rescue
teams or first-aid teams OF both.
These teams have, during the year,
saved a sufficient number of lives to
make an appreciate decrease in the
number Of deaths, but a lack of uni.
formity in the methods pursued by
the various teams has, it is said, pre-.
vented them from saving even more
lives.
Numerous inquiries made to the
bureau OF mines as to the best meth.
DDS to employ led to the suggestion
Of a national conference and this has
been welcomed by the mine managers
who have notified the Bureau Of
Mines of their desire to be present.
At the conference, which will have
the benefit of the attendance of some
Of the rescuers of the bureau, there
will be actual demonstrations of the
various methods employed in rescue
work and in the treatment OF in.
juries. Only those methods which
meet with the approval Of the mem.
bers of the conference will be
adopted. Later the bureau will is.
sue a circular describing the proper
methods. g. lid .t..&
Mr.. H. M. Wilson, engineer in
charge Of the experiment station OF
the Bureau Of Mines, who will have
general charge of the conference,
say, In leading its support to this
conference, the bureau has in view
the encouragement of methods and
appliances best adapted to preventing
accidents and to increasing safety in
mines. Prompt treatment OF injuries
by persons skilled in first-aid meth.
DDS reduces the miners loss Of time
by about 80 per cent. There is "a
corresponding saving in wages to the
worker and a reduction of damages or
compensation to the operator. Where
mine operators take an interest in
and encourage first-aid work a better
feeling develops between the worker
and his employer, resulting In i'm
proved hospital and sanitary arrange
ments, improved living and housing
conditions, and general advancement
of the mining industry.
Experience indicates that the
best results are effected by training
in first-aid work at least one mine
worker in every ten. This precaution
insures the presence near the place
of accident OF. enough first-aid men to
give prompt treatment. Public exhi.
bits and contests stimulate the inter.
est Of miners in organizing a first.aid
cor spand keep them prepared to
rnndnr. the most affpctixa %seruicpn