Evening journal., 1912-01-10
FATALITIES
WITH SKATING
Warning and Rescue HelIs
Given by UHited States
Life Saving Corps
SOME FIRST AIDS TO
THOSE WHO BREAK THROUGH

With the first few days Of steady
cold the sklmmering over of the
marshes and still water ponds brings
its almost inevitable train of fatalities
among the especially over
Saturday and Sunday. when they are
leased from the restrictions of school
life Running "benders," taking
chances with thin ice. are favorite
pastmcs of the young. anxious to
have the first skate of the season, and
IL behoovos each parent solicitous of
the welfare Of tho children 10 explain
the dangers Of the untested ice. Mere
warnings often stimulate them 10 take
chances.
The toll % tho half-frozen rivers
and pounds is a long one. and hardly
any section Of the country Is exempt
ed from A. Save for ice-cutting ac-
cideuts, II is almost exclusively chill
dren. SO active preventative measures
should be taken In each community.
w. e, Longfellow. of the United
States Life Savings Corps. says con-
cerning the FIRST aid work
People who break through the ice
seldom go down instantly. they make
fight to cling to the edges ol tho
broken place and often are seen by
spectators on the bank for hve ior ten
minutes before their benumber fin
gers lot 60 Attempts TO walk to the
hole are nearly always fatal and re-
suit In the immersion OF more per-
sons.
ladder or thin Nat plank which
distributes The weight enables one 10
reach ihe endangered person. and
ponds where accidents are frequent
should be protected by having these
near. with ropes Some Of our inland
stations have ladders especially con-
structed with fiat rung to each two
round ones. hanging near the pond
whore the skaters reach the ice.
Then ring life buoys hung ON The
banks arc excellent. for the weight Of
the buoy enables il TO be scaled TO
the imperilcd person and the 75-foot
line allows them TO be hauled TO
safety A wooden ball about the size
of an ordinary bowling ball is fitted
with 200 or more feet of light MANILA
line and is wonderfully efficient in
getting line 10 persons impcrllcd
through ice accidents. These are
made generally OF soft wood and arc
known as ice balls. and could be pro-
vded by local labor. by pond owners
or villages at small cost TO prevent
ice fatalities. An ounce OF prevention
saves many funerals.
Assuming that the persons have
sunk before help could reach them
an help need not be abandoned one
can go down to the bottom Of a pond
with a line attached to the waist aud
q stone TO serve as weight to offset
the buOyancy OF the waiter. Oyster
rakes or graphing hooks sometimes
enable one TO recover the body in
time for rcsuscitation IL one works
quickly.
Regarding winter resuscitation
cases. IL is not we'll to expose tho
body TO the icy air--slripping and
rubbing should be done under dry
blankets or overcOats. II Is not we'll
to cause too much delay by removing
the patient a great distance TO house
before commencing work as every
moment Is precious. TO rosuscitate,
see there is plenty Of fresh air. lay
the patient face downward, arms eX-
tended. protect the mouth and nose
from sand and dirt or clogging
kncel to one side of the body or
astride and LET the fingers iit into the
grooves OF The lower ribs. apply pres
sure while YOU count slowlg 10 FIVE
then relax slowly to the same count
thus completing a complete act Of
respiration This Is the Schafer
method which enables the body to be
wrapped warmly while the work is
going on Send for a doctor. but do
no. delay in commencing work till
his arrival Pneumonia is always 10
! be feared after an icy immersion for
/ rescued and rescuer. and prompt pre-
venlative measures should be taken.