Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-27
CITES PROGRESS MADE
IN TEACHING FIRST AID
Activities of Red Cross Outlined to
Washington Policemen by
DR.. M. J. Shields.

| In the course of his first-aid lecture al
| the Public Library last night to an audi.
ence of Washington policemen, and ir
connection with the general campaign OF
the American Red Cross in the intereS,
of first aid and accident prevention. DR.
NJ ]. Shields of the Red Cross staff made
the declaration that since the first-aid de-
partment of the American Red Cross was
established six years ago 100000 Ameri-
cans have received some instruction In
| first aid, and in the event of any great
national emergency large number OF
| these men would be available as help
full auxiliary force for the Red Cross
surgeons and physicians. DR.. Shields
told something Of the interest of the
American Red Cross in the preparedness
movement, dealing especially with the
medical bureau of the Red Cross. The
nursing service of the American Red
Cross has between six and seven thou
sand enrolled graduate nurses available
for emergency service, he said.
Dr. Shields reviewed the work of the
medical bureau and first-aid department,
and said that with instruction cars and
field agents it had covered the whole
United States, giving first-aid instruction
to the employees of all the larger railroad
systems and many large industrial plants,
has held special meetings of the police
and fire departments in all the larger
cities. and organized hundreds of first
aid classes, whose membership will total
25, 900. These have received a thorough
training in first-aid methods and have
passed examinations and received first
aid certificates.
Contests Held Annually.
Also. working in conjunction with the
al he
Red Cross has organized first-aid training
in all the principal mining centers, and
to encourage further this important work
holds f1rst-aid contests annually in all
sections of the country, where medals and
prizes are awarded for meritorious work.
Recently firSt-aid instruction has been
started in the lumber and logging camps
of the Pacific coast. and several thousand
men have been trained. To sum up. it
would not be overstating it to say that
half a million men have received some
instruction in first aid. and $4,000 a
thorough training. who could be immedi-
ately available for hospital and ambulance
corps should the emergency arise.
The future plans are to continue this
work on larger scale, extended to such
men as chauffeurs and motor drivers. and
list motor vehicles and organize motor
corps for transportation of the wounded.
1t will cooperate with the movement to
standardze all first-aid training and ma
terials, SO no matter from what section
of the country or from what industry the
man is called his training will enable him
to perform efficient and practical first aid,
and it is the Red Cross intention in the
near future to found supply depots for
the collection of supplies of all kinds.
The country will be divided into twelve
districts. in accord with the division of
the quartermasters department of the
United States Army. where voluntary
Mr.. Shields will give tonight's lecture
in the board room OF the District build
ing, instead Of at the Public Library, as
heretofore