The Republican journal., 1918-08-29
A Longfellow First Aid Demon
StratiOn.

Wilbert E. Longfellow, field agent, first
aid division of the American Red Cross,
was in Belfast over Sunday and gave a
public demonstration at p. m, at the
Eastern Steamship Company's wharf un-
der the auspices of the Waldo County
Chapter. Mr.. Longfellow's present ad-
dress is Washington, D. c. His father
belonged to the Portland, Maine, Long
fellow family. His family are now in
Massachusetts, He is a fine specimen of
manhood, weighing 200 pounds, but as
agile and graceful as school boy. Only
few years ago he was victim of tuber-
culosis of the spine and was in plaster
casts. His muscles were uniformly de-
veloped and his skin clear nut brown.
After an introduction by Mr.. James H.
Howes, who also explained the necessity
of man preservation in war time cOndi-
tions, Mr. Longfelow gave demonstra-
tions on the public boat float near the
wharf, of approved methods of man
handling, of transporting wounded SOL
diers without the use of stretchers, of
bandaging head wounds first aid of
dispelling water from the lungs and let
ting in air. He then transferred his
platform to the strip of water in front of
the float, where he talked as readily as
he did on the boards, and at the same
time demonstrated new methods of SWIM
ming and of life saving. His conversa-
ton on both platforms was bright, well
balanced and held the closest attention of
the large crowd gathered On the pier, the
float and in boats near by.
He used John Durham, elder son of
Mr.. and Mrs. James c. Durham, to in
struct in his new methods and also used
him for demonstrating the first land aids.
Mr.. Durham is a fine athletic youth, an
expert swimmer, and has been at the st.
Johns Military school at Manlius, N. T.,
the past year. Mr. Longfellow announced
that young Durham had passed readily
all the tests required of first aid Red
Cross life saver, could receive diploma
from Washington and was entitled to
wear their uniform and badge and me-
dallion. He was also placed in charge of
the work that may be done here.
For about eight years the Red Cross
has been demonstrating life-saving meth
DDS on land and sea, under such experts
as Mr.. Longfellow He took occasion to
demonstrate the waste of war materials
in knitting regardless of Red Cross in
structon, and exhibited a Peking blue fine
wool sweater that had been sent in to
the Chicago Red Cross. 1t deserved the
ridicule he made of it as he put it on and
called attention to its enormous size and
other defects He said if you want to
help 60 to the Red Cross headquarters
for proper instruction and your work will
be appreciated.
Very deftly and rapidly he demonstrat-
ed an interesting trench bandage, four
inches wide and four feet long, and de-
welcomed bv private soldier in the trench
I es to meet actual need of first aid. 1t is
ALWAYS tied first on the top of the head
extending from under the chin and over
/ the ears When the knot is slipped loops
can be extended over the cheeks, mouth,
ewes and ears and is the most simple and
effective first aid bandage known in
trench work.
He demonstrated several methods OF
transporting wounded men, leaving one
and also both hands free to use their gun,
climb or otherwise protect themselves
The method of tying the wjunded man
hands and lifting him on the back has
been explained to at least so, 600 officers
the past year. He also explained briefly
the simple expedients in emergencies IN
resuscitation for suffocation by drowning,
gas, smoke, electric shock, etc.
He performed some wonderful feats IN
diving, floating, swimming in different
positions and found young Durham