The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-08-19
FIRST AID AND RESCUE
CONTESTS IN DENVER
MANY COMPETING TEAMS FROM
MINES IN U. s., CANADA AND
MEXICO.

leams Of miners from Canada an(
Mexico have been invited to attend tn,
international first aid and mine rescue
contests to be held at Denver. Col.
under the Jurisdiction of the United
States bureau of mines September 9
10 and IL. and the meet promises to be
of unusual interest to the mining in
dustry.
Last year at the Pittsburgh meet
about 125 teams of miners competed
and although the exhibitions will be
held this year in the far west equally
as large a number Of entrants are ex-
pected.
Trained Men at All Mines.
Mine rescue and first aid work is
gradually extending under the direc-
ton of the mines bureau and it is es-
timated that 1907 900 miners have been
trained in such work by this agency.
In fact the movement is of great i'm
portance in all mining and is effective
in saving the lives of many miners and
preventing injury to many more. The
bureau maintains rescue cars and
stations in all of the prominent min
ing districts of the country, and regu-
larly sends out trained men who i'm
part the instruction. to the miners.
Some of the instruction is given in
mine rescue work alone while other
instruction is had in first aid, while
in many cases the combined training
has been given. The system is so well
organized and trained miners are rep
resented in so many mines that now in
case of a mine disaster a crew of train
ed rescuers and first aid men can be
gathered within fifty mile point, cap
able of rendering quick Treatment. The
object of the training, which is bear
ing rich results, is to reduce deaths
and lessen injuries among miners. IL
is said that practically all the mines
OF the country have either a rescue or
first aid team or both at the mines
available for duty. and the members .
take a great pride in their work. The
results of the work are shown in that
injured miners are able to return to
work much earlier when they receive
this prompt treatment. The practice
of olden days in applying a Quid of to-
bacco to a cut has gone into disuse
with the new system. under which
trained miners are able to use steriliz-
ed methods and treat wounds the same
as an up-to-date doctor.
Importance of Training.
This work is more important in
mines than in factories, because min
err is usually injured under the earth ]
i'm darkness and heretofore it has been !
necessary to have him brought out in !
to the light and air for treatment The +
rescue work has been so developed /
that now first aid can be administered !
TO the men in the mines An instance 4
is cited where a miner was crushed {
while in the mine. The rescuers ap-
piled body heat until other help arriv- y
ed and it was said later that the man {
would have succumbed had not this q
treatment been applied. Practically y
all of the mining operators are heartily q
co operating in this work. by affordng q
the men materials and facilities and q
meeting places.
L. j. Bailey assistant to the director q
Of the bureau of mines is in admins s.
rative charge of the Denver exercises. ,
which will be in direct charge of D. ). r
Parker chief of the mine rescue work
Il the bureaus station. Pittsburgh, n
Pa Inquiries in regard to the meet n
'rior to September 1 should be ad- II
dressed TO Mr. Parker at Pittsburgh. q
Handsome cups trophies and other ii
wards will be given to the winners in II
he competition, which is designed to ~
romote interest throughout the min n
ag industry in safety measures. and TO n
nstill an esprit de corps among miners II
'hich will mean a further saving OF n
lie and lessening of MISUNDERSTANDING II
Congress- Journal III