Evening journal., 1921-08-08
SHOW METHODS
OF life SAVING
Rescue and Resusitation of
Drowning Persons Illus
trated at Pier
UNDER AUSPICES
OF SAETY COUNCIL

Modern methods Of reviving per-
sons taken unconscious from the wa
ter were demonstrated on Saturday
afternoon at the Fourth street wharf
by Captain Frederick c. Mills. OF
the American Red Cross. The dem
onstration was held under auspices
OF the Delaware Safety Council. II
was attended by a large number OF
men whose work brings them close
to the river front.
Only $500 persons we're drown
ed in the United States last year,
while 10000 met similar fate in
1911. Captain Mills said.
But this year" he added. "due
TO the unusual heat wave. the num-
Der has Increased possibly 25 per
cent so that a total OF 500 deaths
by drowning may be reached"
Forty-three persons met death by
drowning in Delaware in the past
two years, 2s OF which were in or
near Wilmington.
While two swimmers were show
ing methods Of rescuing persons
from drowning. Captain Mills re-
marked that it had been found that
rs per cent. OF men and 90 per cent.
OF women can float without swim
ming, provided they lie quietly In the
water. Struggling fills the stomach
with water and down they go.
He demonstrated what he term
ed the Safer system Of resuscitation.
designed TO remove water from the
stomach Of the victim.
With Louis A. deBlois. vice presi-
dent Of the Delaware Safety Coun-
Gil. stretched on a canvas table. Cap
tain Mills promptly began treating
him just as II he were unconscious.
He rolled him over on his face.
stretched one arm out straight above
his head, tucked his fingers Of the
other hand and arm beneath his
face, turning the face sideways upon
them as upon a pillow.
1T doesn't make any difference
about which arm or hand you USE
he explained, so long as the posi-
ton is the same"
Then Captain Mills took a kneei-
ing position astride Mr.. deBlois pros.
trate body, and placed each hand
thumb close to fingers and turned
outward. under his shoulder blades
With a downward movement his
hands sought the juncture OF the
ribs with the pelvis. directly back
Of the stomach.
The old theory Of grasplng a
drowning victim about the wais
and picking him up by the middle
in an attempt to dump the water
out Of him has gone by" said the
captain. The new theory is mucf
more easy to put into practice anc
more efiicacious."
Having got each hand about th'
lower rib section OF Mr.. deBlois
back, Captain Mills pressed firmll
for three seconds. Then he let q
uddenly. This operation he re
peated a number Of times.
Some people seem to think tina
ihe lungs OF a supposedly drowned
person are filled with water" h
continued. But they are not Th'
lungs are not an empty space. lik'
an inflated paper bag. They con
tain numerous cells and they holC
little water. The water fills tn
stomach"
Here Captain Mills gave another
squeeze about the ribs Of Mr.. de
Blois. Mr. deBlois gasped audibly
That's it," exclaimed Mills. "See
by pressing upon the ribs, you fol c
out some Of the water, then Their
Is an thrush Of air through tn
mouth and nose, and that tends &
restart the heart action.
I've been told of persons resus
itated who have been under waite
30 minutes. I know, personally, o
one case in which the drowned per
son was under water % minutes. ye
was revived. have myself been re
vived. so I have a rather intimat
interest in the work. nearly pass
ed out Then. too. my brother one
had a close call"