Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-08-15

switch without opening the second
cut-out This left the time switch in
direct electrical connection with one
side of the 6600-volt feeder.
"Tarbell laid his pliers and screw
driver inside of the box which con-
tanned the time switch, removed his
right hand glove in order to work
more easily and began to unwind the
tape from one terminal of the switch.
Burns on his hand and fash marks
on the untaped terminal showed that
his right hand had made contact with
the terminal as soon as the tape was
sufficiently unwound. His position in
front Of the switch brought him in di-
rect contact with a grounded service
wire, so that his body formed COM
plete electrical connection between
the $500 volt line and ground. The
shock threw him clear from the $500
volt conductor, so that he fell over
backwards and hung by his safety
| belt until his body was removed from
| the pole.
1.-THE nearest doctor was Is miles
away at Pittsfield but the roads were
in such condition. due to frost, that
the doctor was two hours in cOmplet-
/ ing the trip. In the meanwhile in
/ structions were telephoned, as best
might be, for applying first aid to re
vive Tarbell from the shock. The
nrone pressure method of resuscita-
ton was applied, but no one present
had ever seen it administered before,
it was abandoned after about Is min
utes. The attending physician, upon
/ his arrival, declared Tarbell to be be-
yond help.
"Tarbell's orders were perfectly
clear and definite. If the main line
! switch had been opened as directed.
or even if both cut outs. instead OF
only one, on the transformer, had
been opened, the work could have
been accomplished in absolute safety.
The opening Of the switch in addition
to the cut outs, provided double
safeguard.
The accident was directly due to
Tarhells failure to open both cut-outs
on the street lighting transformer be-
fore attempting to remove the time
switch. and indirectly to his failure to
obey explicit instructions.
"This accident emphasizes the need
of a more wide spread knowledge OF
the prone pressure method OF resus-
citation. Whereas a pulmotor in the
hands Of a skilled operator might
have been instrumental in revivine
the victim. it is evident that mechan-
iCal appliances of this sort cannot he
universally available. and that much
valuable time may be lost in getting
such apparatus to the scene of the
accident.
"In tho case Of an electrical acct
dent the difference OF 4 few moments
in starting artificial respiration may
mean life or death 10 the victim. The
prone pressure method of resuscita
ton is fully as effective as the pulmo-
tor and has the further advantage OF
requiring no apparatus whatever.
"As matter of fact, it requires lit
tie beyond a certain amount of intel
ligcnce on the part Of the operator
1t should be applied as soon as pos
sible after the occurrence of the ac-
Cident and kept up continually until
the arrival of a physician, even if re-
suits are not Immediately nOticeab bic
Cases are on record wherein the ap-
plication Of the prone pressure meth
Cd continuously for four or five
hours resulted in the reviving of q
man who appeared to he dead wher
work was started on him"