The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-07
BY
RADIOS GIVEN
SICK At SEA
Surgeon General Cumming
Tells Instances of Where
Wireless Has Helped.

General Cumming told of the use
of radio IN disseminating health
mews. The United States Public
Health Service, through its marine
hospitals, is also extensively using
radio as an agency for recommend.
ing treatment of people becoming
i'll at sea. The latter GOoTk is dis
catssed IN the following article:
By SURGEON GENERAL HUGH S.
CUMMING,
o. s. Public Health Service.
(wrltten Expressly for Cosmopolitan
News Service.l
Not only is radio factor in the
dissemination Of health news to mil
lions Of our people, but it is being
extensively used In the treatment. Of
people becoming Ill at sea.
While most large passenger YES
sells carry physicians, there are few
ships other than such vessels that
do. The Public Health Service is
often called upon for medical advice
in the case Of persons who are i'll
or injured on board vessels where
there is no doctor. -
We all have, no doubt, experienced
the anxiety Of waiting for doctor
to answer a call in the night time.
The minutes seemed like hours
Consider, though, the captain of
vessel 1000 miles at sea, no physi-
clan on board, and one OF the crew
desperately i'll. What would have
happened to that seaman in the old
days, before the development of
radio, when hardened sea dogs, SYM
pathetic but helpless because of lack
of training, could no no more than
leave their sick companions to their
fate. In those days, a sick sailor
was lucky If he escaped "Davy
Jones' locker"
Learns What to Do.
That same captain today would
send out a wireless message to the
nearest United States marine hos
pital, describing the sick mans con-
dition and asking for advice. A re-
ply Is shortly received, telling in
simple language what to do and
how to do it.
Many interesting cases have oc-
CURED since this novel way of treat
ing the sick at sea was started by
the Public Health Service through
its marine hospitals. -. %
In one instance, a freighter near
ing the port of Baltimore developed
engine trouble, and was forced to
anchor off an uninhabited stretch
of coast. One of her crew fell
through an open hatchway and suf-
fered fracture of the leg. The
radio was brought into play and the
message picked up. by q station at
Cape May. n. ]. The station ad.
vised the Marine Hospital at Balti-
more by long distance telephone,
with the result that an ambulance
was Immediately sent to the place
| where the disabled ship lay. which
was some fifteen or twenty miles
from the hospital.
There are many other cases even
| more interesting. Frequently the
Public Health Service, through its
Marine Hospitals, prescribes a
method of treatment for sick per-
sons at sea administered over a
period of days. Regular messages
are transmitted reporting on the
patients condition and asking for
further instructions OF course, in
recommending treatment for people
by radio only simple remedies are
resorted to. Even so, much valuable
assistance has been rendered.
Facilities Needed on Ships.
Because Of it's duty to take care
of sick and injured seamen, the
Public Health Service has. con.
stantly urged making it obligatory
for ships to carry intelligent first
aid equipment, the presence Of
which on board vessels would make
it possible for even further service
in the way Of radio treatment.
Many seamen have died, others have
suffered needlessly and still others
have been disabled for life, because
of the lack of facilities on board
ship and because there was no one
on board to aid the sick who had
any training in the rudimentary
principles of first aid. That the
great humanitarian service or medi.
cal advice by radio to ships at sea
has proved a success is demonstrated
beyond doubt. ...,
The presence aboard American
vessels of a ships officer skilled
in first aid has been provided for
in a recent regulation by the De.
partment of Commerce which re.
quires an applicant for a license
to pass an examination in first aid
methods given by the Public Health
Service. This service has desig.
mated forty-two of it's relief sta.
tions, including marine hospitals.
to give instructions and conduct
examinations in first aid principles,
a subject which the young ships
officer recognizes as of great prac.
tical Importance.