Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-06
DEFENDS FAILURE
TO USE PULMOTOR
HeSse, Backing Harbor Police
in Jones Death, Doubts De-
vice Surpasses Human Aid.

Absence Of mechanical devices for
reviving persons near death from
drowning in the equipment of the
harbor police precinct, as developed
Friday when efforts were made by
two members of the precinct to re-
store life to Thomas A. Jones at
Hams Point. WAS defended yesterday
by Mai. Edwin r. Hesse. superin-
tendent Of police. and w. F.. Longfel-
low, chairman Of the first aid and
life saving committee of the District
Chapter and assistant national direc-
tor of first aid and life saving of the
American Red Cross.
While Maj. Hesse did not declare
policy that there would not be any
such devices NJ the harbor precinct,
he said preliminary investigation Of
their effectiveness in time of need
convinced him the methods now en-
ployed against suffocation were more
efficient.
Has Faith in Men.
The superintendent declared TO his
own knowledge there are several men
at the harbor station in possession of
extensive knowledge and skill as to
the proper manner of restoring drown.
ing persons taken from the water.
In particular, ne pointed to G. M,
Birkight, who worked over Jones
body before it was sent To Emergency
Hospital. and declared that it ever l
fell into the river ! would want him to
pull me out and revive me-"
Criticism of the manner In which
the harbor police and two game
wardens, in whose boat the officers
sped to Hams Point when word was
received at the station that a man
was in the water, was objected to by
the ma for who stated that RirkiEht
and ID. O. Hayes. the other harbor po-
liceman, were far more capable of tell
ing whether the man could be revived
than persons at a distance.
Mr. Longfellow, who has taught
members of the Fire Depa rtment res
cue squad here and conducted a cam
paign of education in life-saving tao
tics throughout the country. declared
the Red Cross. the United States Pub
lie Health Service and the Bureau of
Mines have adopted the prone pres
sure system" as the most effective
means of restoring a suffocated per-
son. Suffocation by water, gas, smoke
or shock by electricity is the same. he
explained, and the system is applied
to all cases.
Prefers Red Cross Method.
Mr.. Longfellow declared that the
Red Cross does not permit any of its
chapters to spend money on mechani-
cal devices, so firmly convinced it is
that the human hands are superior to
machines in such cases.
He added that policemen at the
harbor precinct use that method and
1t is to be desired above the working
of a machine that may fall into the
hands of a person unfamiliar with its
operation.
Lieut.. Harry r. Lehman, i'm com
mand of the precinct, said that he had
never seen a mocha nical life-saving
device at the station house during his
three years of duty. and that the ques-
ton of one never arose. He said he
had been informed by some doctors
he would inquire further, and if con-
WINGED they would supplant the sys-
tenn used by his men he would put in
a request that they be supplied
Battalion Chief Thomas O'Connor.
detailed as drill master of the Fire
Department, said that the rescue
squad owns one of the devices, which
is carried on every call, but the first
act of his men is to apply the prone
pressure system. This system en-
bodies placing the victim on his face
and with both hands applying pres.
sure below the floating ribs II times
a minute. This draws air into the
lungs, whereas the mechanical device
pumps it in, it was explained.
Death Laid to Blood ClOt.
Jones came to his death according
to Coroner hewitt from a blood clot
in the lungs. The obstruction had
moved into position where it pre-
vented functioning of the pulmonary
organs and Coroner hewitt expressed
the opinion that death could not have
been prevented by use OF pulmotor
Drowning, he stated emphatically,
was not the cause of death and he ex-
pressed the belief that it would have
been impossible for a pulmotor to have
removed the clot from the lungs.
Jones funeral will take place at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning from the
Funeral Home, 500 Cameron street.
Services will be conducted by Rev.
Edgar Carpenter, rector of Grace
Episcopal Church, and interment will
be in Bethel Cemetery