The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-05-18
RED CROSS FIRST AID
To Continue In Federal Work Re-
lief Projects

lief Projects
Washington, D. c., May 16-On
the showing that accidents in CWA
projects were held down to half Of
their expected number through safe
ty measures, the American Red
Cross is extending it's first aid teach
ing, as part of the safety program, to
the EWR, successor to the CWA.
All chapters in Maryland are now
receiving notices from the National
Red Cross Headquarters here to Of
fer to the new federal relief groups
the same facilities for training first
aiders as they so successfully gave
to the old.
When the government undertook
to use the unemployed on public
works, it was realized that the pos
sibilities of accident were many. A
large proportion of the men came
out of offices, unused to manual la
Dor, and others had softened up in
lay-off period. Excavating, tree
cutting, bridge repairing and the
like involved hazards. Not only
were there dangers from tl,mbling
stones and timbers, and workmen
falling off heights, but from axes,
picks, explosives, hauling anG traffic.
Infections from small wounds con-
stituted a further menace The Re-
lief Administration, besides warning
and cautioning, found it necessary to
have trained aiders on hand. Be-
cause the Red Cross gives courses in
emergency treatment of the injured
to many thousands annually, the di-
rector of safety of the Administra-
ton. Sidney Williams, arranged for
training with the national director
of Red Cross first aid, Harold F.
Elbows. BY this arrangement, men
selected from each project would re-
ceive special training so as to be
able to act promptly and intelligent
ly in accidents until the doctor ar
rived.
The basis of this training was the
Red Cross First Aid Textbook, of
which an entirely new edition, COW
ering the latest findings of science
and the best technique, was Publish
ed last year The first aid :rstruc-
tors also followed the Red Cross
outlines for teaching. The number
of textbooks distributed in the
CWA affords reliable index of the
number of trainees. Altogether,
$1,000 books were placed in the
hands of trainees over the country.
In Maryland, 767 textbooks were
distributed in classes conducted UNI
der Red Cross chapters
After the close of the CWA work,
the National Red Cross received
commendatory letters from safety
directors of the various State units
of the Federal Relief. The director
for Maryland, in which 6Sl men
were trained, said for instance that
in the four months ending with
March, only seven men had lost
time because of infected injuries out
of 12,999,7S7 man-hoqrs 1--WE
cannot emphasize too strongly" he
wrote, 1.-THE Importance of continu-
ing a Red Cross first alder en- each
project"
Opportunities for outside employ
ment have increased with general
revival of agriculture, industry and
trade, which absorbs many CT the
unemployed. Furthermore, the gov
eminent has restricted its projects
to men who have no resources what
ever as we'll as no opportunity for
outside work. Still, those who are
employed will be subjected to the
same hazards as before. And, at
the governments RICHEST. The Red
Cross is continuing it's first aid
teaching in these groups