Evening star., 1936-02-15
Amateur Dry-Cleaning
Without Adequate Care
May Have Tragic Result
Special Dangers to Children Listed-Fire-
arms and Ammunition Should Be Kept
Under Lock and Key.


toxic fumes. While deaths and mutt
lations from the former type Of acci-
dent are more common, the second
hazard must not be overlooked.
For those who intend doing dry
cleaning at home, the council has the
following recommendations:
81. Use a non-infiammable fluid.
"2. Keep hands out of the solvent by
using suction washer.
'3. Do the cleaning outside the
house, preferably on day when there
is some wind to carry the vapors away.
"a. Dry the garments outside the
house.
IS. Keep children and pets away.
"6. To be entirely safe, a non-in-
f1ammable fluid should be used even
for removing small spots.
"7. Many houses have been blown
apart and the occupants killed because
the housewife cleaned indoors, forget
ting that a pilot light was burning on
the stove, or not knowing that silk
rubbed against silk or wool against
wool can cause an electric spark"
X
TN THE matter of special child haz-
ards the council also goes into some
detail. It is pointed out that cheap,
poorly constructed toys are dangerous.
Children may suck the whistles OF
horns or noisemakers into their lungs.
Some badly-made stuffed animals
have only great pins for eyes, which
may do untold damage to the young
investigator. Electrical toys should be
constructed of the finest materials and
equipment, to obviate danger from
shock
Marbles and jacks left lying about
are a temptation to the creeping child.
Air rifles should never be allowed in
the city, and even in the country
great care should be taken to instruct
the child in the proper handling of
such playthings, if he is not to prove
a latent menace to the eyesight and
well-being of his neighbors.
Rubbish, pins. tacks. razor blades,
and so on, should never be left on the
| floor in household where there is a
young child present. High nursery
windows should be barred, and gates
set at the head of flights of stairs to
prevent serious tumbles. Electric fans.
scissors, knives. and so forth, should
pe kept safely out of reach and matches
should always be of the safety variety,
and even then kept where the chill
dren cannot get at them.
A ND last, but far from least, the
- council remarks:
About one-quarter of all fatal fire.
arms accidents occur at home each
year. All too frequently. a child or
childish adult points supposedly
unloaded gun at somebody and pulls
the trigger. He explains: I didn't
know it was loaded!'
Firearms should be unlOaded, dis
mantled. and, with all ammunition,
locked in strong chest. The hunter
who leans a rifle or shotgun against
the wall with a casual admonition to
his youngsters to stay away from it
is inviting disaster. If the gun mere
ly falls over, it may go of.
Blasting caps should be stored care
fully, and children in mining or quar-
rying districts must be taught of their
danger.
Many holiday is blightsd by acci-
dents. The Christmas tree should not
be erected near the fireplace; it should
not be decorated with candles; and it
should not be kept so long that it dries
out. Paper, boxes and ribbon should
be removed after the presents are
distributed.
Fireworks take their toll every year.
Community displays set of by experts
are recommended. Fireworks left after
the holidays are a menace, for they
are poisonous as well as explosive"
If you wish advice on your individ-
uaI household problems, write to Betsy
Caswell, in care of the Star, inclosing
stamped, self-addressed envelope for
reply.