Milford chronicle., 1937-03-12
Red Cross Renel0s
War On Accidents

newspapers sensed a story ant
broadcast 1t throughout the coun
| try.
II was news. Here was an estab-
lished and reliable organization
making a prediction, based ON fact
that 10000 Americans would lose
their lives in accidents by December
81, 1886! Forty thousand of these
fatalities would occur in homes
thirty-six thousand of them on high
ways, they said.
IL was news-at the time! But un-
fortunately 1t did not remain so long
Today, as the year 1886 ended; the
race is run. The zones" have lost
one out of every 1000 of them-and
the fateful prediction is near full
flllment.
The story does not end there. how
ever. There is more-mostly of the
same. For the accident statisticians
also predicted that 1886 wouki be
marred by 9,500,000 non-fatal acci-
dents. For every death they estimat-
ed there would be more than eighty
injuries-all of them painful. many
of them resulting in weeks and
months of suffering, lost time and
money, and some causing permanent
lifelong disability. Over half of
these mishaps were scheduled to Oc-
cur in our homes.
Briefly, and in a general way. the
accident picture in the United States
as the year neared its end is this:
An estimated 10000 dead, which is
5000 more than the toll for 1885;
over 9,500,000 injured, with 10000
fatalities and half the injuries re-
sulting from home accidents. Home
fatalities in 1885 totaled approx
mately 31.5OO.
This sharp increase thrusts the
theory that home
sweet home is the safest place on
earth still farther into oblivion, and
it indicates why the accident prob
lem is now viewed with such grave
concern by the Government and the
agencies and organizations whose
purposes are aimed at the preven-
tion of such tragedies, including the
National Safety Council. Farm
Oranges, the American Red Cross,
with it's responsibility for devising
ways and means of preventing SUI
fering, and many others.
The Red Cross, in an effort to
the hazards which cause
these accidents in homes and on
farms, recently completed It's second
annual home and farm inspection
Every accident that occurs has
It's source in a hazard of some sort,
mental or otherwise" Mr.. DUPONT
said today in an appeal for public
support of the accident program. III
we can do away with that source,
we eliminate accidents, just as mai
aria and yellow fever were stamped
out by draining stagnant pools and
ponds which bred mosquitoes.
THAT is the objective of the Red
Cross accident preventive program.
We are trying to stamp out the
scores of hazards, big and little,
which are making the home and
'arm more unsafe than blast fur
lace or powder mill. This can only
De accomplished, however, through
he whole-hearted support and CO.
operation of every citizen in the
Neither the Red Cross, the Gov
rnment, nor any other agency can
ome into your home and force you
o stop unsafe practices or to cor
ect dangerous accident hazards. All
re can do is point them out and ask
our voluntary support in correct
ng them. This we are doing. ana
redict that IL all of you will make
very effort to make your homes
afer. the accident death toll in 1887
ill be greatly reduced.
In line with the Red Cross plah
, widely publicize accident causes
eculiar to the seasons, Mr.. DUPONT
aid the seasonal hazards confront
,g everyone at present are those
hich have to do with winter wea-
Ter and especially those attendinS
pliday celebrations, including rails
lille hanging decorations, CHRIST
AS tree fires, injuries from Dang
.ous toys, and similar accidents.
In an effort to prevent the trag-
lies which invariably strike GER
in number of homes during the
,liday season, he listed a number ,
precautions which. IL followed
mi greatly reduce Christmas acci-
nts. They are: ,
1 Anchor the Christmas tree ON !
firm base away from the fireplace !
heating unit
2. If possible. use only hre-re- '
,tant decorations. and while hang
? them use a sturdy step-ladder.
sure the braces are firmly locked I
fore you go up. I
3. Inspect all light sets carefully
. bad insulation and other causes
short circuit before placing them y
the tree. II
/. II candles are used TO light the
e. an adult should be in the room =, y
lie they are burning. +
!. Don't let Santa Claus smoke, =,
1 don't allow him too near the
,-place. His suit is generally high Il
infiammable.
!. Where fireworks are used to .
citrate the holidays an adult "
,uld supervise the shooting"
+. Insist on safety film for mo- T.,
! picture machines, and carefully
lain the use og electrical and me- Al
inical toys. NJ
See that safe" hills are pro- Fc
ed for coasting. and caution the Sc
Idren again about "hitching"