The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-12-10

This column will be somewhat oil
the beaten track but perhaps that Is
just as we'll. Perhaps also there ought
not be any beaten track.
Everyone has read of the tragic
Boston night club fire in which some
$50 persons lost their lives, with an
other couple of hundred injured.
But did everyone read that there
wasn't a doctor in the place or near at
hand? And that first aid workers
trained for defense services were first
on the job, helping the injured, getting
them to hospitals and generally work
| ing herOcally, in the absence OF pro-
fessional helpers?
If YOU didn't read that, then you
missed sOmething-for that is the way
| it was.
That one job alone justified all the
training given to those courageous
Boston first aiders - most of whom
probably were working people.
All over the United States defense
councils have been training men and
women in first aid.
In many cases, notably those places
not near sea coasts, the idea of train
ing for defense gets none too serious
consideration. BUT, flashing out of
that horrible fire in the midst OF
gayety in Boston, there comes such
graphic evidence of the value of train
ing that it would seem no longer pos
sible to take the matter lightly.
The doctors came as soon as they
could but first at work were the de-
fense-trained first aid workers.
! Always, in every community, there
will be numbers of trained first aid
workers near at hand.
Boston had it's fire horror, but in
many sections there are hazards of
nature in which trained first aiders
can more than justify their training.
x X X
Some years ago l saw in East ST
Louis the CHASTITY aftermath Of terrible
struggle. First aiders would have been
worth their weight in gold.
Again in NATION in the same state
a cyclone whirled its mad way through
the community, leaving a trail of in
jured.
This year Florida had it's threat of
hurricane. -Four years ago the hurri-
cane monster reached out its long
fingers to tear cash through New
England.
Every year there is natural disaster
somewhere - cyclone, hurricane, flood,
peStilence or fire and always lives
are lost for want Of help with speed
and training.
Defense has brought us trained men
and women. These are trained for first
aid, for the orderly mobiliZing and
movement of transportation, for evacu-
alton of population, for the restoration
of interrupted services, such as water,
light and sewage.
These workers are trained primarily
for war job.
But they can be just as valuable in
: Il peace job, as we saw in Boston.
In many communities labor has
. taken an interest in this enormous
program of training, subsequent re-
hearsal and drill-and administration.
There are evidences that some folks
think of it all as folderol-SO much
} monkey-do for adolescentS.
, That is about the silliest idea that
could be hatched.
The lesson taught by that sweep of
death that struck down in one awful
flash the merry-makerS Of Boston
ought to wipe off any grin that may
meet the project for training civilian
volunteer defense units.
: No really worth while service ever
} waits long for a chance to show its
: value. 1t can be hoped that not too
many Will fail to see the lesson taught
l in the writhing agony of those who
periShed in BOSton.-CMW.