The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-05-20

gasoline, gas stoves, furnace gases
as we'll as poison gases we are hear
ing of now as used sometimes IN
war.
Breathing Stops
Drowning is another emergency,
and then we have the condition OF
electric shock. In all these cases.
the nerve center in the brain which
controls breathing has temporarily
failed to act, either from poison
or shock.
All victims are treated by the
same method. The idea is TO slim
ulate that nerve center IN the
brain to resume its action. The
Rassed person is moved to the open
air, the drowned person from the
water and the one suffering from
electric shock from an electric
contact. The victim is laid fiat on
his abdomen. There is no occasion
to roll drowned person on a bar
rel or stand him on his head. The
body can be raised il there is
much water in the stomach. which
Is seldom the case.
One OF the victims arms is
folded under his head which is
turned to one side. The mouth and
nose are cleared so that air can
20 In and out freely. Stand over
the victim facing his head, knee)
down with one knee between his
legs and one on the outside. Place
the hands spread out with your
a he 1otl n0oinSf tho inIov fin
gers otherwise you may sprain
your thumbs or bruise the victims
back. The fingers are cupped
about the ribs with your little fin
gers touching the lowest rib on
each side. Then press down and
forward firmly. using your body
weight, II you are not too heavy.
DO not Jerk but release your weight
and pressure quickly and straight
en- your back. Repeat the pressure
as before. You are trying to force
the air out of the lungs and the
water from the stomach as need
be.
Don't Give Up
This should be repeated ten or
twelve times minute. Do not
work too fast. You want the lungs
to have time to expand. when the
pressure is relieved; and to allow
air to enter the lungs again. Make
your position as comfortable as
possible, for you may have to keep
this up for a long time. and you
become very tired. Some one can
relieve you II there is another per-
son near. II you are exhausted. Do
not give up till all signs Of life
have passed and the victims mus
cles begin to stiffen. The treat
ment may be required for several
hours. II the victim breathes occa-
sionally. do not stop. but continue
with a little less pressure If help
comes with a pulmotor. you can
stop when that is ready to be used.
but do not stop before.
Do not try to get the victim 70
swallow. You will only choke him.
I have discussed this at consider
able length, because l consider 1t
the most important first aid re-
quirement, together with the con-
troll Of ,hemorrhage. close second.
Today thousands OF men. women,
girls and boys all over the land are
attending Red Cross first aid classes
TO prepare for emergency defense.
My wife and daughter, my boys
who have already had Boy Scout
training, are all attending these
schools. They kid me occasionally
saying that / do not do as the Red
Cross teacher tells them. That may
be true. A doctor learns several
m h o ds Of accomplishing the
same thing. When occasion comes
he uses the one that seems to Al
that occasion best. In teaching
first aid. a definite method must
be taught. What the Red Gross
teaches is right: II do not chance
to agree In my advice. infinitely,
just do as the Red Cross says and
you will do the right thing. 1t is
wonderful work and can be used
In peace as well as In war.