Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-12
Booklet Tells
How 10 Treat
Bomb Victims
Special Instructions
For Mass Casualties
Issued by Red Cross

leased today by the Red Cross,
supplementing the standard course
given civil defense volunteers.
The emphasis of the four-hour
course is placed on problems that
would comfort the flrst-aid worker
in dealing with large numbers of
casualties under adverse condi-
tons. The booklet also deals spe-
officially with types of injuries
that would be caused by an atomic
explosion.
At the same time, the Red Cross
issued an instruction pamphlet
for home nurses and volunteer
nurses aides, designed to brief
them on their special duties in
case of disaster. .
Value of Training Stressed.
The pamphlet advises that "im-
mediately following bomb at
tack you may be sharing your house
with strangers or you may be one
of many people in a shelter where
only the necessities are available.
People who have had some train
ing will be able to give care to
the sick or injured and to handle
many routine, time-consuming
duties for overtaxed nursing per-
sonnet"
The Red Cross, charged with
all first-aid training under the
National Civil Defense program. is
carrying on several instructor
training courses at present in the
District area. Eventually, it is
expected that all civil defense
volunteers. numbering about 100,-
900 in the District. will receive
first-aid instruction.
Procedures Set Up.
The first-aid manual sets up
priority procedures which should
be followed by volunteer in
handling casualties. Those suf-
fering from severe hemorrhage,
asphixia and serious breathing
difficulty should be treated first
and transported as quickly as pos
sible to aid stations where medical
help is available.
Less urgent casualties, where
speed of handling would still be
important are the shock cases,
abdominal wounds, severe cuts,
burns and eye injuries. and COM
pound fractured involving large
bones.
After these cases are handled
the f1rst-aid worker could then
turn his attention to the simple
fractures, superficial cuts and
burns and those suspected of suf-
fering from radiation injury.
Badly Injured Are Quiet.
The manual notes that the VOL
unteer may expect most trouble
from the least seriously injured,
such as those suffering from
bruises and sprains: Some of
these may be more insistant that
they receive immediate f1rst-aid
than critically injured casualties,
but a frst-aider must follow a
good priority plan despite de-
mands upon him. The most seri-
ously injured patient is usually
quiet"
The booklet notes that burns
will prove the common injury
from an atomic explosion, pre-
scribing the dry dressing treat
ment called for by the Federal
Civil Defense Administration. It
observes that although burns are
painful, you can reassure casual
ties by telling them that, in gen.
eral. the more painful the burn,
the better the outlook"
Volunteers are warned they
"must be prepared to deal with
numerous wounds, minor as well
as extremely severe" Extensive
bruises, inflicted with great force
or compression, may be suffered
Lacerations from flying glass will
usually be superficial but may be
deep, may affect any part of the
body and may cause severe hemor-
rhage and shock.
Care Is Advised.
The manual advises workers to
be especially careful in remov-
ing victims from debris. Get as
sistants to help. Consider in all
cases the possibility of spine frac-
lures :" Casualties in the dis
aster area should be marked in
the forehead when possible to
guide physicians in rear areas:
''T'' if a tourniquet is applied, "H'
for severe hemorrhage, ''U'' for
urgent care required and IN" if
morphine has been given.
AS for the treatment Of radia-
ton sickness, volunteers are told
that it will be among the least of
their problems. Neither a VIC
tim nor a f1rst-aider can know
what the exposure was and
whether any damage will show
up later or what it's extent will
be-" Most Of the symptoms de-
velop slowly, the booklet says. The
one precaution that should be
taken, according to the instruc-
tons, is to take all preventive
first-aid measures against infec-
ton since radiation depresses
the body's defensive mechanism
later on"
The special supplement skins
lightly over the possibility of other
forms of attack, such as biological
warfare and any of various types
of poisonous gases. It notes
however that there is consider
able reason to believe that the
chemical agents most likely to be
used" are odorless and colorless
nerve gases. The f1rst-aid meas
ures prescribed are complete rest
washing of exposed skin areas
artificial respiration if necessary
and prompt medical attention.
Park Hills Group to Meet