u,.:- • - Clpdigital.org

FIRST AID CONTEST AT ARSENAL STATION
BRINGS OUT TEAMS THAT DO SPELND1D
WORK.
Surprising the most sanguine of friends, 13
first-aid teams ot mine workers in the bituminous
fields of Pennsylvania entered a carefully planned
contest for proficiency under the auspices of the
Pittsburgh Coal Operators' Association on September
9. With the co-operation of the United States
Bureau of Mines, the contests were conducted in
Arsenal Park, Lawrenceville. Five events were
arranged, each testing the ability of the miners to
care for victims of accident and upon their efficient
work, as judged by physicians and experts,
were they given ratings and prizes.
The contests were called the "first annual first
aid contest of the Pittsburgh Coal Operators' Association."
The teams were sent to Pittsburgh
by the various companies, and each appeared in
attractive uniform and wearing badges presented
by the association. S. A. Taylor, secretary of the
Pittsburgh Coal Operators' Association, presided
at the contest. Several hundred persons gathered
to witness the events and inasmuch as most of the
teams had uniforms of khaki, with service hats
of the army, the general appearance of the event
was decidedly military.
Of the contestants teams Nos. 3 and 6 carried
off the greater number of honors, but their competitors
were close behind them and the rating
received by the men was considered little short
of phenomenal.
Elaborate preparations for the contest had been
made and the meeting was watched with keen
interest. The events were as follows:
First—10-minute limit—Caring for man with
left hand smashed, fingers burst, lacerations and
cut in palm of hand; to be dressed by First Aid
packet.
Second—10-minute limit—Man in contact with
live wire. Show three methods of rescue, carry
25 feet after last method, and perform artificial
respiration 1 minute.
Third—10-minute limit—Explosion of a keg of
powder; man burned about the head to the waistband
on the front of the body and arms to the
elbows.
Fourth—15-minute limit—Supposed fracture of
the spine in the middle of the back. Apply splints
and bandages and show method of transportation
so injury will not be made worse; carry 100 feet.
Fifth—15-minute limit—(cup contesti—Full
team work; man cut on top of head, compound
fracture of left leg, between knee and ankle, severe
bleeding; crushed right foot, with blood oozing;
dress and transport 50 feet.
In each of these supposed accidents, there were
men posing as victims and the complete service
of the First Aid chests and remedies were brought
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 37
into play so that the teams could show the method
of work in actual service. The teams were composed
of trained miners fresh from the mines,
who have been under instruction for some time,
and went about their tasks with wonderful precision
and intelligence. Many physicians present
expressed amazement at what the miners had
developed into in so comparatively short time.
One of the physicians said enthusiastically:
"There are 12,000 of these miners in the country
receiving this training now. What a nucleus
for a magnificent hospital corps for the army in
case of war."
Another declared that in the lesson there was a
pointed one for the city, to train its police and
firemen in the same manner for sudden emergencies
in the streets and at fires.
Signals were given at the opening of each contest.
The teams worked with calmness and without
undue haste. They handled the victim in the
same manner as they would at a mine accident,
and at the completion of their task called out the
number of their team to the time-keeper and announced
their completion. The judges, including
Dr. M. J. Shields of the American National Red
Cross; Dr. J. B. Stoner, surgeon. United States
Public Health and Marine Hospital Service; and
John G. Patterson of the Youghiogheny & Ohio
Coal Co. passed on each case carefully and figured
upon the percentages. J. T. Ryan and William
Burke of the Bureau of Mines were official timekeepers,
and VV. D. Roberts was recorder.
The contesting teams of these events with their
location were as follows:
No. 1. Pittsburgh Coal Co., Superintendent
James Porter's district—Alexander Waugh, William
Feick, Edward Lewis, Thomas McManus, John
Bowles.
No. 2. Superintendent John Hauser's district—
William Bregar, William Scott, George Sterner,
Henry Hall, Fred Jarvis.
No. 3. Superintendent L. C. Sarver's district—
Clyde Nelson, S. W. Cramer, Thomas Holleran,
John Behling, G. W. Lawson.
No. 4. Superintendent William Kelvington's
district—John Prebest, Burt Ramsey, John Stiffly,
Roy E. Fox, Rock Colland.
No. 5. Superintendent Henry Cattley's district
—Ralph Bradley, Joseph Logue. David Strong,
O. C. Trimmer, James Barr.
No. 6. Berwind-White Coal Mining Co.—William
Brownlee, J. L. Swanson, Ralph Gibson, Nelson
Gmith. D. A. Lehman.
No. 7. E. E. Firecoat, Joe Bosco, Joe Kreger,
h,. H. Scourfield, Griff Llewellyn.
No. S. Seanor First Aid Association—Capt. J.
C. Nedrow. J. L. Swanson. W. F. Ream. Edmond
Williams. Bert Sprague.
No. 9. Brier Hill Coke Co.—Harry Blackford.