fire is and what it is best to do. If the fire is on the lower floor,
do not go upstairs, as you might be unable to come down again. If the
halls are filled with smoke, you can pass through them more easily
by crawling on your hands and knees, for the smoke and hot air rise
toward the ceiling, and the air is cooler and purer near the floor.
If it is necessary for you to go into a room that is filled with dense
smoke, tie a wet towel or sponge over your nose and mouth. If you have
no time to do this, hold a heavy woollen cloth over the lower part of
your face, or, at least, turn up your coat collar.
If the lower part of the house is on fire, and you cannot go down the
stairs, prepare to escape through the window, but _do not jump out_
recklessly. First of all, close the door to keep out the fire and smoke
as long as possible. Then drop the mattresses and pillows to the ground
so that they will form a break in case you should fall. If possible
tie the sheets and blankets firmly together to make a rope. Fasten it
securely to the bed-post, after you have drawn the bed close to the
window, and then, when it is absolutely necessary, let yourself down,
hand over hand. This is a dangerous method of escape, and should only
be used as a last resort. Try to wait for the firemen to rescue you.
If you see a fire anywhere, no matter how small, it is always best to
give it immediate attention. If it is only a burning match or cigarette
stump, step on it. If it is a fire in leaves, grass, or brush, put
it out yourself or call for help. If it is in a house, notify the
occupants at once, as they may not know anything about it. If the
house is unoccupied, or the family is away from home, call the fire
department. If a barn or stable is on fire, the first thing to do is to
save the live stock.
After the fire is all out, the next care should be to protect the house
and its contents from further damage by fire or theft, and to carry
articles which have been taken out to a place of safety.
FIRST AID
If a person's clothing is on fire, he should neither run nor scream, as
running fans the flames, and screaming causes deep breathing, thereby
drawing the intense heat into the lungs.
To extinguish the flames wrap the person tightly in a rug, blanket, or
heavy woollen coat, and roll him upon the floor. This method is much
more effective than using water. Often a person whose clothing is on
fire will resist any efforts to aid him, owing to his intense fright.
When the flesh is burned or scalded, the first object of treatment is
to relieve the pain.
This is best accomplished by excluding all air from contact with the
injured surface, either by dredging the part thickly with flour, if the
skin is not broken, or by applying bandages. The best bandages are
made of lint, cotton, or soft cloths moistened with water, or, better
still, with water to which a little baking-soda has been added.
[Illustration: Copyright 1906. Pillsbury Picture Co.
Fire raging through the deserted streets in San Francisco]
Be especially careful to remove all clothing covering a burn with the
utmost care. Never try to pull it off. Cut it away, a tiny piece at a
time, if necessary, so that the skin may not be broken and thus cause
a more serious wound. Never hold a burn in front of the fire, as this
only makes matters worse. As soon as the clothing has been removed
apply the bandages, and if the burn is at all serious send for a
physician.
If the person receives serious burns, he may become faint or lose
consciousness from the effect of the shock to the nervous system. If
this occurs, lay him flat on the floor or couch; preserve all body heat
by covering him with warm clothing; apply cool applications to his head
and heat to his feet.
ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION
If a person is overcome by inhaling smoke, it may be necessary to
resort to artificial respiration. This is done as follows:
[Illustration: FIG. 1.]
Lay the person to be treated flat on his back. Then kneel behind his
head, grasp both arms near the elbow, and move them horizontally,
carrying them away from the body and describing a semicircle until the
hands meet above the head, as in Fig. 1. When this position has been
reached, give the arms a steady pull for two seconds. By doing this the
lungs are filled with air, because the ribs are drawn upward, thereby
increasing the capacity of the chest.
The next step is to return the arms to the first position alongside the
chest, as in Fig. 2, making considerable pressure against the lower
ribs, and thereby forcing the impure air out of the lungs.
[Illustration: FIG. 2.]
This whole act should occupy three or four seconds and be repeated
sixteen times per minute. Do not abandon this work until it is
definitely certain that the heart has ceased to beat.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
Text in italics is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained from the original.
End of Project Gutenberg's Firebrands, by Frank E. Martin and George M. Davis