The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, January 9, 1928, Page 3

i Sa ‘ILHINGS NOT TO want to five long conomic Loss Due to Accidents stimated at *OCLD,CUD,. COD hy {OSE “Stop, Look and Listen” signs which have been pretty well plastered over most of the country’s landscape in a campaign to save the living for democracy at last seem to have sunk in and are registering an effect. In 1926, for the first time since 1921, the number of accidental deaths,in this country showed a decrease from the previous year, according to the records of the National Safety Council at Chicago. In 1921, the number of accidental fatalities listed vy the council was about 74,000. By 1925, the toll vad increased to 90,000. But in 1926, the number decreased to 89,000. Of course, the 1926 figure is still appallingly large, particularly when one considers that nearly all these deaths can be attributed to carelessness or recklessness. But it does indicate that the safety first campaigns of recent years are at last getting results. The huge death toll now seems to be checked and the next big task is to bring about an appreciable de- crease. Of the 89,000 accidental fatalities in 1926, 18,200 occurred in the home and the rest were split up among industries, traffic disasters, drowning and other causes. ESTIMATE 4,000,000 INJURED; AUTOMOBILES KILLED 23,000 The automobile killed 23,000. Industrial acci- dents claimed the lives of 24,000. A total of 18,200 slipped in the bathtub, fell downstairs or were other- wise fatally injured at home. And some 4,000,000 other folks were injured, but not seriously enough to cause death. The total economic loss in wages and time from such occurrences is fixed by W. H. Cameron, man- aging director of the National Safety Council with headquarters at Chicago, at close to five billions of dollars. Cameron is probably the foremost safety expert in the country. The League of Nations Supreme Coun- cil summoned him for advice at a meeting not so long ago to talk on ways and means for spreading safety measures throughout the world. Cameron says that you're safer working around dynamite or in a steel plant than you are on the streets today. “In the old days,” he says, “factory work was con- sidered a dangerous occupation, But factories and industries generally are reducing their fatalities while the individual is showing less concern for his own wel- fare. “The answer to all of this is simply that industry long ago began to recognize the dollar and cents value of a human life and took steps to protect it. AUTOMOBILE DEATH TOLL FOR 1927 SHOWS INCREASE “Contrasted with this development, the individual when removed from the protecting influence of his employment which compels him to be careful under penalty of dismissal, tries to beat trains at crossings, jay-walks and otherwise endangers himself.”” During the first six months of 1927, so the records show, the automobile has killed 9650, This is an increase over 1926 when only 9170 were killed during the same period. The country’s accide teath rate has shown a rather steady increase du. ne past number of years. The number killed from all causes during 1924 was 74,083, so the records of the association show. In 1922 it advanced to 76,510. During 1923 it jumped to 84,624. Then it went.to 85,549 in 1924. It was_an even 90,000 in 1925 and during 1926 back a little, reaching 89,000 or a net saving idea in this country for that reason embraces in- struction in the prone pressure of resuscita- a “ cities with it a in excess of 100,000 went for fae ver wet a single auto ity. REMARKABLE SAFETY RECORD And tht ijt about the shimate in things wo wi (ee be seen a great nee oe camber itomobiles its highw: » aa car oie Saeed ote millions, the in- evitable result was a sudden increase in automobile poe vppapeted eg ag: rug _— a the “safety first” idea i cat dein has ben cphaied to sich an exten hat . hed ‘ f Scien oer coco eee tae is HOME ALMOST AS DANGEROUS AS TRAFFIC.CONGESTED STREETS The National Safety Council points out that the less dangerous than the fi per cent of the fatal now occur in the . This kind of climbing causes many broken limbs. while the automobile is to blame for slightly less than 25 per cent. 3 First in the list of home injuries are falls. There are falls from ladders, chairs, stairs, roofs, porches, boxes, trees and poles; from slipping in bathtubs, on icy walks, highly polished surfaces, banana es Don’t walk anes parked autos. peels and refuse; from tripping over furniture and other objects, ‘ Accidents resulting in burns and scalds take a sur- prisingly large toll. Asphyxiation from leaking gas pipes or from the exhaust gases of automobiles is an- other frequent cause of fatal accidents. lext comes mistaking poison for medicine, poison in food and blood poisoning from neglected wounds. Other accidents result from carelessness in handling mechanical equipment in the home and from electricity. SOME HINTS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR HOME SAFER Here are a few hints that will make your home safer: Don’t leave your stair rug untacked or allow various objects to litter up the stairway. Rickety ladders and unstable chairs are treacherous. Wipe up greasy substances as soon as they drop on the kitchen floor. ; ‘ Keep poisons and in fact all medicines where chil- dren can’t reach them. Lock up tools, sharp knives, scissors and guns, if you have any. A Electric irons left connected have started many res. Celluloid will ignite from a hot radiator or curling on. Gasoline gives off a vapor that is highly losive. Friction of clothing, particularly silk, wool and fur, fre- quently will generate a spark and cause an explosi while cleaning garments. Handle gasoline as you would gunpowder. Food should not be left in cans. tood spoils very rapidly. Don’t let small children get needles, thimbles or other small objects that they can swallow. A small break in the skin is large enough to let in enough germs to cause infection. Most cases of blood Poisoning are not from severe injuries, but from ne- glected small cuts, scratches, slivers and pricks—the i at seem too small to bother with. More than 8000 deaths are caused each year by burns. Most of these accidents occur in the kitchen. Each year, 1000 children are burned to death as the result of playing with matches. Boiling water should be treated like poison or fire. Mothers should keep matches out of the reach of children and turn the tapas of hot pots and pans away from the edge of the stove. IF YOU ARE CARELESS, CHILDREN WILL BE LIKEWISE The National Safety Council is of the opinion that In warm weather, Don’t let your boy hop auto rides. number o! accidents will not only be decreased, but the safety idea will be so peer (a the mind of the child that it will be first nature for him to be careful when a man. “Children quickly adopt the methods of their par- ents,” says Mr. Cameron. Hen Eos every act. It behooves parents and older chil to eliminate their reckless habits, if they would have the younger children acquire safe ones. It is difficult to establish an age line for safety teaching. “The infant's first world is his mouth and as soon as he can use his s, everything that his little hands can grasp goes into his mouth. It may be a poi- son, or some substance that will cause i A child two years old may not know the meaning of the word ‘match’ or the danger of striking one, but if he sees father light a match by striking it on the table or the window sill, he will try to imitate father and will start a flame the first chance he gets. “Correct habits on the of adults will set a proper example for the child and will prevent many injuries, TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS WHILE YOUR CHILD'S AT PLAY But, in addition to secing that the child is not injured in his own home, parents also impress on their children the necessity of being extremely care- ful while at play outdoors. Don’t let them go swimming at a beach where there is not a competent life guard. Don't let them go roller skating in the street. if “safety first’ methods are taught in the home, the ; ‘Warn them about hopping tides on automobiles and trucks. Many children are killed in this fashion. If possible, have thei streets only at points hase nee veel ae located or hed voli are available. Don’t let young children go out alone in a rowboat or sailboat. Keep your boy's dog muzzled at least during the summer. ‘Warn the child against building bonfires. peat et, chaos play ther sxmpes in the streets, ter, t coasting except sets ured for im jong r we t let tomobil i he is et hea \6 snare old. eel aeiinn . CROSSING THE STREET BEHIND A STREET CAR Don't let your children hook their wagons or sleds on to prs od, The same warning applies if they have a bicycle. Warn the children about trying to cross a street ee lS iw eae