F is for First Aid

Into a neighborhood health center crowded 44 buzzing citizens, ranging from a boy in green corduroy slacks to a determined-looking grandmother. They all came to learn First Aid from a Red Cross teacher. The teacher bustled around selling the Red Cross textbook, warning the students to keep cool, not to faint at the sight of blood. "If you see an accident," he said, "call a doctor at once. Your job is to make a victim comfortable, and prevent complications. You are not a substitute for a trained physician."

All over the U.S.. last week, 30,000 volunteer Red Cross teachers called a roll of 1,000,000 new pupils who had registered for a 20-hour course. The first lesson was the same everywhere: as an outline of the course, the teacher dictated the nine basic principles of First Aids, starting with F, ending with S. The acrostic:

F is for fear. "Allay it! Tell the victim he will be all right, even if you know he is doomed. Turn his head so he won't see his mangled limbs."

I is for information, injuries. Find out what organs are injured before you act. Tell the doctor everything you know.

R is for reclining position. Keep a victim lying down. If his bones are broken, movement may cause them to cut nerves and blood vessels, tear through the skin. Moving a victim with a broken back may cause death. Even after a man has been saved from drowning and given artificial respiration, he should be kept lying down lest he strain his heart.

S is for shock. This is a state of physical and mental depression which follows injury. Simplest ways to recognize shock are by a victim's complexion, failing respiration; if he turns white, has a lifeless expression, he must be covered up immediately, kept warm, given a sniff of spirits of ammonia, a drink of strong tea or coffee. First Aiders must never give alcohol to their victims.

T is for transportation. Don't move a victim unless he is in a burning building, a capsized boat, etc. Many good samaritans who pick up victims of auto accidents and rush them to the hospital in a jouncing car, unwittingly cause dreadful complications.

A is for air. Be sure the victim gets plenty! If a crowd has gathered, pick two big men to push them back.

I is for immediate treatment of bleeding, asphyxia, poisoning. Serious bleeding may cause death in five or six minutes. Teachers first show students the various pressure points on the body where serious bleeding can be stopped, later teach them how to make tourniquets to stanch hemorrhage. For asphyxia and drowning, students are taught artificial respiration. For poisoning, they are given one good old rule of thumb: dilute the contents of the stomach at once by filling the victim with water. Then stick your finger down his throat till he throws up.

D is for drink. Water, tea or coffee may be given to people who are conscious. Those who are unconscious must be given nothing, for they may choke.

S is send for the doctor.

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