HELPFUL FILMS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 112, 5 February 1941, Page 6

HELPFUL FILMS

Teaching In Emergency Precautions Work INCENDIARY BOMBS Two short films, complementary to one another, which many feel should he shown nil over the country in every picture theatre in New Zealand, were exhibited to the members of the Wellington Rotary Club yesterday by Mr. C. Meaehen. secretary of St. John Ambulance Association, who is taking the keenest interest in the A.R.P. .scheme as applied to the 'Wellington province. Mr. Meaehen recently spent a holiday in Australia, where lie spent most of his time acquiring details of what Sydney and Melbourne were doing in the way of precautionary measures against the results of enemy attacks. Ms the outcome of his inquiries he was presented by the National Emergency Council with these two films, which, he said, were being shown in every theatre in Australia, indeed, the incendiary bomb film had been put into some theatres for a few nights only, but such was the demand that it had run in those theatres tor two months. Stopping of Bleeding. The town clerk of Wellington, Mr. E. P. Norman, stressed the value of every one of the lessons these films taught. Referring to the film illustrating how arterial bleeding could be stopped till skilled first-aid methods could be applied, he said it was necessary that every citizen should know these things, as skilful aid might not always be immediately available when trouble occurred. The film in question, described in simple terms by Mr. Meaehen, showed the location ot wounds in the arm, forehead, chin, body and leg, and just how, by the simple pressure of the hand on the right spot the artery could be closed and the flow of blood stopped. Every detail is shown very plainly, and it should not be difficult for everyone to learn the first principles of first aid through such metres. Commenting on the next film, Mr. Norman said the incendiary bomb was a dangerous weapon of destruction. Each plane carried from 1000 to 2000 such bombs, and it had been estimated that out of every 1000 incendiary bombs dropped some SO fires were started, so it was highly essential that people should be taught how to deal with them. The Incendiary Bomb. The incendiary bomb was in three main parts, the outer case, which was made of magnesium, the thermite (which caused the fire) and the percusion cap, which set it off. He said that the thermite developed such terrific heat that it could liquify iron or steel in a few moments, and the film illustrated it burning through a plate of steel in a second or two. Mr. Norman said that perhaps no places were so vulnerable to the incendiary bomb as New Zealand cities because of the large amount of timber used in construction and the wooden floors in shops and warehouses. It took the whole of the fire brigade to deal with the fires which destroyed the Social Security Building and Victoria House, so what would be the situation were 40 or 50 such fires burning at the one time? It was therefore imperative that members of the public should make themselves acquainted with the means of dealing with these bombs as soon as they fell. Dealing With Bombs. The film showed the manner in which such bombs should be tackled. The usual method was to have handy two buckets of dry sand or dry earth. Sand was better, as there might be other elements in earth which might be inflammable. The first thing was to pour the sand round the bomb to prevent the fire from spreading, and douse the flames with, more sand. Then the rest of the burning matter should be removed to a place of safety with a special wooden shovel, wood being more serviceable than steel where thermite was concerned. The film showed a young giij actually discovering a fire iu the house, and. keeping her wits, she deals with the bomb in the manner described, with the result that very little damage is done. Use of water would only increase the flames, as the oxygen in the water fed the thermite. At the conclusion of the display both Mr. Norman and Mr. Meaehen were heartily thanked by the president, Mr. E. Jones, for the timely instruction they had given. _______