ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION

Evening Star, Issue 24136, 5 March 1942, Page 6

ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION

IMPORTAHCE IH EMERGENCY The importance of all members of the public obtaining knowledge of artificial respiration was strongly stressed by Mr H. H. Henderson, president ot tho Otago branch of the Royal Life Saving Society, to-day. The society is carrying on the work that was inaugurated last year of providing instreutiou to classes in artificial respiration. The president (Mr H. H. Henderson) and tho secretary (Mr P. A. Mathieson) usually initiate the classes, giving a lecture and a demonstration of resuscitation, after which these arc taken over by instructors provided by tho society. Classes are being conducted at present for street wardens and members of the traffic control section, and instruction is also to be given to other branches of the E.P.S. The mere blast of air from a high explosive bomb is so powerful that it will cause insensibility to persons over a distance of several hundred yards. Mr Henderson referred also to the risk of electrocution from overhead wires being brought down, and to asphyxiation through gas mains being broken. In all these cases the immediate application of artificial respiration is necessary. Information received from London shows that the majority of casualties from tho bursting of bombs are brought about by one of tho causes mentioned, and_ it, _ is necessary to apply artificial respiration without delay.