Stránka:roll 1911.djvu/280

First Aid and Life Saving 259 it. Swinging wires of any kind may somewhere in their course be in contsar with live wires, so they should not be touched. A p?rson in contart with a wi? or raft can, ying an electric current will trans/er the current to the rescuer. Therefore he must not touch the unfortunate victim uuless h/s own body is thoroughly insulated. The rescuer must act very promptly, for the danger to the person in contact is much incr?xl the Iongee the electric current is allowed to pass through h/s body. If po?ible, the rescuer should insulate hlm.?el/by covering his hands with a mackintosh, rubher sheeting, several thic-lmesses q/silk, or even dry doth. In addition he should, if poss/ble, complete his insulation by standing on a dry board, a thick piece ot paper, or even on a dry coat. Rubber gloves and rubber shoes or boots are still safer, but they cannot usually be pro- cured qu/ckly. If a live wi? is under a pe?o? and the ground is dry, it will be perfectly safe to stand on the ground and pull him off the wire with the bare hands, care being taken to touch only his clothing, and this must not be wet. A live wire lying on a patient may be flipped off with safety with a dry board or stick. In removing the ]/ve w/re from the person? or the person from the wire, do this,with one motion, as r?_klng him to and fro on the wire will increase shock and burn. A live wire may be safely cut by an axe or hatchet with dry, wooden handle. The electric current may he short circuited by dropping a crow-bar or poker on the wire. These must he dropped on the side from which the current is coming and not on the farther side, as the latter will not short circuit the current be/ore it is passed through the body o/the person in contact. Drop the metal bar; do not place it on the wire or you will then be made a part of the short circuit and recdve the current of electridty through your body. What To Do for Electric Shocks Always send for a doctor, but do not wait for him. Trea?- merit should be given even if the man appears to be dead. Loosen the clothing around neck and body. Proceed to restore breathing by artificial respiration a? in drowning. (See pages 256, 287.) Gas Accidents The commonest gas encountered is the ordinary gas. To prevent such gas from escaping in