5. Persons thus circumstanced are entreated not to precipitate themselves from the window while there remains the least probability of assistance; and even in the last extremity a plain rope is invaluable, or recourse may be had to joining sheets or blankets together, fastening one end round a bedpost or other furniture. This will enable one person to lower all the others separately, and the last may let himself down with comparatively little risk. Select a window over the doorway rather than over the area.
6. Do not give vent to the fire by breaking into the house unnecessarily from without, or, if an inmate, by opening doors or windows. Make a point of shutting every door after you as you go through the house. For this purpose doors enclosing the staircase are very useful.
Accidents to Persons.
1. Upon discovering yourself on fire reflect that your greatest danger arises from draught to the flames, and from their rising upwards. Throw yourself on the ground, and roll over on the flame, if possible, on the rug or loose drugget, which drag under you; the table-cover, a man’s coat, anything of the kind at hand, will serve your purpose. Scream for assistance, ring the bell, but do not run out of the room or remain in an upright position.
2. Persons especially exposed to a risk of their dresses taking fire should adopt the precaution of having all linen and cotton fabrics washed in a weak solution of chloride of zinc, alum, or tungstate of soda.
3. As a means for the prevention of accidents, especially where there are women and children, the provision of a fire-guard is urgently recommended. These are now made at such a reasonable price that it is incumbent upon even the poorest to obtain them. The Royal Society have it in contemplation to give orders on manufacturers at a reduced price to subscribers’ recommendations.
Treatment of Injuries.
1. Send for medical aid. Let the sufferer be put to bed as quickly as possible; remove all remains of clothing about the injured parts, cutting with extreme caution, as it is of the first importance to avoid tearing the skin or breaking a blister.
2. As the readiest thing at hand, cover all the injured parts tenderly with clean cotton or wool, what is commonly known as wadding, the cleaner and purer the better (the best for the purpose is kept by druggists); it relieves by excluding the air. Linen rag soaked in a mixture of equal parts of lime-water and linseed-oil also forms a good dressing. Common whiting is very good applied wet, and continually damped with a sponge.
3. It is better to avoid cold applications; they certainly allay pain, but unless the cold be maintained the momentary relief is followed by a considerable aggravation of the suffering. In extensive burns, moreover, cold water freely applied is not unattended by danger.