Show use of oxygen rescue apparatus BY GEO S rien RICE three men lost their lives in the black diamond coal mine near seattle wash recently while wearing oxygen breathing apparatus the press dispatches stated that these men lost their lives while practicing with the apparatus later reports stated that the men died while attempting to make a trip 1200 feet down a 25 degree slope which was filled with black damp in order to measure the amount of water that had accumulated at the bottom of the mine and the trip was attempted with oxygen in the tanks of the apparatus with dials indicating only 45 minutes supply the oxygen in the tank was used up and the men therefore lost their lives from a deficiency of air to breathe in spite of all the education and training done by the government to prevent accidents men are prone occasionally to take unnecessary chances every piece of apparatus no matter how perfect has its limitations the government through the agency of the bureau of mines has trained many thousands of miners in the use of mine rescue apparatus the training has been given to all miners who requested it and the bureau has gone to the extreme of urging miners to join the rescue and first aid classes in spite of all the efforts of the government men occasionally attempt the impossible to go 1200 feet down a 25 degree slope make observations rest and then return 1200 feet thus making a total distance of at least 2400 feet in 45 minutes is a quick trip when a bihn man is not encumbered with a heavy load but to attempt it cumbered cambered cumb ered by Y an apparatus weighing about forty pounds makes it more than a hazardous undertaking modern apparatus when fully charged will furnish oxygen for two to two and one half hours when used with moderate exertion or with periods of rest but a person uses four to five times as much oxygen in climbing a steep slope with a load of forty pounds than lie he would when walking at a moderate gait along a level road it is quite probable therefore that the 45 minte alte charge indicated by the dial will not last 45 minutes with the violent exertion necessary tile the bureau of mines in its handbook band book on rescue and recovery operation in mines after fire and explosions oll page 49 makes the following statement the rescue crews should observe every known know precaution for their own safety while traveling in afterdamp after damp or other noxious es each crew should be composed of at least five men including the captain and tile the members of the crew should not acome separated if any one member com calef hief mining engineer bureau of mines plains of feeling unwell or is observed to be staggering or breathing unnaturally the entire crew should immediately return to fresh air in view of the liability of a member receiving some injury or his apparatus being damaged a crew should never advance such a distance nor travel over such faults or wrecks as would prevent the crew from carrying one of its members back to fresh air with the types of breathing apparatus now in service the maximum straightaway unobstructed course should not exceed feet with a reserve crew at the fresh air base while in the foregoing it is to be noted that the maximum distance to be traversed is feet this is for a level unobstructed road and as previously indicated a trip of 2400 feet down a steep incline would be more than equivalent to a foot trip on the level and which maximum distance calls for a fully charged apparatus that is with at least three times the amount of oxygen which it was alleged the three men had who made the disastrous trip in the black diamond mine while all of the details of the affair are not known at least enough has been indicated to send out a caution against men making such a foolhardy fool hardy attempt and it is desirable that full facts shall be known so that the public shall not be prejudiced against an apparatus which has greatest value when it is carefully used and used in accordance with well established rules |