If ever your clothes should catch fire, _do not run_; the wind you
make will only fan the flames, so that they burn faster. _Lie down and
roll over and over_, as fast as you can. If there is a rug or a quilt
handy, wrap yourself up tight in it. My youngest brother once saved a
little child's life this way. He was not very old, but he remembered
to put the child on the floor and roll him up in a rug.
However, the best way to prevent accidents with fire is to let fire
and lamps and matches and kerosene and sparklers and firecrackers
alone.
I am so glad that people are becoming sensible about keeping our
nation's birthday, the Fourth of July, and are doing away with the
firecrackers that have killed so many thousands of children. The burns
you get from firecrackers are much more dangerous than other burns. A
dirt-germ often gets into them that may cause _lockjaw_. The name
tells what it is: it locks the jaws together so that its victim cannot
eat; and, of course, if he cannot eat, he cannot live very long. Next
Fourth of July try getting flags and bunting and drums and horns, if
you like, instead of these dangerous fireworks.
In keeping the Fourth one year not long ago, one hundred and
seventy-one children lost one or more fingers; forty-one lost a leg,
an arm, or a hand; thirty-six lost one eye, and sixteen lost both
eyes; and two hundred and fifteen children were killed! This accounts
for only the children; counting everybody, five thousand three hundred
and seven people were killed or hurt. No wonder we begin to think that
we ought to keep the Fourth in some other way.
In the City of Washington, on one Fourth of July, one hundred and four
people were taken to the hospital; but the following year when no
fireworks were allowed to be sold, the hospitals did not have a single
patient from the accidents of the day.
[Illustration: A RESULT OF CELEBRATING THE FOURTH IN THE OLD WAY]
Water, as well as fire, has its dangers. If you ever fall into the
water, _be sure to keep your mouth shut and your hands below your
chin_. Then paddle with your hands gently, and you'll swim, just as
any other young animal does when first thrown into the water. Even
your cat, who hates water, can swim easily when she falls in. If you
keep your wits as she does, you will get along as well. Some people
learn to swim just by trying by themselves.
[Illustration: WORKING TO START HIS BREATHING AGAIN]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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