Teaching Safety In The Home.

In a circular recently issued by the President of the Pere Marguette Railway (U.S.A.) attention is drawn to the fact that in 1926 there were no less than 621,000 casualties on the highways of the nation in addition to 9,483 at railroad level crossings. Believing that there is a certain relationship between the two types of accident—that carelessness and recklessness account for the major portion of all our accidents—and that the safety appeals made to men hitherto on this subject have apparently not been heeded, the President suggests that the womenfolk of the United States and Canada start a vigorous safety campaign in the homes in the hope of lessening the heavy annual toll of accidents.

It is an excellent suggestion and if taken up with sufficient enthusiasm and understanding is likely to have beneficial results. It is only in proportion as men and women are made conscious of the dire fruits of carelessness that accidents due to this major cause will disappear.

The Locomotive Driver And The Reckless Motorist.

“Engineer Dies at the Wheel,” was the headline in a New York newspaper over an item telling of the sudden death of an engine man in the cab of his locomotive (says D. T. and I. Railroad News).

“The automotive point of view which was responsible for the above is sadly out of place in this instance.

As a matter of fact, an increasing number of veteran enginemen who should have many full years of service ahead of them are dropping out because of the battering attack of numerous amateur motorists who speed along the highways of the nation at the wheels of automobiles and pile up at grade crossings disputing the right of way.

Heart failure is the award of many an engineer for long years behind the throttle. And to hold his job the engineer must pass periodically a series of the severest examinations, whie the tyro on the highway needs only a little time and money to procure a license that will permit him a wide range of action, subject to only a few scattering and more or less unenforced regulations.”

“I want the employee to realise that in his own interest it is desirable he should look where he walks, look where he puts his head or arm, keep an alert mind and realise that if his own carelessness involves him in an accident, he is not merely doing harm to himself, but to his relatives and the community at large, and he is placing a further burden upon industry as a whole.”—The Rt. Hon. Sir William Joynson-Hicks.

Don't slide down ladders or perform “smart” tricks on them. Such departure from safety principles has cost many painful accidents. Ladders and steps should be fixed firmly and ascended and descended in the safe way only—step by step.

Don't use the mouth as a receptacle for holding small nails or screws. Apart from the risk of disease infection the practice is dangerous in that some of the nails or screws are liable to be swallowed, and become lodged in the windpipe. When using small nails, screws and tacks place them in safe and proper receptacles.