HOW TO AVOID ACCIDENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 258, 24 July 1908, Page 5

HOW TO AVOID ACCIDENTS.

•• /• '*■ -' - - • ••. • • , There is no doubt that many of the dread- : - fnl accidents wo daily read about need nover •> i have.happened if ordinary caro and foresight had beon observed.' Just a little use of the common sense that most people should be en-- , dowed with, -and; there /would'not bo 'tho maimed,,' useless, unhappy lives that one sometimes meets with. A writer in the "Syd- , ney»Morning''Herald'' sums up'.the causes' that lead to many- injuries, and now to guard • • agairist 4 them. The : commonest accident in the bush 'is burning. * Children should not be • allowed •to • carry;'lighted candles into 1 bedv rooms, unless someone old enough to be car'e-ful-is ■ with- them.'' The window curtains in their-' bedrooiris .arid the children's nightgowns should bo rendered, fireproof by soaking thein - in a;solution of common alum and water, an' ' orclmary strong solution of common alum in boiling ;water—such-a simple, easy thing to do/ but, how many; houses are burned down for want : "of somo such : precaution ? Boiling water 'is .the cause :of many ' accidents. , A vessel of hot'water is left on the hearth; baby comes toddling and plunges'his. little; . hands, or, worse,''.lets ; hisMittlo tender body: fall.in. 'Ah,'then,: the mother can see that she 'might,have put .that bucket upon the ' table out -.of,',reach. It; is .tho little effort to' remember to .put danger out of 'the : way that v is required; the trouble soon becomes nothing if the habit is followed.' .

.. Dangerous machinery, sharp- and -pointed tools, scissors, ■ should •be kept out of "the'children's-way. My, workbox stands dii:a shelf;.eight:feet high; I,never put my scissors anywhere: else. Tho needles are there, too. ' ' .'.A:. needle', stuck- .in the front of tho mother's : dress : may causo baby an ugly wound:- \ "v:-7;'..-;v- ---■ Poisons: should 6a 'rio account be left out-, side/of, a locked and labelled box. I read recently'of: strychnine being kept Moose in a'i kitchen drawer, in a houso'where the servant girl was half-witted. I Jiriew a woman to leave poison' on '&'■ window, sill; the baby got hold of.it, and_.tasted it, and was violently sick! ~Thp sewing machine is' another ( source of~danger. ; It snould always be kept' under a locked cover, and it is well to leavo the driving wheel unattached when not in use.; Occidents with guns, horses,, vehicles, and thosei . caused -by water might bo greatly les-children-were.early taught very carefully .to ride; drive, : shoot, and swim: A swimmer will not only bo safo in the water, but'..will :save .others;, and 'children accustomed to horses rarely haye'an accident with thom. :•'' '.',;', •;' ' Those who have the care of children should constantly try: to prevent the , occurrence of mishaps to their charges by looking ahead for anything that; might injure them, and by constant vigilance keeping danger and' suffering at bay. ■ • " -. ' Tho' London -servant girl is; being offerel great inducements to' learn the, art of cookery (says the . "Sydney Morning ' Herald"). Three times during the year 18 scholarships for .servants are offered, by which-gills can receivo freo training for 12 weeks at a recognised. school of cookery. As tho girls must, necessarily leave their situations during the term,.every possible help is given them; they have their meals free on the flvo days they aro at the school, and receive £5 for 'their travelling expenses. Only girls whoje parents receive less than £160 a year Dan compete for the scholarships, and they must hayo been in service at least a year; they must also supply a clean bill of health. - With 54 accomplished cooks being turned out every year to service, the path of tbo English mistress will be made very much easier. _ The New York City Board of Health has issued an order tha:t all persons who milk cows must wear whj'to duck overalls arid jackets, or the milk will not bo allowed to enter New York. Much of the milking is done.by the farmers' wives and daughters, and it is eaid that they all declare they will never don overalls. Large white aprons ought to be accepted , in. their case.