Erie Railroad Company

The New Jersey and New York
Railroad Company
Horace Banta, Trustee

SAFETY RULES

Engine, Train and Yard Service Employes

Effective January 1, 1957

Form OD 5571 10M 1-57

This Book

is the property of

Erie Railroad Company

and loaned to

Name

Employed as

Account Number

Street and Number

City

Who hereby agrees to return it to the proper officer when called for, or upon leaving the service.

Erie Railroad Company

The New Jersey and New York
Railroad Company
Horace Banta, Trustee

..................................................19............

................................................................

(Location)

Received copy of Safety Rules, Form OD 5571, effective January 1st, 1957.

I understand that I am required to have a thorough knowledge of and obey these rules

................................................................

(Name)

................................................................

(Occupation)

I N D E X

Order Putting Rules In Effect

5

General Notice

6

General Rules

7

On or About Tracks

9

Coupling and Uncoupling Engines and Cars, Air and Steam Hoses

12

Operating Hand Brakes

15

Operating Switches

18

Getting On or Off Engines or Cars

19

On Engines, Cars or Trains

21

Other Train and Engine Service Work

24

Diesel Locomotive Safety Rules
General Rules

27

Electrical

31

Electric Shock

33

Erie Railroad Company

The New Jersey and New York Railroad Company
Horace Banta, Trustee

SAFETY RULES

Engine, Train and Yard Service Employes

The rules herein set forth govern all engine, train and yard service employes of the Erie Railroad Company and The New Jersey and New York Railroad Company. They take effect January 1st, 1957, superseding all previous rules and instructions inconsistent therewith.

A. E. Kriesien

Assistant Vice President and General Manager

J. P. Allison

General Manager

Approved:

G. C. White

Vice President

GENERAL NOTICE

1.  Safety is of the first importance in the discharge of duty.

2.  Obedience to the rules is essential to safety.

3.  To enter or remain in the service is an assurance of willingness to obey the rules.

4.  The Company does not wish or expect its employes to incur any risks whatever from which, by exercise of their own judgment, and by personal care, they can protect themselves, but enjoins them in all cases to do their duty in safety whether they may at the time be acting under orders of their superiors, or otherwise.

5.  All employes are members of the Safety Organization, irrespective of the capacity in which employed, and it is their duty to caution fellow employes observed performing duties in an improper manner, and also to report to their immediate superiors any conditions or practices which should be corrected.

6.  The prevention of avoidable injuries is largely a personal problem, and the measure of skill with which an employe performs his duties indicates his ability to do so with safety.

GENERAL RULES

G-100.  No injury is trivial. Employes must promptly report any injury to their immediate supervisor.

G-101.  Employes must obtain immediate medical attention for all injuries.

G-102.  Employes must be suitably shod and clothed to safely perform their duties. The wearing of thin soled shoes or unbuckled overshoes, loose, torn, or baggy clothing is prohibited.

G-103.  Placing or leaving equipment, tools or other material on platforms or walkways where it will constitute a tripping or slipping hazard is prohibited.

G-104.  Placing clothing, tools or other objects on ladder rungs, handholds, footboards, running boards, steps or other safety appliances on engines or cars is prohibited, except in cases of emergency when proper precautions will be taken to avoid injury.

G-105.  Scuffling or playing jokes on fellow employes by air pressure, by electric shock or other means, either on or off duty, while on company property, is prohibited.

G-106.  Breaking seals, removing hasps, opening or closing freight car doors, or loading or unloading baggage, express or freight, while cars are in motion is prohibited.

G-107. Use authorized paths or routes only when going to or from work.

G-108. Employes must use every precaution to prevent fire.

G-109. Using gasoline, kerosene or other inflammable liquid to start or intensify a fire is prohibited.

G-110. Smoking in bed in bunkroom is prohibited.

G-111. When necessary to remove broken or dangling wires or to remove objects from overhead wires, use rubber gloves, dry sticks or other non-conductors of electricity. At all other times only authorized persons will handle electric wires or apparatus.

ON OR ABOUT TRACKS

T-200. Walking or stepping on rail, frog, switch, guard rail, interlocking machinery or connection is prohibited.

T-201. When necessary to walk through escaping steam which obscures the vision, precaution should be taken to avoid injury.

T-202. Watch to avoid objects, obstructions, holes and openings to prevent tripping, slipping, falling or turning ankle; while walking or running, if necessary to look back, stop before doing so.

T-203. Employes must keep a safe distance from passing cars or engines to avoid injury from falling objects or projections on equipment.

T-204. Employes must avoid standing or walking on the tracks except when necessary in the performance of duty; face the current of traffic where possible, looking out for trains in all directions.

T-205. Wearing ear covering which interferes with hearing is prohibited.

T-206. Sitting on rails, any part of track structure or edge of platform adjacent to track is prohibited.

T-207. Stepping or jumping across inspection or other pits is prohibited.

T-208. Leaning against standing cars or engines is prohibited.

T-209. Sitting, lying or crossing under cars if, prohibited, except when required in performance of duty, and then only when proper protection is afforded.

T-210. Employes must look in both directions for approaching trains, engines or cars before stepping on or crossing tracks. Walk straight across when possible to do so. Trains, engines or cars are expected to run at any time, on any track, in either direction.

T-211. When walking out of doorways leading across tracks or around corners or obstructions, employes must look in both directions and know that the way is clear.

T-212. Climbing over intertrack fence is prohibited.

T-213. When crossing railroad track, employes must keep at least ten feet away from standing trains, engines or cars.

T-214. Standing near cable, rope or push pole while handling equipment is prohibited.

T-215. Employes must carry and use a light at all times when on or about tracks during night hours to prevent slipping, tripping or falling from or through bridges, trestles, or culverts.

T-216. When switching or crossing tracks during night hours (or stormy weather) watch particularly for standing or moving flat cars or low side gondolas which may be obscured by shadows.

COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING ENGINES AND CARS, AIR AND STEAM HOSES

C-300. Going betweeen or ahead of moving engines, cars or other equipment, except at a safe distance, is prohibited.

C-301 Before going between standing engines or cars employes must:

A. Give hand or lamp stop signal and wait for acknowledgement unless other clear understanding has been had to protect against unexpected movement.

B. Wait until slack has adjusted.

C. If cars are on grade know they are secured.

D. Look in both directions to see whether engines or cars are approaching.

C-302. Giving a signal to move engines or cars, while a person is between or under them is prohibited.

C-303. Use cut lever to uncouple. If cut lever is inoperative, have proper understanding and full protection before lifting pin by other means.

C-304. The use of both hands or placing full weight, with either one or both feet on push down cut lever, to uncouple moving cars is prohibited.

If unable to operate cut lever with one hand or one foot, equipment must be brought to a stop.

C-305. Using finger in hole at bottom of coupler to adjust lock pin is prohibited.

C-306. Stepping in front of moving engines or cars to adjust coupler, knuckle or lock pin, or using foot or hand to adjust them from any position when they are about to come together is prohibited.

C-307. When stepping from between engines or cars, be on lookout for moving equipment on adjacent track.

C-308. Giving signal to stop and then stepping on track between or in front of engine or cars before equipment has stopped, is prohibited.

C-309. Before uncoupling air hose by hand, have both angle cocks on brake pipe closed and firm hold on hose; gradually break connection, if possible, to reduce pressure remaining in hose before completely uncoupling, retaining handhold on grab handle with other hand.

C-310. Before reducing brake pipe pressure with angle cock, hold hose firmly to prevent its flying around, and open angle cock gradually.

C-311. Turning angle cock on moving equipment without the use of special device for the purpose, except in emergency, is prohibited.

C-312. Before uncoupling steam connection,

close valves on both sides of joint. Relieve pressure by bleeding gravity traps on coupler heads, so equipped; on those not equipped relieve pressure by tapping on under side of head. Keep body clear of joint while completing uncoupling, to avoid burns from hot water or steam that may have accumulated in low part of connection.

C-313. When removing steam connection from carrying chain on engine or car, keep hands and other parts of body clear of end connection to avoid burns from hot water that may have accumulated in low parts of connection.

C-314. Stepping from one car to another after cut has been made between them is prohibited.

C-315. When cars have just been coupled, it is forbidden to step from one car to another until it is definitely known that coupling has been made.

C-316. When going between cars to couple or uncouple air, signal hose or steam connections, as well as coming out from between cars after performing such work, use care to avoid striking head or body on safety chains or other appliances.

C-317. While riding on engines or cars, operating coupler release lever on car, other than the one on which riding, is prohibited.

OPERATING HAND BRAKES

H-400. Before cars are cut off, test brakes on cars which are to be controlled by hand brakes.

H-401. The use of non-standard brake clubs, or the use of a standard brake club which is cracked or dangerously worn, is prohibited.

H-402. Before applying heavy stress on brake club, try it to determine that it is in firm position in wheel.

H-403. When equipment permits, stress on horizontal brake wheel, with or without club, must be toward the car, rather than away from it.

H-404. While releasing brakes equipped with release controlled by lever or other such device, keep all parts of body clear of revolving parts of brake.

H-405. When releasing shaft and wheel brake, with or without club, apply sufficient stress to release pawl, without forcing it from ratchet; if impossible to do this, secure help, and be prepared to engage pawl instantly to prevent wheel flying around. Release brake a few notches at a time to permit slack to adjust before completing operation.

H-406. When necessary, before releasing hand brake that had been applied after air brake

had been applied, couple engine to car and have air brakes reapplied.

H-407. Using any part of an adjacent car for foot rest when applying or releasing brake is prohibited.

H-408. Kicking a brake shoe, while car is in motion, is prohibited.

H-409. The use of brake club for any purpose other than in applying or releasing hand brake is prohibited.

H-410. When applying hand brakes, put pressure on club or wheel steadily, and never with a jerk, especially when going from light to heavy pressure.

H-411. Watch to avoid injury from:

A. Brake club slipping in wheel.

B. Brake wheel flying around.

C. Slipping and falling, strain or sprain from losing hold, footing and balance.

D. Strain or sprain while applying hand brakes.

H-412. When operating hand brakes, observe closely the condition of brake platform, pawl, ratchet, and brake wheel. Always use pawl against ratchet. Holding the stress of applied hand brakes by sheer strength is prohibited.

H-413. When operating hand brakes during night hours or adverse weather conditions, employes must be especially watchful for flat, gondola cars and similar equipment which may be obscure.

OPERATING SWITCHES

S-500. Before operating switches, warn employes repairing or cleaning them and make certain employes are in safe position.

S-501. When handling switches, employes must watch to avoid injury from:

A. Lever flying up.

B. Ball falling on foot or hand.

C. Hand being caught in latch.

D. Slipping, tripping or falling.

E. Being caught between engine or car and switch lever or stand.

F. Being struck by engine or car.

G. Sprain or strain.

GETTING ON OR OFF ENGINES OR CARS

R-600. Getting on or off engines or cars moving at an unsafe speed, except in emergency, is prohibited.

R-601. Get off at outside end of footboard and step clear of track.

R-602. When about to board or alight from moving or standing cars or engines, look out for trains approaching on adjacent tracks and see that there are no obstructions or openings on the ground and no side obstructions which might cause injury.

R-603. When boarding or alighting from moving or standing engines or cars, employes must face the engine or car and take a secure handhold on handles. When alighting be sure of footing on ground before releasing hold of handle to avoid failing, tripping slipping or spraining ankle.

R-604. Getting on or off moving equipment, except when necessary in the proper performance of duty, is prohibited. At no time are revenue or employe passengers to be permitted to board or get off a moving train.

R-605. When boarding moving caboose, get on only at the rear platform.

R-606. When going up or down ladders on

cars or engines, employes must keep foot turned slightly sidewise and place portion of ball of foot firmly on each ladder rung. Keep body as close to ladder as possible, face direction in which equipment may be moving and retain firm handhold at all times.

R-607. Use side ladder on moving cars, or those about to move, when clearances or conditions permit.

R-608. Jumping off end sills or swinging up or down between two cars, or other equipment, with a hand on each one, is prohibited.

R-609. Getting on or off engines and cars by means other than steps, ladders and handholds provided for the purpose, is prohibited.

R-610. When coming out of engines equipped with vertical ladders, getting off top of cars equipped with vertical steps or ladders, or stepping from roof of car to brake step, employes must face the equipment and place the ball of the foot firmly on step, ladder or brake step before placing weight on same.

R-611. Riding on sill step of flat cars or tank cars while being coupled is prohibited.

R-612. Being in act of getting on or off moving engines or cars, at the time they couple to other equipment, or directly in front of obstructions, such as switch stand, bridge, building, gate, etc., is prohibited.

ON ENGINES, CARS OR TRAINS

O-700. Standing or placing any part of body between sides or end of car and lumber, pipe or other lading likely to shift is prohibited.

O-701. Standing, sitting or walking on side of roof of covered car, or end or side of hopper or gondola car, or standing on any car near edge, except when operating hand brakes or backup hose, is prohibited.

O-702. Jumping from roof of closed car to open type car or jumping from top of car or engine to car or engine on another track is prohibited.

O-703. When riding on side or top of equipment, or when necessary to lean beyond line of engine or car, employes must look in both directions to insure they are clear of trains, engines or cars on adjacent track; structures or obstructions alongside or over the tracks. When vision is obscured and not sure of location, stay in the clear.

O-704. When riding on equipment, employes must be on guard against possible injury from shock due to slack running in or out, sudden starting or stopping, cars being on grade, misunderstanding in giving or observing signals or for following cars coupling on. Be especially alert when entering or passing through yards.

O-705. Sitting or standing on handraiis, cut levers, or drawheads of engines or cars is prohibited.

O-706. Riding footboard between engine and car is prohibited.

O-707. Riding leading footboard or pilot step of engines is prohibited.

O-708. Sitting on brake wheel or on brake club placed in wheel, ladder rungs or other parts of car or engine, is prohibited.

O-709. Riding between cars or between engine and car, with one foot on one car or engine and the other foot on the adjoining equipment, is prohibited.

O-710. Standing at open side door on moving passenger equipment without first having door securely fastened and secure hold on grab iron, or standing at open side door of freight equipment without secure handhold is prohibited.

O-711. Before riding inside empty drop end gondola cars, with end up, or climbing over end, assure yourself it is securely latched. In event the gate cannot be properly latched, employes must take such precautions as are necessary to prevent personal injury.

O-712. When stepping from side ladder of car to brake step, step to end ladder first; have secure handhold while so doing. Stepping directly from side ladder to brake step is prohibited.

O-713. Sitting or riding on running boards of engines or tank cars, platforms of cabooses, sides of flat cars, or inside doors of cars with any part of the body projecting beyond side of equipment, is prohibited.

O-714. Riding on sides of engines or cars while being moved, over turntable or in or out of shop is prohibited.

OTHER TRAIN AND ENGINE SERVICE WORK

M-800. Use of other than standard push poles is prohibited.

M-801. When using push pole, stand behind it, and, when pole is in position, move to place of safety.

M-802. Leaving couplers or other obstructions where persons may stumble over them is prohibited. If unable to remove such obstructions to place of safety, report at once to proper officer.

M-803. While employes are working on air brake rigging on engines or cars, the air brakes on such engines or cars must be cut out until repairs have been completed.

M-804. When lighting fusees, hold end to be lighted far enough away to prevent fire dropping on hands, feet or clothing and rub it in direction away from body.

M-805. Using fusees and torpedoes for purposes other than those prescribed by the rules is prohibited. The use of fusees in giving signals under adverse weather conditions is permitted. When giving signals with fusees, care should be used to prevent fire dropping on hands, feet and clothing.

M-806. When handling wreckers, work trains, etc., employes must be particular that signals are unmistakably and clearly given.

M-807. Throwing stepping box to car platform is prohibited. When placing stepping box on car platform, care must be exercised not to place it in aisle where passengers or others passing from one car to another may trip over it.

M-808. Employes must keep freight, baggage, mail, express, tools, trucks, transfer plates, gang planks, skids or other material a safe distance from edge of platforms or tracks.

M-809. See that transfer plates, gang planks, and skids are securely placed before using. Watch to avoid injury from:

A. Being cut by sharp edge of iron, pipe, wire, nails, etc.

B. Gang planks, transfer plates or skids failing on hands or feet.

C. Freight, baggage or material falling on hands or feet.

D. Freight, baggage or material sluing, shifting or falling from trucks.

E. Freight, baggage or material falling from piles.

F. Stepping or falling between platforms and cars.

G. Slipping on or tripping over gang planks and transfer plates.

H. Slipping, tripping, or falling while handling and trucking freight, baggage, mail, etc.

I. Opening and closing car doors.

J. Hoisting or lowering freight or other material.

K. Splinters or nails in hands or feet.

M-819. Disposing of garbage, bottles, ashes or other refuse material from trains or cars at other than designated locations, or, where they may be a hazard to safety or health is prohibited.

M-811. Door stops in baggage and express cars are not to be tied up and thus made inoperative.

M-812. Place and secure vestibule gates, chains or bars before uncoupling or separating occupied passenger equipment, baggage, mail or express cars.

M-813. Walking or being on the railroad, except when required in performance of duty, is prohibited.

DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE SAFETY RULES
GENERAL RULES

D-900. All safety guards must be kept in place and securely fastened.

D-901. Do not leave any loose cloths, rags or paper around the engineroom or cabs.

D-902. Floors and steps of diesels must be kept free of chains or other materials to avoid the possibility of stumbling or falling over such material.

D-903. Keep hands out of radiator shutters or any equipment which operates automatically.

D-904. Do not blow down steam generator, cutoff valve, at station platforms, while coupling or uncoupling units, or at any location where anyone may be injured. See that all persons are clear.

D-905. Tightening joints on steam generator while same is under pressure is prohibited.

D-906. Nose door on leading end of locomotive, must be closed, double latched and locking bolts in place to secure door in closed position.

D-907. Employes shall not step out of the side doors of units to shop platforms, sand house platforms or other side elevations while units are in motion.

D-908. Cab doors must be kept closed and cab windows used for ventilation. When necessary to pick up orders, messages, etc., cab windows should be used for this purpose, keeping a sharp lookout for mail cranes, etc.

D-909. Doors between cab and engineroom must be kept closed and movable steps leading from cab to engineroom must not be shifted without providing adequate protection. Side doors and end doors in engineroom must be kept closed at all times when locomotive is in service.

D-910. When boarding or detraining from diesel locomotives with luggage or other objects, do so through low door of the diesel unit.

D-911. Employes must not be on top of diesel locomotives when moving.

D-912. When necessary to shut down diesel engine account of pounding, hot bearing, or it is apparent engine has stopped account bearing seizure, engine must not be restarted or crankcase opened by engine crew.

D-913. In case of broken rods, crank shaft or similar emergency: do not pass engine to reach controls at control panel. Stop engine with throttle, stop button or idle engine by tripping ground relay or overspeed trip if it can be reached safely.

D-914. The air box covers should not be removed or tightened while the engine is running. If for any reason a cover has to be removed, the

engine should be shut down and allowed forty five (45) minutes to cool. All air box and crankcase covers must be in their proper position and tightened before starting engine.

D-915. When checking lubricating oil level, with engine running at operating temperatures, do not wipe oil from bayonet gauge with fingers as the oil will be hot enough to burn the skin.

D-916. If an engine equipped with cylinder test valves is to be rotated with the generator, the test valves must not be opened more than two or three turns, as there is a possibility that the high compression might force the valve out of the valve body, causing personal injury. The fuel pump must be "OFF" and the layshaft manual control lever held in the "NO FUEL" position. It is very important that no one stands in line with any of the open test valves, as, small particles of carbon are sometimes blown out of the test valves with force enough to penetrate the skin.

D-917. Fire extinguishers should be full and available for use at all times.

D-918. Diesel locomotives must not be stopped over burning fusees, open flames and hot cinders, or allowed to stand near open flames.

D-919. Fires, open flame lights, or smoking around diesel fueling stations or in engincrooms are prohibited.

D-920. Enginemen should familiarize themselves with the operation and locations of the emergency fuel cutoff pull rings or handles. In case of a fire on the locomotive, any of the pull rings or handles should be pulled to shut off the supply of fuel oil, thus preventing the fire from entering the fuel oil tank. The fuel oil transfer pump should also be shut off. Pull rings must be kept free of obstructions.

ELECTRICAL

DE-1000. Only persons familiar with electrical work shall be authorized to work in high voltage cabinets.

DE-1001. Do not take engines off line, or place engines on line, while dynamic brake is being used.

DE-1002. Avoid putting face or hands near main generator, or any high voltage equipment, while it is working under load. A flashover might cause burns or shock.

DE-1003. Engine crew must not open high voltage cabinet when engine is running, other than idling.

DE-1004. Electric cabinet doors must be kept closed and latched when engine is under load.

DE-1005. Do not repair any switches, contactors or other high voltage equipment without first stopping the engine and opening the control switch and main battery switch.

DE-1006. No work should be performed on any electrical equipment by anyone using a metal cased flashlight or wearing a ring or wrist watch. These metal objects could come in contact with electrical equipment and cause a severe burn.

DE-1007. Do not pull fuses while they are under load.

DE-1008. Do not open ground relay protective knife switch to prevent repeated tripping of ground relay.

DE-1009. Engine should be shut down while cleaning contacts or changing fuses.

DE-1010. Generator field switch must be in "OFF" position and engine isolated while working on or inspecting main generator, traction motors or power circuits.

DE-1011. Flagstaff or other object must not be used in closing or opening contacts on locomotives while under electrical load.

DE-1012. Whenever there is an abnormal condition--noise, smoke or odor coming from engine enroute, the unit should be isolated and the engine shut down. Employes must immediately leave the engineroom and no attempt should be made to remove inspection covers. If unit is equipped with steam generator, it also must be shut down. (See Rule D-912)

DE-1013. The Elesco forced recirculation steam generator on diesel locomotive uses electric ignition, and spark is provided only during a five second ignition period. It is forbidden to use other means of ignition to start the boiler.

ELECTRIC SHOCK

While attempting to rescue a person injured from a powerful electric current, do not touch his body if he is still in contact with the live wire, because you will receive in your own body the full force of the current.

BREAKING THE CONTACT. The person must be freed from contact with the live conductor as promptly as possible. Use a dry stick, dry rope, dry coat, or other non-conductor. Use of your own hand without protection is dangerous and may add another victim to the accident.

Electric shock kills by paralyzing breathing apparatus, but breathing may be only temporarily suspended. The only hope of resuscitation is by artificial respiration similar to that used in cases of drowning or suffocation.

The standard technique of artificial respiration is as follows:

1. Lay the patient on his belly, one arm extended directly overhead, the other arm bent at elbow and with the face turned outward and resting on hand or forearm, so that the nose and mouth are free for breathing.

2. Kneel straddling the patient’s thighs with your knees placed at such a distance from the hip bones as will allow you to assume a comfortable position.

Place the palms of the hands on the small of the back with fingers resting on the ribs, the little finger just touching the lowest rib, with the thumb and fingers in a natural position, and the tips of the fingers just out of sight.

3. With arms held straight, swing forward slowly, so that the weight of your body is gradually brought to bear upon the patient. The shoulder should be directly over the heel of the hands at the end of the forward swing. Do not bend your elbows. This operation should take about two seconds.

4. Now immediately swing backward, so as to remove the pressure completely.

5. After two seconds, swing forward again. Thus repeat deliberately twelve to fifteen times a minute the double movement of compression and release, a complete respiration in four or five seconds.

6. Continue artificial respiration without interruption until natural breathing is restored, if necessary, four hours or longer, or until a physician declares the patient is dead.

7. As soon as this artificial respiration has been started and while it is being continued, an assistant should loosen any tight clothing about the patient’s neck, chest, or waist. KEEP THE PATIENT WARM. Do not give any liquids whatever by mouth until the patient is fully conscious.

8. To avoid strain on the heart when the patient revives, he should be kept lying down and not allowed to stand or sit up. If the doctor has not arrived by the time the patient has revived, the patient should be given some stimulant, such as one teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia in a small glass of water or a hot drink of coffee or tea, etc. The patient should be kept warm.

9. Resuscitation should be carried on at the nearest possible point to where the patient received his injuries. He should not be moved from this point until he is breathing normally of his own volition and then moved only in a lying position. Should it be necessary, due to extreme weather conditions, etc., to move the patient before he is breathing normally, resuscitation should be carried on during the time that he is being moved.

10. A brief return of natural respiration is not a certain indication for stopping the resuscitation. Not infrequently the patient, after a temporary recovering of respiration, stops breathing again. The patient must be watched and if natural breathing stops, artificial respiration should be resumed at once.

11. In carrying out resuscitation it may be necessary to change the operator. This change must be made without losing the rhythm of respiration. By this procedure no confusion results at the time of change of operator and regular rhythm is kept up.

The first requirement of the victim is oxygen; this the rescuer endeavors to give with a minimum loss of time. His first pressure and release tells him if air is getting through to the lungs. If it is apparent that the passages are not clear, the operator must stop at once, reach forward and open the victim’s mouth, and with his fingers explore the mouth and throat. If the tongue has dropped back, it must be pulled forward to clear the opening to the windpipe. If foreign substances (chewing gum, false teeth, etc.) are present in the mouth and throat, they must be removed. If the substance cannot be reached and it is apparent that the windpipe is plugged, a vigorous thump between the shoulders with the open hand may eject it into the throat, from which it can be removed. If it is not dislodged by one thump, repeated blows are not likely to have any effect.