The North Carolina Mason

November/December 2016 The North Carolina Mason Page 15 From the Medical Committee Hypothermia in summer? Are you nuts? The Grand Historian's Courier Case Reflections through the prism of history By Steven Campbell In our modern world, climate con- trolled environment, motorized ve- hicles, and electronic devices; do we truly face any more insurmountable challenges than those who came before us? Only 240 years ago we became a na- tion. Many who led the way were mem- bers of our fraternity and their family members. Upon reading the statements which follow, you decide how we have progressed as a nation. e past forward • " ese are the times that try men's souls." — omas Paine, 1776 (ough not a Freemason, he was a Revolutionary era writer who associ- ated with many members of the Craft and was recruited to pen a detailed his- tory of Freemasonry.) • "I have always given it as my decid- ed opinion that no nation had a right to intermeddle in the internal concerns of another." — George Washington, 1796 • "My first wish would be that my mil- itary family, and the whole Army, should consider themselves as a band of brothers, willing and ready to die for each other." — George Washington, 1798 • "I am still determined to be cheerful and to be happy in whatever situation I may be, for I have also learnt from expe- rience that the greater part of our happi- ness or misery depends upon our dispo- sitions, and not upon our circumstances; we carry the seeds of the one, or the oth- er about with us, in our minds wherever we go." — Martha Washington (ough twice widowed and wit- nessing the death of all four of her children, our new nation's first first lady remained resilient throughout her life.) • "If we turn our attention, fellow citizens, more immediately to the inter- nal concerns of our country, and more especially to those on which its future welfare depends, we have every reason to anticipate the happiest results." — James Monroe, 1821 • "As long as our government is ad- ministered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it secures us to the rights of person and property, liberty of conscience and of the press, it will be worth defending." — Andrew Jackson, 1829 • "Our population has increased from three to twenty millions. New communities and states are seeking protection under its aegis, and multi- tudes from the Old World are flocking to our shores to participate in its bless- ings." — James Polk, 1845 • "We have recently passed through a presidential contest in which the pas- sions of our fellow citizens were excited to the highest degree by questions of deep and vital importance; but when the people proclaimed their will the tempest at once subsided, and all was calm." — James Buchanan, 1857 • " e census has already sounded the alarm in the appalling figures which mark how dangerously high the tide of illiteracy has risen among our voters and their children." — James Garfield, 1881 • " e government should not be permitted to run behind or increase its debt like the present." — William McKinley, 1897 • " ere is no good reason why we should fear the future, but there is ev- ery reason why we should face it se- riously, neither hiding from ourselves the gravity of the problems before us nor fearing to approach these prob- lems with the unbending, unflinching purpose to solve them aright." — e- odore Roosevelt, 1905 • "Our international policy is always to promote peace." — William Taft, 1909 • "Let me speaking to the maimed and wounded soldiers who are present today, and through them convey to their comrades the gratitude of the Republic for their sacrifices in its defense." — Warren G. Harding, 1921 • " is great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive, and will pros- per. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." — Franklin D. Roo- sevelt, 1933 • "Each period of our national history has had its special challenges. ose that confront us now are as momentous as any in the past." — Harry S. Truman, 1949 So, as in the past, the future will always present challenges. However, those who came before us endeavored to persevere as we, recommitted to our tenets, will do as well. Of special note: Witnessing the end of an era. A vital thread in the fabric of Ma- sonry in our state is The North Caro- lina Mason. For a quarter of a century, Brother Ric Carter (Editor Emeri- tus) has harnessed the contents and shepherded the publication of this "voice of Masonry." Now, as Brother Ric concludes his duty, let each of us extend to him our thanks for the framework he has enhanced, which will prove a solid foundation for the worthy forthcoming editor. Grand Historian Steven Campbell is a member of Blackmer 127 By R. Keith Bailey Hypothermia is a loss of body tem- perature which is divided into three stages; mild, moderate, and severe. Each stage has symptoms and health impli- cations. Some people are at more risk: for instance, the elderly (over 65 sorry), diabetics, infants under two, and anyone whose mobility is compromised. It is the environment and our re- sponse that affects our body tempera- ture. When it is cold outside, we dress appropriately and heat our homes and work places. In the summer, we dress lightly and cool our environment. Now take a person in an air conditioned home, say 78 degrees, who has fallen on a tile, linoleum, wooden, or concrete floor where temperature will be lower than thermostat. Normal body temper- ature is 98.6 degrees fahrenheit. eir body temperature over 30 minutes can drop to a critical level, in addition to what caused the fall. If they are uncon- scious, their temperature can drop even faster as they may have lost some of the protections of shivering and vasocon- striction (narrowing of blood vessels). If a person is found unconscious and does not appear to breathe and has no pulse, call 911 then start CPR. (CPR training is available through the Red Cross or American Heart Association.) Paramedics will take over resuscitation and deal with hypothermia. If you find someone conscious but in- capacitated, make sure they can breathe and have a pulse, change the thermostat to heat and increase ambient tempera- ture, Next get a warm blanket to provide protection to person. If there is a po- tential for a spine or neck injury, do not move victim; call 911 and continue to try to provide warmth. Do not try to warm skin directly as this could cause thermal burns, usually first or second degree. In summary: Hypothermia can occur in summer. We need to make sure our family and friends at risk are checked on, especially if we know of specific health risks. Have at least one family member trained in CPR. Dr. R. Keith Bailey is a member of Scotch Ireland 154. PINEVILLE — James K. Polk 759 made 450 quarts of Brunswick stew on Oc- tober 22. They were raising money for the Masonic Home For Children at Oxford. They had great fun and fellowship as well as a successful fundraiser. — Randy Richardson

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