An undated photograph of the hospital located at Level 2 of the shaft of the Short Mountain Colliery, Lykens Valley Coal Company, Bear Gap, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. There was a hospital on each of the first four of five levels of the shaft and a first aid team at each of the levels. These teams were prepared to treat minor injuries such as scrapes, cuts and bruises. For more serious problems, a signal was given to give priority to removing the man from mine. The miner was sent to the surface by way of the shaft elevator where further evaluation was done on his injuries and a decision was made whether to send him home in the ambulance, or whether after treatment or rest, he could go back into the mine. Most miners had to weigh the loss of income against their injuries and insisted in going back into the mine. There was no disability payment for injuries sustained on the job.
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