How Canaries in the Coal Mine Survived With Bird Sized Oxygen Tanks
canary in the coal mine: an early warning of danger
Have you ever heard the expression canary in the coal mine? It’s an interesting English saying that means an early warning sign of danger. But where does this expression come from, and what’s the full story behind it?
In the past, miners faced the constant threat of poisonous gases inside coal mines. Invisible and odorless, these gases could be deadly. To detect them, miners used canaries. These small birds are more sensitive to toxic gases than humans, making them perfect for signaling danger. If a canary showed signs of weakness or collapsed, miners knew it was time to leave quickly.
But here’s a part of the story not everyone knows. When a canary became sick from the bad air, it didn’t always mean the end for the little bird. Miners carried the birds in a “canary resuscitator.” It was a small transparent container with an attached oxygen tank. When the canaries became sick, the container would be closed, and the oxygen would be turned on, giving them a second chance at life.
As terrible as it is to expose an animal to poison gas, this device showed that miners didn’t just see the birds as tools. They cared for them and tried to keep them safe. The use of canaries as early warning signs of danger stopped in 1987, but the expression lives on as a powerful metaphor.
Sample sentences
1. The decline in bee populations is the canary in the coal mine for environmental health.
2. The increase in employee turnover was the canary in the coal mine for deeper problems within the company.
3. The decrease in marriage is the canary in the coal mine for future population decline.
Read More:
Who brought the canary into the coal mine?
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