Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1924. FIRST AID NEEDS HELP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10066, 12 March 1924, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1924. FIRST AID NEEDS HELP.

It is rather remarkable that the first-aid movement is languishing in Ashburton. Let us first of all take a firm inventory of what first aid really is. The movement fostered by a few stalwart members of the St. John Ambulance Association, aims to train civilians in the art of rendering first aid in case of sudden sickness or accident. At the Ashburton river mouth recently a child dislocated its shoulder, but nobody really knew it was dislocated. The child suffered und.the shoulder, kinked out of position with its tender cords straining, went on swelling and hurting, while 100 people pursued their vaiious enjoyments in blissfnl unconcern. After nearly tw'o days one of Ashburton’s few first-aid members happened to arrive, discovered the dislocation, hastened the child to a doctor, and had the shoulder adjusted, though . after such delay it was an excruciating operation. 'On another occasion near Hinds a first-aid man driving along a road “10 miles from anywhere” - discovered a ploughman lying in a paddock w r itli a broken leg over which his plough had passed. First-aid skill put the limb into splints and carted the sufferer safely into sanctuary. At Peel Forest a child with severely lacerated arm was saved from possible death from bleeding by a lady who had firstaid training and knew the trick of tourniquets and bandaging. If such aids have happened along opportunely while Ashburton has so few first-aid artists, there must be hundreds of cases where such precious relief was wished for in vain. The problem for Ashburton town and county just now is to induce its citizens to learn first aid. Yet a meeting held in Ashburton this week to restart operations was attended by only 12 persons. A movement of such vital importance should attract 1200. It appears to us there are two outstanding needs :—(1) Men and women in ' our towns and | townships to start local commitI tees for arranging classes, and (2) a system of financing. The latter question reveals a scandal in Ashburton. Let us lift the veil of secrecy off some facts. The Ashburton Racing Club has never paid a penny toward the first-aid movement, and has never provided equipment. The firstaid members who attend the racef meetings do so without payment,; in their own spare time, and att their own cost in regard to ! stretchers, etc., and their membership fees to their society. In short, these extraordinary good people give their time and money to enable themselves to extend gratuitous aid to jockeys and others whenever the need may arise. In regard to the Trotting Club authorities, they are rather more generous. They have given 10 guineas in 11 years. We be- 1 lieve the same lack of recognition prevails through all the sports bodies and all the local authorities in the county. The Government makes an annual grant of £2OO for all the first-aid activities in New Zealand, and a little of this tiny morsel would come to Ashburton if we possessed an approved ambulance. It is desired by existing members to staid active branches in Ashburton, Methven, Rakaia, Chertsey, Hinds, Wakanui, and other centres if the various places would get into touch with the Aslihur-

ton secretary. There is something very pleasing in feeling competent. to lend skilled aid when distressing accidents happen. We hope, that now the movement is being' restarted the various local bodies—Hospital Board, County and Town Councils, etc.—will donate about ,£25 each, because it is a matter affecting everybody, and also that the various racing clubs, the A. and P. Association, the sports bodies, and perhaps also the Farmers’ Unions will also provide subsidies in proportion to their wealth and their reliance on the first-aid service. It is humiliating, both to the firstaid members and to the town and county,'" that, these public benefactors-. - .to stanch: at • the .•sti’eeti corners collecting.'