DANISH WAR WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 11, 13 January 1940, Page 11

DANISH WAR WORK.

WOMEN VOLUNTEERS. iooo HELPERS FOR HOSPITAL. . . On .September 1, 19US, the Danish Air Raid "Defence. League appointed a women's committee to provide, women voluntary helpers to assist the authorities in" carrying out precautions to protect the public against air raids. The committee consists of six members, all well-known women, states the "International Women's News."

In the newspapers and on tho radio! the committee has called women within the area of Copenhagen and all its suburbs—22 corporations—to join this voluntary service. They have to fill in an application form and arc registered in four- sections; sanitary, work, oflice work,, housekeeping (particularly for use in case of possible evacuation) and miscellaneous. This- registration forms tho basis for the selection of women helpers for public or private institutions who ask for their services for A.R.P. work.

From the Copenhagen hospital authorities the league has received a request for 1000 helpers for hospitals and nursing homes. A number have already been allotted and the remainder will follow from the women now * applying. They are distributed to tho various hospitals and there they will get a certain amount of training, for wliieh the hospitals pay. After finishing their training, the helpers will receive a notice from the institution informing them where to report in case of emergency, and an armlet is issued to them. Similar measures will be taken as the authorities ask for helpers for other purjjoses. Up to November about 4000. women had applied for this voluntary service.

In the most important provincial towns also "women's committees have been set up and similar work begun. • Tile Danish Keel Cross has arranged various courses, including Red Cross nursing services, air defence, cooking— in -which .6very member has to make all the different dishes, both special diet dishes and simple daily meals; nursing of infants, knitting stockings and cutting and making their own uniforms, making bandages, blood examinations. When applicants have finished the course they are formed into a corps and continue monthly training. Only the air defence c6urse is paid for by the Government, the others being at the expense -of the association, which necessarily limits the number to those who can take them.