"FIRE" AND "BOMB"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 303, 23 December 1941, Page 6

"FIRE" AND "BOMB"

REALISM IN TESTS

MEDICAL POSTS' FINE WORK

There was realism in the tests carried out this morning. Each worker had a job to do, and in areas where it was possible to work at full strength from within a few minutes of the emergency there were notable results.

One Tree Hill staged a spectacular show at the junction of Great South Road and Manukau Road, where a timber yards, factory and houses were presumed to be ablaze. When the emergency fire-fighters atrived the hypothetical fire was out of hand, the mains had been bombed and there was limited water.

Although at the same time there was a blaze started by incendiary bombs in Parnell, auxiliaries and an engine were sent out immediately to One Tree Hill zone, and the fire was kept under control until reinforcements arrived.

In the central city area there were casualties outside the Dilworth Building, and an urgent call was sent out for ambulances. Only one could be spared, and the casualties were evacuated. Later there was more bombing and more casualties. The first aid posts swung into action, caring for the patients until another ambulance could get through. However, the ambulance was destroyed on its way.

To take its place an emergency stretcher party was formed to take the casualties to a clearing station. But here there was a hitch, for the "casualties" firmly refused to be carted through the main city on a stretcher, even in the early hours of the morning.

In the Karangahape Road-Newton area the old Newton Road school was hit by a bomb • and several people were believed to have been trapped. In truly blitz manne" the wardens went to work. Additional help was needed and this was sought by telephone and runner. All blocks had practice in the treating lof casualties, and the medical personnel gave a fine account of themselves. One instance is typical of many. At Takapuna a first-aid post was manned at the Methodist Church and within a few minutes a patient with a burnt hand was brought in and duly treated.

There were two notable features of the test. One was the efficiency of the messenger service. This was operated by boys on cycles. In practically all cases they gave a fine and enthusiastic service.

The second outstanding point was the service of the medical committee personnel, who manned all first-aid posts, ambulances and other transport. Over 100 vehicles were in action and although all calls were not responded to in the interests of petrol conservation enough was seen to demonstrate the efficiency of this branch of the service.

Among matters that will no doubt receive the attention of the E.P.S. authorities was the distance many of the personnel had to travel, usually on foot, to their posts. Cases have been quoted of personnel who, even if they ran all the way, lived so far away that their use in an emergency is problematical.