ALARM VOICED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 304, 24 December 1941, Page 6

ALARM VOICED

FIRST AID APATHY

PUBLIC INDOLENCE

Extending his sympathy to Mr. <J. J. Kingston in his complaint of lack of co-operation from the public in emergency fire-fighting, Mr. Allan J. Moody, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board and chairman of the medical and public health committee of the E.P.5.0., stated to-day that the apathy of the public was really alarming.

The Hospital Board, as the controlling authority under the E.P.S., had spent thousands of pounds in providing equipment for the various first-aid posts and advanced dressing stations, he said. The -personnel of these stations was excellent, but naturally a certain amount of detail in connection with the provision of equipment Other than medical appliances had been left to this personnel.

"The local residents in the various areas must be, and are, expected to take an intelligent interest in their own bodily protection," said Mr. Moody. "It seems to me that the general run of the public are only too willing to throw the whole responsibility on to the Government or the Hospital Board and are too indolent to help themselves. It is time they came out of their state of coma.

The only people who will have any right to criticise are the young and the helpless. These must be protected and, as far as I am concerned, I am certainly determined that the well-conditioned and the average citizen must be prepared to do something to help to protect himself.

Quite a lot of this latter class are prepared to sit back, criticise and say what should have been done if things do not go well. Now is the for this type to give assistance or, if too lazy to do this, to offer some" valuable constructive criti-

So far as local effort was concerned In the various first-aid posts, Mr. Moody said that certain equipment had to be provided by the residents.

Mr. J. J. Kingston

The policy of the Government in restricting imports was certainly affecting the position seriously. Whilst the Hospital Board had provided bandages and medical appliances, it should be realised that in the event of casualties a large amount of linen, blankets and similar material would be required. Sheets, in particular, would be used for bandages, provided, of course, they were properly sterilised. It was useless waiting for the actual emergency. These articles should, and must, be ready at the various posts. Now was the time for them to be forwarded to the nearest controlling authority in readiness for immediate use in the event of emergency.

I know, in speaking as I am, that I will of necessity - displease somebody, and bring down the wrath of the unthinking, but I do earnestly impress upon the public tne necessity of awakening, even at this late hour, to a full sense of its responsibility," said Mr. Moody. "Much has yet to be done, and the willing assistance of the public will be of inestimable value to those concerned in protecting the lives and welfare of those who are likely to bear the brunt of any first attack. "Many citizens are spending hours of their time engaged in committee work, for which they expect nothing. But unless something is done now the individual members will receive nothing but abuse when co-opera-tion and assistance from the citizens generally would avoid such unpleasant consequences," added Mr. Moody. In conclusion, he impressed on the public that without its assistance 100 per cent efficiency could not, and must not, be expected from the -responsible authorities. The petrol shortage was also causing considerable inconvenience to the fullest use of the first-aid facilities should trouble arise and he could only trust and hope that the Fuel Controller would do something to assist in the direction of easing the position.