ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7385, 10 August 1889, Page 3

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.

TO XBM BOITOB O* THB JNUtt*. Sra,— ln your notice ov- Wednesday of the examination of men In " first aid," it la stated—"The examiner, Dr. Irving, reports that the bandaging was not very good, excepting that done by No. 6." This unsatisfactory result is due greatly, if not entirely, to the fact of roller ban* daging being employed in the examina* tlon, while it is not Included in the hand* book on first aid used by the Association, and is not thoroughly taught in class. Pupils are supplied with Shepherd's " First Aid to the Injured," which is the handbook of- the Association, and contain* a syllabus of the course of instruction. Neither in that syllabus nor In the re* mainder of the work is roller bandaging referred to, but triangular bandages ase fully dealt with. On the evening of the fourth lecture we tried roller bandaging. That was certainly not sufficient fl required for examination, and home practice without further supervision would probably do more harm than good by continning faults in manipulation. I may mention that in the New South Wales Railways Ambulance handbook, the compiler, Dr. Woodward, says—" Never ueq roller bandages ; they are not necessary at all in rendering first aid; they require much caution and practice to be skilfully applied, and are only adapted for professional men and trained nuraee." At the examination the only bandaging required of some of ua was the application of a roller bandage each. What the others were asked to do X cannot say, not having seen them since. The matter, therefore, stands thus {No. fi Is out of the question, being up for the third year's examination):—The public are led to believe that some, if not all of as, proved deficient in knowledge or skill in a most important part of the course a* laid down by the Association, while in reality we were never examined on it. This la certainly discouraging. For my own part lam only too glad to learn more than is contained in the regular course as far Aβ other duties will permit. The work of the Association is a matter of serious importance, and the desire to put an end to anything which may mar its harmony will, I trust, elicit the kindly and practical expression of your sympathy by the insertion of this letter. The lecturer, Dr. Patrick, was most obliging and courteous in showing all that was considered necessary; and no doubt the examiner, Dr. Irving, acted in good faith, but that does not alter the fact that something Iβ wrong. The result of the examination shows that as a personal matter it does not affect mc seriously; were it not so 1 should have more diffidence in troubling you. For your information I enclose my card. Thanking you in anticipation.—Yours, &o» No. 4.