ST. JOHN AMBULANCE. BRIGADE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20920, 29 July 1933, Page 3

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE. BRIGADE.

WORK OF THE WEEK. [By SPLIXT.] Yesterday the St. John Free Ambulance had attended to 130 cases for the week, this representing the greatest number of cases for any one week since November 8 of last year, when a record of 107 was established. The total number of cases requiring ambulance transport was 81, and two distant calls were attended to at Rangiora. The greatest number of calls received on any one day was 22, on Friday A friendly game of football played on Thursday, between relief workers' teams, resulted in eight of the players attending at the St. John Free Ambulance dressing station in Peterborough street, on the following day for treatment. A doctor and four nursing sisters were in attendance. Ambulance Divisions. The Linwood Rcver Scout Division met at "Whare Kura" on Saturday evening, when Superintendent J. E. Stokes presided over an attendance of 15 members. The evening was devoted to the annual re-examination, which was conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel' F. W. W. Dawson, Corps Surgeon. Other corps officers present included Mr J. Dickson, Superintendent, and Mr A. Hoddinott, storekeeper. m «r • The Lyttelton Railway Division met as usual on Monday evening. Dr. F. J. Borrie, Assistant Commissioner, was in attendance, and after inspecting the members, gave a lecture on poisons and their antidotes. Tests in splinting and bandaging were also carried out by the new members, who were later complimented by Dr. Borrie on their work. * * * Members of the St. Matthew's Division met at the new ambulance rooms, in Peterborough street, on Monday evening, under Superintendent S. A. Jones. Lieutenant-Colonel F. W., W. Dawson, was also in attendance, and took charge of the parade for the annual re-examination. Probationary members were instructed in general first-aid by Mr Jones. * » * The New Brighton Division paraded in the Scout House, Rawhiti Domain, on Monday evening, Superintendent P. Manhart being the officer in charge. Senior members were taken in stretcher work, under the supervision of Mr Manhart, while the cadets and probationers received instruction in first-aid, and were later given a lecture by Dr. W. T. Glasgow, Divisional Surgeon. On Wednesday evening several of the members attended the flag presentation ceremony at the new ambulance station in Peterborough street. Mr Northcote, formerly a cadet officer in No. 3 Division, is now a member of this division, and his valuable help is appreciated. * * * The Christchurch Division took part in the parade on Wednesday evening, when Bishop Brodie presented the brigade with a St. John flag, to be flown over the new headquarters on special occasions. There were 27 members present, and Superintendent W. Palmer was in charge. In his remarks, his Lordship eulogised the work of the brigade generally, and urged all members to maintain the present high standard of effi-

ciency. Later in the evening the annual re-examination was conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. W. Dawson, Corps Surgeon. ** . * The No. 3 Division met as usual on Thursday evening, when 26 members paraded under Superintendent D. J. Somerville. Public duties were arranged for the week, and the men were then formed up for the halfyearly inspection. The corps inspecting officers were Mr J. Dickson, Superintendent, Messrs A. Hoddinott,' storekeeper, and F. J. Ashworth, who inspected the books and accounts. Nursing Divisions. The Christchurch Division met as usuai on Monday evening, in the new brigade rooms. Mrs A. E. Fricker, Lady Corps Superintendent, was in charge, there being a good attendance. Two new members were enrolled. Members were asked to assist on the combined orphanages appeal day, on August 11. Public duties were arranged, and several "first-aid" cases for the week were reported. Later in the evening candidates for re-examination held a "question bee" under the supervision of the officer of the division. Other members prac-1 tised "first-aid" under the supervision of Mrs Fricker. * * » The New Brighton Nursing Division met in the Joyland Hall on Monday evening, Mrs Robertson, ActingSuperintendent, presiding. Mrs A. Bishop, Lady District Superintendent, attended and gave a very instructive talk on the human skeleton, dealing also with circulation. Members were given pressure points, and they also practised in the uses of the triangular bandage. Several members have been enrolled during the last month, and a series of lectures on first-aid will commence on August 7, under Dr. W. E. Stevens, Divisional Surgeon. * • * The weekly meeting of the No. 1 Girl Guide nursing division was held on Tuesday evening, Miss G. Donaldson presiding over a large attendance of members. Colonel F. W. W. Dawson, corps surgeon, conducted the annual re-examination. Members who were not being examined spent the evening in first aid practice. Arrangements were also made for members to report for public duty on the St. John free ambulance. The following probationers were admitted to the division as full members. Misses Q. and S. Cordner and M. Moore. * * * Members of the Beckenham Nursing Division met at the new brigade rooms on Thursday evening. There was a good attendance and Mrs W. Gay, lady superintendent, was in charge. Dr. J. Restell Thomas and Dr. R. H. Baxter were also in attendance, and later conducted an examination in first aid, which had been set by the superintendent. At the conclusion of the examination both doctors commented very favourably on the results. Public duties were then arranged and the meeting closed. Appointments and Promotions. The following appointments in the St. John Ambulance Brigade in the Canterbury district have been approved by the Chief Commissioner for the Dominion:— Christchurch Railway Division — Robert W. Flintoff, to be sergeant; Norman Cameron and Leslie Wellington, to be corporals.

An Appeal for Cadet Officers. One growing need in the cadet movement in the St John Ambulance Brigade is the obtaining of capable cadet officers. There must be many young persons in the community, who no doubt possess the necessary personality and ability, and who, provided they obtained the requisite technical knowledge and training supplied by the St. John organisation, would be eminently suited to administer cadet divisions of boys or girls. If any such persons can be induced to proffer their services, they will be meeting a real want, besides engaging in a work of the htghrwt humanitarian value. Any offer of services will be gratefully received by those in authority in the brigade, who will also be pleased to furnish foS information with respect to duties, etc. Work of the Order in Palestine. The* Government of Palestine has requested the Order of Sfc John to assist it in a campaign to eradicate ophthalmia, which is the curse of the country. The Warden of the Ophthalmic Hospital at Jerusalem has supplied the Government with a moat exhaustive and invaluable report covering the whole field of the incidence of this terrible scourge in the Bob/ Land. Resulting from this report the Government has decided to adopt and carry out two of the three suggestions made by the warden in that report, and so invites the order to strike at the root of the disease by establishing a school for teartring young girls the principles of home hygiene, and after a course of instroction at headquarters in Jenoakfln, these girls will be sent out into that villages to teach people deanbneat in person and in their surroundings* and so tackle the disease at its soaroa. Newspaper PabUelty Appreeiaaad. Reference to the publicity given by the Christchurch newspapers to tin* St. John Ambulance Association ant Brigade on the occasion of the opening of the new ambulance lnwlmiw ters was made at the meeting of fba general committee of the association. Mr E. B. Rees said that the newspapers had given them all the peslicity they had desired; and it had proved of great value. Mr E. BL Marriner said that when the newspaper* came forward as they had done, tin* least the committee could do was to express its thanks. The chairman (Dr. J. Restell Thomas) said that ha had called on the managers of tha newspapers and had thanked then personally and on behalf of the association. He agreed with the suggestion of the previous speakers that a, letter of thanks should be forwarded* and to this the committee unanimously agreed.