ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21122, 24 March 1934, Page 6

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE

WORK OF THE WEEK LBj- SPLINT.] [Tlii* column i* emitribul*<t wfekW rt'spoiiKihln officer of the St. .lolin AmbiiInner Bricade, nnd in it nil matters relating t,> iirst-ivnl limy I'* l dix-ussed. CnrrflspnniliTii'i' is invited nnd questions will be answered.] Seventy-nine calls were responded to for the week by the St. John Ambulance, and after first-aid had been given by members of the brigade 5G patients were transported to hospital or to their homes. Distant calls were attended to at West Melton, Darfield, Leithfield, Belfast, Sockburn, and Kaiapoi. Dressi . Station At the first-aid dressing station, in Peterborough street. Dr. F. J. Borrie, assistant commissioner, and his staff of ambulance nursing sisters, treated 23 casualty cases for the week. The greatest number to attend on any one day was six, on aaturday. An Urgent Call

During the blasting operations of some trees in the rear of his dwelling in Park road, New Brighton, Douglas Henderson, a married man, was seriously injured by a premature explosion. Several children were standing near at the time, and one of these, Jean Richardson, aged eight years, was also seriously injured by flying splinters. and another girl was slightly injured. An urgent call was received at the St. John Ambulance station at 4.45 p.m.. when an ambulance was dispatched, arriving on the scene of the accident 12 minutes later. Dr. Cordery attended to the injured persons, who were then conveyed to t>ie Public Hospital. Ambulance Divisions The Linwood Rover Scout Division met at "Whare-kura." 24 St. Helier's street, Linwood. on Saturday evening. Superintendent J. Stoke? was in charge, and there ware 14 members present on parade. The work of the evening was transport drill, under the instruction of the superintendent and the sergeant. There was a fair attendance of members at th(j parade of the Lyttelton Railway Division, held in the subcentre rooms, on Monday evening. Ambulance Officer C. Ellis was in charge and after the inspection m.struetion was given in stretcher drill, after which ambulance duties were arranged for the following week. Ten minor first-aid cases were reported by members, who were on duty at the police picnic, held on Quail Island on Sunday last. A message of thanks was received from the police for services rendered by these members. Cadet Officer W. Pebbles tendered his resignation on account of leaving the district. The resignation was accepted with regret, and good wishes were offered him by his comrades. Members were reminded of the concert to be held on Tuesday next, m aid of funds for the sub-centre. The usual parade of the Christehureh Ambulance Division was held on Wednesday evening. Twenty members were present under Superintendent W. M. Palmer. When public duties wore arranged nnd the business of the evening concluded, the division was exercised in squad and stretcher drill and the treatment of fractures by_ the superintendent and ambulance officer, I'. A. Wentworth. The division was reminded of the corps parade to-day at 2.30 p.m., at the headquarters, Peterborough street.

The Christehureh Railway Ambulance Division met at the brigade rooms on Monday evening. Mr F. J. Ashworth, corps officer, visited the division and gave a series of practical llrst-aid demonstrations, at the close of which questions were answered. On Monday next Mrs A. Bishop, lady district superintendent, will visit the division. Nursing Divisions The New Brighton Nursing Division held its weekly meeting in the Joyland llall on Monday evening. The Ambulance Division also attended, and a very successful combined parade was held, under the supervision of Mr J. Dickson, corps superintendent. Some very useful hints were given in roller bandaging, and tests were also taken. At the close of the parade Mr Dickson complimented the members of both divisions on their work. Members were then notified of the half-day parade to be held in Christchurch on Saturday next Members of the St. Matthew's Nursing Division met as usual on Monday evening, the lady superintendent presiding over an excellent attendance. An apology was received from Nurse Buckley, who was out of town. A vote of sympathy was passed with the Misses Crowley in their recent beleavement, members standing. After the roll call and business of the evenI ing. members practised bed-making ' and roller bandaging and later questions were given on home nursing.

Members of the Christehureh Nursing Division met on Monday evening, there being a very large attendance under the supervision of M;. D. K. Thomas, laoy ambulance officer. Mra A. K. Frieker, lady corps superintendent, was also in attendance, and after inspecting the division, took several squads in lirst-aid. The remain<ler of the division was taken by Mrs Thomas in roller bandaging. Later in the evening the whole division practised hand seats. Members were notified of the crops parade to Lit; held to-day, at 2.30 p.m., all being expected to attend'.

Thirty members of the Selwyn Nursing Division mot in the brigade rooms on Tuesday evening. Mrs E. Aligns, lady superintendent, presiding. Duties were arranged for the week and members .were asked to collect clothing and goods suitable for a jumble sale to be held in April next. After the business of the evening, Nurse Tarpey, nursing ofliccr, Rave ail interesting lecture on the sick room, and afterwards demonstrated bediuakin.!'.

The weekly meeting ot the No. 1 Girl Guide Nursing Division was held on Tuesday evening last at brigade headquarters. After roll call and ~ inspection. Mrs Fricker, lady corps superintendent, attended and" gave a practical demon .ration of washing a patient, and later members practised the methods of sheet changing, etc. Cadet Nursing Divisions Last week the lady district officer supervising eadet musing divisions, Miss F. L. Cooper, exami -a cadets for their pub- : service proficiency badge. This badge requires a knowledge of citizenship, patriotism, duty to the poor, the aged, and the sick, as well as proof that the cadet takes an interest in some hobby, and games. Of the 19 who sat for the examina-

tion, all passed with credit, tin- successful cadets beim; Sibyl Bean, Eileen Blackler. Nola Carmichael, Jean Dixon, Vera r.ans, Hose Furloni:. Gladys Kennedy, Ni:aia Melville, Rita MillUian, Joan Nelson. Winifred Rogers, Doreen n.van. Hazel Smith, Myrtle Teague, Phyllis Tate. Ha/el Wilson, Wilson, Beryl Willcox. ami Joan Nolan. In response to iiiiiiktmi.- ivquc.-!* , from girls of eiu.el age. c'oupi-r will visit.' Sumner next week, in order to form a cadet nursing di\ i;:ion there-. The girls seem very keen, and arrangements will be made for the u.-,e of a halt or room, so U;rt instruction in elementary first-aid may be commenced immediately after Easter, if the keenness of the girls to start a division is an augury, this should be a good division and will eventually provide recruits for the adult nursing division which has just been formed. Instruction in basket making and in life-saving and' s./imming is being given to the Christchurcn Cadet Nursing Divisions, in addition to lustaid and home nursing, and many oi

t ibt m> railc-U; will soon be ready for