ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21324, 17 November 1934, Page 5

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE

■■ —i i ■ WORK OF THE WEEK I By SPLIKT.J [This column ia contributed weekly by a responsible ofiicor of the *St. John Ambulance and in it all matters relating to flrtst-uid may bo discutfscd. Corro* apondenco is invited and tiuettions will be nuswyred. J Eighty-seven calls were responded to by the St. John Ambulance for the week, and alter first-aid had been given, all necessitated transport to hospital or to homes. Of the cases attended, 18 were the result of street accidents. Two alarms were received, one to attend an accident in Ferry road and the other on a similar mission in Hazeldean road. Distant calls were attended to at Woodend (2), Teddington, Templeton, Belfast <2), Sockburn, Stewart's Gully, Omihi, Springston South, Prebbleton, Halswell, and Windwhistle. The total distance covered on long distance calls was 456 miles, and the total distance run for the week by all ambulances was 928 miles. Divisional Notes The Christchurch Nursing Division met as usual on Monday evening, when Mrs Thomas presided over an attendance of 20 members and probationers. After the duties were arranged, a "question bee" was held. Later, Dr. Gordon Rich attended and put members through first-aid tests and artificial respiration. At the close of the evening's work, members joined in bidding farewell to Miss Lloyd, formerly nursing officer to I the division, who is leaving for the j North Island. I Members were then reminded that the final rc-examination would be held on November 20. Members of the St. Matthew's Nursing Division met on Monday evening at the brigade rooms, Peterborough street. After duties had been arranged, an article on "Pressure Points" was read to the division, after which the various members gave demonstrations on this subject. Later in the evening Mr J. Dickson, corps superintendent, attended and conducted a series of first-aid tests, during which he gave jmuch useful information on first-aid jand competition work. | There was a good attendance of members of the Lyttelton Railway Ambulance Division, which met at the sub-centre rooms on Monday evening. Superintendent J. Lister was in charge and gave an interesting talk on firstaid work, particularly for those preparing to sit for their first-aid examination. At the close of the address, public duties were arranged for the week. The usual parade of the Christchurch Ambulance Division was held in the rooms on Wednesday evening. A fair attendance was presided over by Superintendent W. M. Palmer. A short business meeting was held to arrange a provisional syllabus for 1935. The remainder of the evening was spent in squad drill. The annual inspection will be held on Saturday, November ! 24, at 2 p.m., and members are reminded that failure to attend this parade may result in their being inefficient for the year. The Beckenham Nursing Division met on Thursday evening, there being an excellent attendance under Mrs M. Gay. Public duties were arranged. Mr J. Dickson, corps superintendent, who was also in attendance, gave squad tests, and later complimented the division on its work of the evening. Members of the No. 1 Girl Guide Nursing Division met as usual on Tuesday evening, there being a good attendance under Miss G. Donaldson, lady superintendent. First-aid work was carried out during the evening, and later the members joined in saying good-bye to Miss I. Lloyd, nursing officer, and a former member of the division, who is leaving for the North Island to continue her professional studies. Appointments and Promotions The following appointments in the Canterbury district have been approved by the Chief Commissioner for Nei Zealand:— Christchurch Ambulance .Division— Ivor S. Rowberry to be sergeant; William Samuel to be corporal. Christchurch Railway Division—F. S. Bonnington to be divisional superintendent; H. E. McDonagh to be ambulance officer. Headquarters Notes The cadet movement of the St. John Ambulance Brigade continues to make steady progress, and many new divisions are being added to the roll. The curriculum laid down is of great interest to the young people, and they show themselves eager to qualify and obtain certificates and badges in the different subjects. The movement has recently been introduced into Marlborough, and has been most enthusiastically taken up by both boys and girls. The work of St. John in connexion with the transport of the sick and injured is being gradually extended. At Wanganui arrangements have been entered into with the hospital board whereby the brigade will in future man the ambulances. Arrangements are also in progress for the St. John Ambulance Brigade to take over the ambulances at Hamilton and Rotorua. Steps are being taken to rearrange the centres of the association in New Zealand, the intention being that they shall bp reduced t" five in number, viz., Auckland, Wellington, Wanganui, Canterbury, and Otago. It is proposed that the New Plymouth Centre shall be absorbed by Wanganui. Wellington will take control of Nelson and Marloorough; South Canterbury ;will be

included in Canterbury, and Invercargill in the Otago Centre. It is interesting to learn that at the end of last year the St. John Ambulance Brigade for the first time in its history passed the 100,000 mark in membership. The actual figures are 83,521 surgeons and trained men, women, and cadets in England, Wales, and Ireland, and a further 16,977 members in the Dominions overseas—a total membership of 100,943. On June 21, 1887. practically the whole brigade (50 men in all) undertook its first official duty on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. In three years' time the jubilee of the brigade will be celebrated. An Appreciation Mrs A. E. Fricker, lady corps superintendent, has received the following letter, dated October 31,. from Mrs R. E. Betts, lady divisional superintendent of the Wellington South Nursing Division: "I should very much like you to convey my thanks to Mr and Mrs Geoghegan and Mr and Mrs Ashworth for their wonderful hospitality to my members and myself. Our three days were crammed full of pleasure and brightness, owing to the efforts of various members of 'St. John,' and we will have pleasant memories for a long time." It will be remembered that Mrs Betts attended the Christchurch corps competitions on October 20-22, with a team from the Wellington South. Nursing Division;

Annual Corps Inspection The annual corps inspection will take place in North Hagle v Park on Saturday next, November 24. This is a compulsory parade for all members who desire to make themselves efficient for the year. EXAMINATION PASSES The following members of a class who have been instructed in first-aid to the injured under the auspices of the St. John Ambulance Association, have been successful in passing the examination and have qualified for the certificate of the association:—Messrs R. Banks, C. C. Crocker, H. Evans, I. A. Forgie, L. G. Hooper, D. W. Renwick, .D. W. Sampson, O. R. Spackman, L. J. Dyer, L. C. Thackwell, E. A. E. Thompson, I. S. Cardwell, R. J. Stokes, S. Wallace, C. J. Newton, J. G. Jennings, and A. Bell. The following girl cadets have been successful in passing tiie examination, and have qualified for the junior certificate of the associatlon:--Misses I. Campbell, D. A. F. Good, V, A. Cave, H. R. Shannahan, W. Watson, L. L. Cullen, M. L. Lackner, I. G. Evans, E. P. Tate, R. E. M. Milligan, S. M. McPherson, N. F. Hammond, S. E. Harrington, V. A. Evans, E. M. Cochrane. M. A. Thomas, I. A. Evans, D. E. Hemingway. H. Wilson, I. E, Ayson, and E. E. Martin.