VOLUNTARY AIDS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29435, 10 February 1961, Page 2

VOLUNTARY AIDS

Training For 1961 An “ambumanikfn," for teaching and practising the mouth-to-mouth method of resuscitation, will be used as soon as it arrives, by voluntary aids of the North Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society, says a report from the detachment secretary (Mrs S. Tucker).

Training classes for 1961 are now beginning. These include lectures in first aid, home nursing and hygiene. A small ward is used for practice in nursing procedures. Equipment includes "Griselda.” a washable model for teaching voluntary aids sponging and other home nursing techniques. A model of a baby in a bassinet is used for mothercraft lectures. There is also a skeleton in the ward’s cupboard. V.A.D. activities include duty at the blood bank and accompanying the mobile unit on visits to country districts. VA. Duties Voluntary aids visit patients in hospitals, invalided returned servicemen in their homes and are called on to do hospital duties when required. They assist the Red Cross Good Neighbour Service with the delivery of meals, collect age benefits and pensions for elderly and disabled folk and help with transport duties. They are assisted in many of their activities by link cadets, a group of teen-age girls, who are interested in becoming voluntary aids later. Cadets* instruction includes first aid, home nursing and mothercraft. Their lectures will begin immediately. Competitions with VA.D.’s and Link Cadet groups from other centres are held during the year. The detachment needs more members for its services, says Mrs Tucker in her report.