School first-aid classes urged

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32893, 17 April 1972, Page 12

School first-aid classes urged

Some basic first aid should be taught in all schools, said the Lord Prior of the Order of St John (Lord Caccia) in Christchurch yesterday.

There was an increasing number of accidents in the home, on the road and in industry, and more and more persons should learn something about first aid, he said. In praising the recent announcement by the St John Ambulance Association of teaching first aid to motorists, Lord Caccia suggested New Zealand might create another first by the teaching of basic first aid in schools. After congratulating more than 200 brigade members who paraded before him at Mona Vale, Lord Caccia said it had been heartwarming to note the high regard with which the organisation was held in New Zealand. Although the aims of the St John Ambulance Association were clear the needs varied from country to country, and it was the desire to see these at first hand that had prompted his present tour. His visit was also intended to help maintain cohesion and high standards within the brigade round the world, he said.

Lord and Lady Caccia were : welcomed to the city by the • Mayor of Christchurch (Mr ■ N. G. Pickering), who said • that the Christchurch centre , was formed in 1885, and was the first in the country. ! Mr Pickering praised the ! willingness of the brigade’s voluntary members to turn out when called upon. Last year, members of the Canter-bury-Westland centre devoted 23,000 hours to aiding the sick and injured and 15,000 hours to sports and local bodies. The president of the Can-terbury-Westland centre of the association (Mr A. W. Sutherland) outlined some of the work by the 20 subcentres in the brigade district. Last year, he said, the brigade’s 32 ambulances had conveyed 30,000 patients and logged 286,000 miles. In addition to this type of work it had taught more than 2000 persons first aid. The association’s commissioner (Lieutenant-Colonel R. E. Johnston) spoke of the problems of recruiting people for voluntary organisations such as the association. However, the problems had been overcome in the past, and no doubt would be in the future, he said. In the meantime, the association continued to do its best at all times. j !