PROMPT RELIEF

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 23, 26 July 1930, Page 9

PROMPT RELIEF

ITALIAN RED CROSS

EFFICIENT ORGANISATION

TH. compict't._esi; of cfce Emergency Belief organisation of tho Italian Bed Cross society is described in a pamphlet prepared by the secretariat of the League of Red Cross Societies, a copy of which has been kindly furnished to the "Evening Post" by the secretary of the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society (Captain M. S. Galloway), who states that the Italian, Japanese, and American organisations are perhaps the best prepared to render immediate aid in the event of & national disaster. In a m" h smaller way the New Zealand Red Cross Society has the preparedness of these countries in mind in the event of any similar emergency arising in this country.

In the event of disaster, the Italian Bed Cross intervenes immediately with.

tho organisation established under its regulations. This organisation iias allotted certain relief material and personnel to all its committees and sub-coip-vtte'os tlr*oughou+ tho Kii*-?doni. Wiien a disaster occurs the pros-dents; of the different committees immediately notify the Director-General of the I society in Rome as to its extent, and the measures deemed necessary. In cases of special urgency, and if requested by the official local authorities, the committees intervene on theii- own initiative. RAPIDITY OF RELIEF WOKK. The central committee of the Italian Red Cross established a permanent relief detachment in 1921 for immediate intervention in case of public disaster. This detachment has on numerous occasions shown tho rapidity with which relief work can bo executed in lime of disaster. The detachment constitutes a nucleus of personnel ready to meet nil eventualities. The personnel of the detachment is: One medical ofiiecr, two administrative officers, sixteen members who have received instruction in all phases of relief and life-saving work, including medical assistance and disinfection. Tho emergency relief detachment has at its disposal the following, material:—ln tho central warehouse, two large outfits of relief material are stored, consisting of shelter tents and ambulance tents, medicine chests, surgical instruments, dressings, restoratives) food stores (tinned meat, biscuits, condensed milk),, stretchers, camp' beds,- field kitchens, etc. —in short, everything needed to establish two refugee camps with necessary and auxiliary services. The equipment is especially designed for use in the case of earthquakes. s For the conveyance of the material and tho personnel, and for tho relief duty and transport of the sick, the motor depot has at its disposal ambulance cars and lorries. In every district tjtcro is a 'first-aid I unit and sanitary column ready for mobilisation in case of a public disaster. EXAMPLES OF EFFICIENCY. On tho night of 29th June, 19.19, vioi lent shocks produced terrible damage in tho region of Mugello. In a few hours the first-aid detachment sent by the Red Cross committee of Florence arrived on the scene, and on tho morning of the 30th a camp of five large tents and 15 alpine tents was established. Subsequently, 150 large tents and 211 alpine tents were set up. On the very night of the Kadicofani earthquake (17th August, 1919), officers and orderlies arrived on the scene with first-aid and medicine.

Numerous other instances are given of prompt assistance rendered in cases of earth.qua.kes, railway accidents, etc.