ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1937, Page 22

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

DEMONSTRATION NIGHT

Colonel George Barclay, Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John, 0.8.E.V.D., Chief Commissioner for New Zealand of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, inspected nursing and ambulance divisions at the brigade hall, Wellington, last night. Colonel Barclay, who was accompanied by Mrs. Barclay, was met by the assistant commissioner of the Wellington district, • Mr. F. W. Ward, S.B. St. J., and district officers, Mrs. G. Barltrop, S.S. St.' J., Miss H. McKnight, S.S. St. J., Mr. J. Hislop, S.B. St. J., Mr. W. Dutton, S.B. St. J., Mr. E. Gilberd, and Mr. C. Meachen.

After the inspection, awards were presented, including grand prior's cadet badges to Cadet Winifred Hodgo. Brooklyn Cadet Nursing Division, and Cadet' Clive G. I'obotson, Wellington East No. 2 Ambulance Division.

A feature of the evening was a realistic demonstration of a cas.ualty night. Members of the brigade were given an opportunity of displaying Initiative and resourcefulness under a well-organised plan of campaign. The problem was how to deal with an explosion which had occurred in the-city milk depot's yards. Lights had failed, and casualties were Jealt with under torch light, in an able manner. The walking injured'were immediately cared for and discharged, and a first-class,system of records was introduced, so' that victims could be traced by their relations to the hospitals where they were beino admitted. , . . ■'.

The evening proved that such a system of records, introduced on a national basis, would provide the country with a scheme that would meet any emergency.

1 The Wellington Free Ambulance placed a vehicle at the disposal of the St. John Ambulance for the evening to transport cases to and from hospital Sisters Collins and Grenslade, of the District Nursing Guild, and Drs. N. Williams and :M. Kronfeld also gave Dractical assistance in directing operations. The rorp<: surgeon. Dr. C. Gordon Kemo. SB St. .1". Corps Superintendent F. Elvine<s..Lady Corns Superintendent M. F. Gaby, and Corps Officer C. Kidman deserve praise for their efforts in bringing to members a oicture of what m'ipht happen ?t any time of the day or night. As there were 80 injured persons in the imaginary accident, careful organisation was necessary to bring order out of chaos.