FIRST-AID SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 104, 30 October 1939, Page 3

FIRST-AID SERVICE

EXHIBITION PERIOD

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Throughout the Exhibition period a first-aid service will be provided voluntarily in the grounds by the St. John Ambulance Brigade. On Saturday afternoon, in order to show them the grounds and buildings, the first-aid posts, and the ambulance depot, a parade of 300 ambulance men and nurses was held at the Exhibition. The members of the nursing division added a bright splash of colour in their new uniforms of grey and scarlet."

Placed at strategic points, there are 18 first-aid posts, and there is a central ambulance depot in case of need. The brigade headquarters are in the service block on the south side of the main entrance in Kingsford Smith Street. Four rooms are provided for treatment of injured persons; two have been set aside for the reception of men and women patients' respectively. One of the other two is being allocated to the ambulance men and one to the nurses. The rooms are provided with'surgical equipment, sterilisers, examination couches, dressing and instrument cabinets, screens, and other apparatus.

From 10 a.m. to closing time daily these rooms will be staffed by volunteer trained workers; about 30 ambulance men and sisters will be on duty daily. The brigade will also patrol the grounds and staff the various posts, each of which will be equipped with a stretcher. ■ ... " ■

Although the number of cases was small in proportion to the total number of visitors and most of the injuries were trifling, an average of nine to ten cases daily was attended to at the Dunedin Exhibition. During the' six months of that exhibition 1332 cases were given attention.

The parade on Saturday was addressed by Mr. T. C. A; Hislop, chairman of the Exhibition directors, on whose behalf he expressed^ gratitude to the brigade for the work it was undertaking. Mr. F. W. Ward, Commissioner of the Brigade for Wellington, also addressed the parade.