A.R.P. SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 127, 31 May 1941, Page 11

A.R.P. SERVICE

CHURCH TO THE FORE

THOUSANDS IN TRAINING

FIRST AID & NURSING

(0.C.)

SYDNEY, May 24

Between 5000 and 10,000 people have already been thoroughly trained in first aid and air-raid precautions work as the result of an ambitious scheme launched by the Seventh Day Adventist Church in April, 1939. The scheme aims to train 15,000 members of the church in this work in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the South Sea Islands.

Twelve commercial delivery vans of the Sanitarium Health Food Company, conducted by the sect, have been fitted as ambulances. They can be converted in the space of a few moments. The driver of each van holds at least two St. John First Aid certificates, and is fully trained in A.R.P. work. In the event of emergency he has a trained assistant and a woman attendant. There is a complete first aid kit in every van. Each van has six stretchers and one special van carries twelve. The organisation has 25 mission schooners, which will be placed at Government disposal for evacuation and other purposes. Many hundreds of natives living in Australian mandated territories have been drawn .into A.R.P. and National Emergency Services under the church scheme. Pastor Hare, secretary of the Seventh Day Adventist National Emergency and Welfare Scheme, travelled over 12,000 miles last year, organising this work in the Islands, New Guinea, and New Zealand. HOME NURSING SERVICE. Many hundreds of women have been drawn into a scheme of home nursing which will supplement district nursing and other similar organisations. They are equipped with a full home nursing outfit. Their services are free. Pastor Hare took 12 first-aid classes in Sydney last year. This year he has organised six more. After London's experience with fire and incendiary bombs, the ambulances were re-equipped with steel fittings. Major-General McGuire, Director-Gen-eral of Medical Services, described them as the best he has seen. If war reaches Australian shores, the Seventh Day Adventist war service will operate as a complete unit under the control of the National Emergency Service. All finance has come from church funds. The cost has already run into many thousands of pounds.