BLITZ-AID KNOWLEDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 106, 31 October 1942, Page 8

BLITZ-AID KNOWLEDGE

SUMMARY OF LECTURES

Some months ago selected members of the wardens' groups of the Wellington E.P.S. went through a short, intensive course of "blitz-aid" training and instruction, evolved in Britain to meet the abominations of air raiding there, and later these wardens passed on what they had learned to other E.P.S. personnel, but as with all lecture courses, and generally with all E.P.S. work, this information did not reach the public—and the E.P.S. is essentially the business of all the public. The course of training was based upon a series of lectures given by Dr. Hubert Smith and assistant demonstrators, and these lectures have now been summarised in a 12-page booklet by the leaders of Block E in the mid-city No. 10 Area primarily for the information of wardens. The booklet contains in short form clearly stated facts and advice as to the things that should be done first if there is a raid or if any other disaster —earthquake, fire catastrophe, or panic— throws the city into trouble that must be met by instructed understanding of everyone who can help.

Blitz-aid is not first-aid, carried out by well practised operators with firstaid kits and splints; it is simply giving help on the spot, with or without equipment, and of avoiding the well-meant help that will make wounds, shock, or burns worse, perhaps fatal. "These aids in saving life are very simple. Every person should be able to apply them. You must not run away for help," says the first paragraph. "Attend to the injured first. Those minutes lost in sending for help may mean the loss of a life that you could have saved. It is the duty of the one on the spot to attend to the injured, however ghastly the wounds may be. Be courageous. Keep your head. The most urgent and essential things to do are to stop bleeding and to prevent collapse or shock."

The. nine paragraphs which follow state the fundamentals, and if it is not possible to give the whole reprint a general distribution, at least this first section should be obtainable by everyone who wants to know what are the things to be done first and what should not be done. It is a valuable emergency booklet, with a value.increasing witli wider availability.