ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Evening Star, Issue 22526, 19 December 1936, Page 11

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

BRIGADE NOTES Lieutenant-colonel P. H. Morey, V.D., assistant commissioner, Otago district, presided at the combined district and corps meeting held at headquarters. Among those present were District Superintendent J. C. White, District Officer W. D. Pirrett, District Officer A. G. A. Swanson, District Officer H. O. Marsh, Lady Corps Superintendent Miss Applegarth, Lady Corps Officer Mrs Parker, Corps Officer P. Wilkinson, and Corps Officer W. T. P. Hobby. A motion of sympathy was passed with tho relatives of the late Mr G. Murray. Members stood in silence for two minutes as a mark of respect to one who was always ready to do Ins utmost to assist those in need. Irt the passing of Mr Murray the No. 1 Loco. Railway Division loses one of the foundation members, and although laid aside with illness for the past, few months, he always made a special effort to be present at any function of note. Recently retired from active service with the Railway Department his cheerful presence and knowledge of first aid was sadly missed by his workmates in the Dunedin goods yard. _ Regarding the proposed affiliation with the Royal Life Saving Association, District Officer Swanson stated it was indicated first aid classes would be starting very soon, and co-operation with this society was assured.’ Arrangements are now in hand for the brigade to man dressing stations at the St. Clair and St. _ Kilda pavilions during the coming holiday season. The following communication has been received in connection with the recent resolution passed at the district meeting:—“With reference to my letter of August 7, regarding a loyal resolution passed at a meeting of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overv seas, Dunedin, in connection with the attempt on the King’s life, I am, directed by the Governor-General t 6. inform you that advice lias been received from Buckingham _ Palace that the resolution has been laid before His

Majesty, who has commanded that an expression of his warm thanks may be conveyed to the senders.” Advice has been received that the revised dress regulations for New Zealand are now in the hands of the printers, and' it is hoped to circulate them to each nursing division within the course of the next few weeks. - The following instruction issued by the corps surgeon of the Auckland Corps to members of the brigade in that city, is, by direction of the sur-geon-in-chief for the Dominion . (Dr Henry), published for general information and attention. ‘ My attention has been called to the frequent and unnecessary use of smelling salts in cases of mild concussion on football fields. Such use is both undesirable and unnecessary, smelling salts being reserved for faint attacks due to constitutional causes, such as .fainting where there is a depression in the activity of the heart’s action. Concussion and temporary unconsciousness caused by head injuries do not come under this category, and very often stimulation of the heart will do more damage than result in good. Members are advised to refer to their textbooks and use the knowledge that they are given there, accordingly.’’ . The following information,!which has been supplied from St. John’s Gate, is , of interest as showing'the great advance which has been made in the cadet movement by the brigade in this Dominion: —Grand prior’s badges issued in the United Kingdom, 63. _ Grand prior’s badges issued in the brigade overseas: In Australia 2, in New Zealand 22, the distributions of which are as follow:Christchurch 15, Wellington 4, Auckland 3, Sydney 2. . A suggestion has Jbeen made that exmembers of the brigade might be got in touch with and the services of some of them utilised for various purposes. There are many persons who were very proficient, but who for business, family, and other reasons were compelled to ■give up St. John work. Some,,of those now ,have more leisure (in some cases they have retired, from’ active Tvork), -and it isVhelieved that they might welcbme, an invitation to assist again; with our organisation. They could well bo utilised for cadet training, either the ordinary work or for instructing in thb

subjects provided for in the cadet proficiency certificates. Certain of these persons might be induced to_ organise cadet divisions in connection with schools, churches, and other bodies. The following appointments have been approved by the Chief Commissioner for the Dominion, Colonel G. Barclay; Dr G. Barnett to be corps surgeon. Ambulance Officer D. M'Lean to be divisional superintendent, Dunedin Ambulance Division. . Once again the value of having fully qualified ambulance . workers who are willing to give their time and services to any .emergency that may arise is brought under notice. On a. recent public holiday a young man had the misfortune to fall down a cliff at .Black Head. Within a few minutes of receiving the call the St. John Ambulance was on its way out with two members of the No. 1 Loco. Railway Division, who were picked up on the way out. Arriving on the scene, the patient was found to be lying at the foot of a din approximately 200 ft high with a badlyfractured leg. After first, aid had been rendered the patient was strapped to a stretcher, and with the assistance of the police and bystanders under great difficulty he was, brought to the' top of the cliff and transported to the hospital. Great presence of mind was shown by members of the Green Island Boys’ Brigade, who used their knowledge of first aid in making the patient as comfortable as possible and doing their best to relieve his suffering until the arrival of the ambulance. The bystanders are also to be commended for their_ prompt action in removing some of their clothing to keep the patient warm. The Dunedin' Cadet Ambulance Division, under Cadet Superintendent W. Spence, met at headquarters, when a brief question bee was held prior _ to the preliminary first aid examination conducted by Dr Perry.. All members were successful in gaining their" certificates.' The J. G. Ross Efficiency Cup was won by Cadet Colin Freeman. The assistant commissioner and the members of the Otago District and Dunedin Corps staff extend to all divisional officers, n.c.o.s, and members the compliments of the season. An indication of steady progress which is being made in the activities

of the St, John Ambulance Brigade ig ' this Dominion is given-in the fact that during the last few months the Chief Commissioner for New Zealand , (Colonel G. Barclay) has provisionally sanctioned the formation of the following new divisions:—Taihape Railway! Ambulance, Wairoa Ambulance (Hawke’* Bay), Paeroa Cadet Ambulance, Welles* ley College Cadet Ambulance (Wellington), St. Faith’s Cadet Ambulance (Christchurch), Napier Cadet NursingWanganui East -Cadet' Nursing, Lowet Hutt Cadet Nursing, . ’