TEACHING OF LIFE-SAVING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 27 October 1941, Page 1

TEACHING OF LIFE-SAVING

9188 AWARDS IN 1940-41 REPORT OF ROYAL SOICETY A total of 9188 awards for life-&avmx ability during the year ended Augu-t. 1941, was reported to the twenty-eighth annual meeting of the New Zealand council of the Royal Life-Saving Society held in Wellington on Saturday. This was the highest number ever issued in any one year in New Zealand and was more than twice as high a s the average for the past 12 years. The total in 1929-30 was only 2762. and for 1939-40, 4840. It varied in the intervening period from 2566 in 1933-34 to G 534 in 1937-38. In the 1940-41 total of 9188, each of '.he awards, except 1620 primary schools’ breaststroke certificates and 1216 resuscitation certificates, was aubject to the candidate concerned going through the necessary training under a qualified instructor and then satisfying one of the society’s examiners of his or her ability not only to save life from drowning but also to restore to life an apparently drowned person. More than 90 per cent, of the awards were made to pupils of schools and colleges. the Education Department assisting to the fullest possible extent. Forty schools and colleges, including 13 girls schools, gained more than 50 awards. A lecture tour on instruction in artificial respiration was undertaken by Mr A. Gardner, Auckland, who in 19 days travelled more than 2000 miles and gave 72 lectures. The time occupied represented Mr Gardner's annual leave, which he devoted entirely to the tour. The financial statement showed a cash balance of £207, and an excess of assets over liabilities of £sll. The Government made an anual grant of £IOO, the council’s only substantia! source of income. Officers elected were:—Vice patron r Dr T. H. Pettit (Auckland), Mess:* G. E. Billson (Christchurch), H. H. Henderson (Otago), and N. A. Ingram 'Wellington); president. Mr G. D. Griffiths (Christchurch); vice-presi-dent. Mr L. W. J. Clarkson (Christchurch); secretary. Mr J. Breward , (Christchurch): treasurer and award secretary, Mr F. J. Glackin (Christchurch): auditor, Mr P. R. Smith ■Christchurch); solicitors, Messrs Johnston, White and Champion 'Christchurch); delegate to New Zealand Surf Life-Saving Association, Mr J. L. Dighton (Wellington); delegates to national committee of swimming and life-saving, Messers Dighton and Ingram. It was decided that the Minister of Manpower be approached to have the services of the Royal Life-Saving Society recognised as an adjunct to the Dominion’s war effort, in so far as the teaching of artificial respiration is concerned. This was moved by Mr N. A. Ingram, Wellington. Auckland had moved that expense incurred by the various branches of the society with resuscitation instruction in relation to EPS. and war activities, and a lecture tour on resuscitation last March, be brought to the notice of the Minister, with a view to getting an increased grant from the Government. This motion was withdrawn in favour of that by Mr Ingram. Dr T. H. Pettit. Auckland, stressing j the importance of the society’s work in , wartime, said that by far the greater proportion of deaths had occurred dur- ; ing the war in London through suffocanon. and a relatively small proportion through injuries. A motion moved by the Otago branch, that steps be taken to have ! artificial respiration included as part !of the E.P.S. medical section training. , was carried.