AMBULANCE WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19916, 9 April 1928, Page 11

AMBULANCE WORK.

DOMINION COMPETITIONS. WIDE VARIETY OF TESTS. HIGH EFFICIENCY OF TEAMS.

The Domain cricket ground resembled a casualty clearing station on Saturday morning. Stretchers were carried to and fro, nurses and ambulance men worked in little groups, all taking part in the Auckland competitions of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The tests set by the examining doctors were most exhaustive, and spectators were given a fine display of the efficiency of an organisation to which the public owes a great deal.

One of the most striking contests was that for the Grade Memorial Cup, which was competed for for the first time. A patient represented the victim of a mining disaster. A framework of wood and string represented the tunnel, at the end of "which lay the victim. Competitors had to hurry along the tunnel, prepare the victim for transport and apply the first-aid measures demanded by his injuries. Wearing cloths over their faces to resist the effects of noxious fumes, the ambulance men had to carry their patient through the low tunnel to the foot of the "shaft," where, working in a confined space, they had to bandage him properly, lix him to the stretcher in such a way

that he would not slip when lifted into the cage, and, incidentally, answer searching questions by the judges on what they would do in all sorts of emergencies. Bandaging, respiration and ambulance work were all tested by this complicated examination, and it was surprising to see with how little discomfort a patient could be moved from place to place under such conditious.

A Difficult Test. The competition for the Gaze Challenge Cup was something like an obstacle race. Each competing team had to advance over hurdles representing unsafe obstacles, over which the men could climb, but on which the stretcher could not bo allowed to rest with safety. The squad then gave first-aid to a patient suffering from a gunshot wound, retiring with the loaded stretcher over the same ground. The negotiation of the obstacles without discomfort to the patient was the principal condition of the test, which was won by two Wanganui teams. One. of these, the winner ,was from one of the new railwaydivisions.

Surmounting obstacles was also one of the tests in the contest for the Intercolonial Cup. This cup was originally given for the benefit of visiting teams, and was last won by an Australian squad, but none of the teams competing on Saturday came from outside the Dominion. The obstacle in this case represented a water-filled drain or narrow ditch, and its negotiation was an excellent test of detail in stretcher-work. It wss permissible to rest the stretcher on the edges of the "ditch," but tho bearers had to take great care not to disturb their patient while crossing the obstacle themselves. The other two sections of this competition wefe tests of bandaging, with roller and triangle bandages. A row of Boy Scouts sat on a bench and had terrible injuries attributed to them by the examining doctor, who carefully examined the treatment, given in each case.

Details of Results. Splints and bandages were barred in the Auckland Ambulance Cup event, in which all injuries had to be treated with improvised materials. A heap of common articles was thrown ori the ground, and from this the ambulance men or nurses had to improvise the appliances they needed and treat the injury within a definite time. Bandages were made of rags and clothing, splints of straw bottlecovers, newspapers and corrugated pack-ing-paper. Even the patient's collar and tie were used, and handkerchiefs went through a variety of transformations. An additional complication was the condition laid down that none of the materials supplied was to be torn or broken. This event was won bv the Wanganui team, with Hamilton only a few points behind. It was open to nursing divisions as well as ambulance men. The three events for nurses only were all won by the National Reserve, \A Division. Teams came from all over the Dominion, including Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Hamilton, Whangarei, and Wanganui. Two teams of raihvaymen came from Dunedin, one. from Wanganui and one from Newmarket. Including the nursing divisions, there were about 80 competitors, and it was necessary in some cases, to duplicate the courses iu order to enable events to be decided in the time available. Assistant-Commissioner Charles J. Tunks was present, and the organisation of the competitions was in the hands of Corps Officer U. Hitchon and Corps Superintendent F. E. Schofield. Awards were made as follows: Gaze Challenge Cup.—Eastown Railway team (Wanganui), 1; Wanganui Ambulance team. 2. Intercolonial Challenge Cup.—National Reserve A. 1; Whangarei, 2. Gracia Memorial Cup.—Auckland, 1: Whangarei, 2. Horsier Challenge Cup.—National "Reserve A. 1: Epsom Reserve, 2. Smith-Hathaway Rose Bowl.—National Reserve A, 1 : National Reserve B. 2.

Saunders-Jones Challenge Cup.—National Reserve A, 1; National Reserve 15, 2. Auckland .Ambulance Cup.—Wanganui, 1: Hamilton, 2. EASTER CHURCH PARADE. SERMON BY ARCHBISHOP. The visiting tr-arns of the St. John Ambulance Brigade marched with the Auckland divisions yesterday morning to attend the Easter Day service at St. Matthew's Church. The Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, and Lady Alice Fercusson, were present. Wearing the cross of St. John, Archbishop Averill, as Sub-Prelate of the Order of St. John in New Zealand, received the standard and laid it beside the altar. He welcomed the visiting ambulance mon at the close of his sermon. which dealt, with the evidence on which the belief of the Christian Church irf (he Resurrection of Christ is based. SOCIAL IN EVENING. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. The St. John Ambulance Brigade held a social evening on Saturday at the Ambulance Station, Rutland Street, in honour of the visiting teams taking part in the annual ambulance competitions. Mr. C. J. Tunks, assistant-commissioner of the Auckland district, presided. In extending an official welcome fr> the visitors, the chairman said the competition work at present was in accordance with the traditions of the Order and led to greater initiative and efficiency in brigade work, which in turn was of great benefit to the community. The main feature of the evening wa3 the presentation of trophies to the Manning teams, four of the six cups being won by teams in Auckland. The Gracie Memorial Cup, which was presented by the National Reserve Division in memory of a late member, wa3 presented by the father of deceased. Musical and elocutionary items were given during the evening, whilo supper was dispensed by the ladies.