ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6625, 15 September 1908, Page 9

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE

AN INTBEESTINO . DEMONBrEATXOW. Tho first of a series of public compete tious amongst teams of four men, each oompris'.ng the local divisions of tho St. John Ambulance Brigrdo, took place in tho assembly room ol Mio Y.M.C.A. last night. Tho room was well filled with spectators. Tho lion. .;c Powlda, Minister of Public Health, i.btMdcd, and. with him was Mr C. P. X'owies, secretary to tho brigade. The Minister spoke of the practical utwv fulness of first aid to the injured, mentioning tho frequency with which it woa applied, and tho service these competitions might bo to divisions of tho brigade. It was to bo hoped that tho competition would stimulate other teams to enter a a contestants in future demonstrations. There were three teams of four men each—-Wellington and Manawatu Railway, Wellington Division, and Y.M.OJL The Pctonc squad scratched. Dr Pigeon was the judge of tho competition, and Mr Oox timekeeper. The “case” to bo treated had the following supposititious injuries Thigh bone on right side fractured at “middle third," and hemorrhage from axillary - artery. Patient to bo placed in an ambulance and an obstacle to be passed with leaet Inconvenience to patient. The Manawatu Railway Division, consisting of Messrs J. Hollis (leader), -A. Shaab. G. Kosbit, and E. Fainsworth won tho competition on points. Tho. prize wan a regulation army stretcher. Dr pigoori, addressing the meeting, said tho demonstration was a much bettor one than ho had expected. All three squads did good work in short time—one equad making the mistake, however,. of bandaging the wrong leg. The winning team bad made an excellent job m 7 minutes 43 seconds, and he noticed that all .ol the squads “stopped the bleeding" before bandaging the leg—an essential feature. Tho Minister for presiding, and Dr pigeon for judging, were accorded vote* of thanks. .. , Those competitions will be frequently hold, and tho rules will be the same aa those governing last night's display.