ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22057, 13 September 1933, Page 14

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Considerable activity is .mamfested locally in the matter of tomiing new divisions of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and it is hoped in the near future to see at least two additions to the strength in Dunedin and others further afield. Numerous inquiries point to the success of the proposed division of exmembers of the R.A.M.C. and Ambulance Brigade called for next week. The date has been altered to September 19. The Dunedin Division met last week at headquarters when Ambulance Officer F. C. Wilkinson presided over a good muster. The subject for the evening was “ Unusual Fractures and Injuries, and members were asked to bring along cases that had come under their notice either directly or indirectly. The result was iin interesting and instructive evening, and it is hoped that further efforts m this direction will be arranged. Dr Berry delivered an interesting lecture on the previous Tuesday on “ Injuries likely to be met with on the football field.’ The annual Cadet Competitions for tile Auckland district proved very successful. There were offered for competition one challenge shield and five challenge cups. The entries were numerous, most of the local cadet divisions providing teams, and eight medical officers were engaged in judging the various events. The work was pronounced as being of a high standard and gave evidence of careful train- ”**' SOME SIMPLE RULES. Even though definite rules may be laid down, much, of necessity, has to be left to the discretion of first-aid men who must be guided by special circumstances in each case. Observation teaches that, in cases where the instructions are to hasten, many do not realise the urgent need for that haste, while, on the other hand there is often a tendency to hustle a patient home or to a hospital.when he would be much better left for a while to recover from shock. The following conditions are those which need the utmost speed to preventserious or fatal results; Haunorrhage, asphyxia, shock, poisoning, sunstroke, obvious fracture, burns. / . , Hannprrhage. —Once it is realised that uncontrolled bleeding from a large artery or vein means certain death within a few minutes, no more need be said upon this point. Of course, to cause death quicklv bleeding must be profuse, but to leave less profuse hajmorrhage unchecked is to cause great weakness and to lessen the patient’s chance of recovery. Asphyxia.-—The same urgency exists here. No one can live without breathing ami the chances of resuscitation lessen as the moments pass; therefore, it is regrettable when valuable time is wasted over unnecessary preliminaries. Shock.—The need for haste here is less obvious but no less real. It should be realised that shock is prostration caused by the effect on the brain of injury or emotion. We are all subject to shock from the time we enter the world to the time we leave it. Nature, with rest and fresh air, will do much to minimise shock, especially for a healthy adult, but prompt application of warmth and stimulant (not necessarily alcoholic stimulant) will bmp and hasten recovery. We are familiar with the response: "Treat shock, Sir. Do wo ever get the reply “To prevent shock I would, etc.? ” Yet so ranch can lie done to prevent this condition from developing. As a simple and common example: Someone cuts a finger. Push forward a chair and tell him to sit down. You may notice slight pallor, but very soon the colour returns. Keep your patient standing while you control the bleeding and dress the cut, ami in many cases faintness or sickness .will develop ami definite treatment for shod? will be needed. It must be remembered, too, that the body lying on cold, wet ground quickly loses heat by absorbing the cold from the ground, whilst the ground extracts beat from the body, so when covering with extra clothing, rug or blanket, the body must be protected underneath as well ns on (op and must be done quickly. Poisoning.—Promptness in neutralising or removing the poison is everything, and serious shock must be prevented. The need for immediate constriction in snake bites comes under this heading. Sunstroke. — stop the cause by removing the patient into the shade, protect and treat. „ Obvious Fractures. Where possible control the fracture at once, on the spot, before an unguarded movement by the patient or bv some well-meaning bystander can do further damage. _ Burns. —Immediately exclude air.