A.R.P. WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24736, 13 October 1941, Page 7

A.R.P. WORK

AMBULANCE AND ANTI-GAS

DISPLAY BY HIGH SCHOOL SQUADS

An illustration of some of the work of which probably they would have had practical experience by this time if their homes had been in England, or more particularly nowadays in Germany or occupied France, was given to parents and friends of the pupils of the . Otago Boys' High School on Saturday afternoon. The school ambulance corps and A.RP. unit showed how. emergencies are met. and their display was the outstanding feature of a varied afternoon's programme on the school green. In spite of a keen wind, the display was appreciated by a large crowd.- * The demonstration was admirably arranged. To provide scope for the ambulance men, for example, there were boys; innocently at play. The warning, was given, " bombers" appeared (some of the models which served as substitutes made successful flights); there, was the crash of bombs (the crackers used for the purposes made satisfactory bangs), and there were plenty of " victims." The first-aid men were quickly on the jobi and' the way in which they coped with a variety of injuries and carried the-wounded away on stretcher or in approved carrying styles for further attention in hospital was a tribute to the thoroughness of their training. The other ' A JtP. " shows" were equally well done. The anti-gas squad came into action when old " Farmer Brown" was the victim of a mustard cas bomb. Equipped in the full regulation ' anti-gas outfit, the members of the squad demonstrated first the means of attending to the victim and then of decontaminating the affected area and making impotent the remains of the ■gas. To round off this'display, there was a series of threats from incendiary bombs.. An actual incendiary was demonstrated, and the squad employed the three methods of dealing with itsmothering by sand and removal by a wooden shovel and container, by sand bag and water On the .surrounding area, and by,hose. The whole display was efficient and impressive.

The same precision was evident in exhibitions of infantry drill and signalling, end the programme then turned to 'lighter things. Camouflage was caricatured very neatly, and other humorous touches culminated in a highly amusing rustic dance, which, in addition to /provoking mirth., served the purpose of demonstrating what can be accomplished in the way of making clothes from genuine sacks. ~ An excellently arranged display of club-swinging proved popular, and the afternoon concluded with a demonstration by a large squad of. gymnasts. The. "horse'' was the choice for the day. and the varied,nature of the exercises and the standard of. the work provided 'a fitting, finale to a successful programme. '..\, ■,.,;■:;. .•:..'!'/ Y