ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26606, 31 October 1947, Page 4

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

STREET APPEAL TO-DAY VAUABLE PUBLIC SERVICE The St. John Ambulance Association's annual street day appeal in support of the ever-growing and expanding ambulance services of the city and province will be held to-day. The Order of St. John exists solely for the purpose of saving human lives and rendering aid to the sick and injured without distinction of race, class or creed.

With the expansion of the city and its medical services in recent years has come a corresponding increase in the work of the ambulance services of the Order. The past year has been the busiest year on record. During the year approximately 4500 patients were conveyed by ambulance to hospital and homes, "the four ambulances traversing a total of 32.000 miles. Two hundred "and .fifty accident calls and several hundred emergency transfer cases were promptly attended to. With the increase in the work has come a corresponding increase in the needs of the sei'vice. The association has. at present, a fleet of four vehicles. A further new vehicle is now necessary.

The provision of an ambulance cal’ for the conveyance of patients for hospital treatment is fast becoming a necessity. Every day calls are received by the Ambulance Department for the transport of convalescent patients, aged persons, invalids, soldier patients, and others to hospital for massage, X-ray and other treatment. During the past year members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, while on public duty at gatherings, sports functions, etc., treated 2300 cases of accident. In addition, 8000 cases were treated in factories, offices, shops, places of business, accidents on the roads, etc. Members of the Blood Transfusion Service, which is sponsored by the association, gave 1035 blood donations in their humane endeavour to save human lives.

The association requires additional supoort at present in the matter of making provision for the coming Centennial year. Special nrenarations are bein CT bv the and n pr. sonnel will be in attendance at all Centennial functions and first aid posts and road stations will be set up as required. In view, of the many and varied activities which are being provided for the public and the heavy commitments for the forthcoming year, the generous support of the public is sought.