TREATMENT OF ACCIDENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17740, 29 March 1932, Page 9

TREATMENT OF ACCIDENTS

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE WORK GISBORNE CLASSES OPENING. ■ J.J.V , . ' , The. Gisborne brunch of the St. John Ambulance Association is at present Snaking every endeavor to place within thet reach of all people tho privilege of jnaking theipsclves efficient in their knowledge of homo nursing and first aid to,the injured. . - Many, instances could ho given in which trained persons, by a knowledge ol first aid, have been enabled to afford skilled, assistance in cases of accident and sudden illness, and a notable case of recent date was .that of a supposed Vcorpse” which had been taken out of file Auckland harbor and laid on the wharf pending the arrival of the police and .a wagon'to take it to the morgue. 'While others were awaiting the arrival of the wagon, a first-aider appeared on the .scene and immediately applied artificial respiration, with the result that a live man was taken to his home instead of a dead man to the morgue. As it is universally admitted that a greater coinmpn knowledge, of the scientific treatment of accidents and emergencies which are of daily occurrence is eminently desirable, and as a. lack of such technical knowledge is often a fruitful cause of untimely demise, the St. John, Ambulance Association feels that ifs object will have been attained if by reason of the teachings and practical work given at its instructional classes one .human life may be saved. “How often do wo notice when a street accident occurrs,” remarked an officer of the association to-day, _ “that everyone is confused, resulting in the aggravation of the injury, and also all the doctors in Gisborne being called to the scene.. This is an. instance in which a trained person would not lose his head, but would instruct a bystander to telephone for a doctor and one doctor only. Apart from the doctors’ lectures, the / local branch,of the association is indeed •very fortunate to have highly qualified officers to act as instructors in bandaging, ‘application of splints, and efficient transport.’’ .In homo nursing, too, the association provides invaluable instruction, enabling its members to give the'Tare and attention necessary in the sick room, and to perform a host of useful services. This, year’s classes will commence immediately,, the men’s first aid class beginning this evening - , while the women’s classes will open on. Thursday evening. On the evenings named the classes will meet at 7.30 o’clock in the ambulance room, Masonic Hall, Childers road 1 , and those who intend 'to enrol should telephone No. 407 or No. 16325.