ASSISTANCE FOR RAID VICTIMS

Southland Times, Issue 24760, 3 June 1942, Page 4

ASSISTANCE FOR RAID VICTIMS

Preparations Made In City

Comprehensive arrangements have been made for ambulance, first aid and hospital facilities to be brought into operation in tne event of an emergency in Invercargill. There will be four hospitals, Kew. Dee street, Lome Farm and the old High School hostel in Crinan street. Although renovations and alterations are still going on at Dee street, two wards witn a total of 40 beds have been prepared to the last detail and are being kept in a state of readiness for immediate use. V More than double this dumber of emergency beds could be kept m readiness at Dee street, but at the moment the hot water facilities are shtficient to provide for only two wards. However, a new boiler house is now in course of construction, and when, this is complete it will be possible to have between 80 and 100 beds at the hospital without overcrowding. Dee street is being prepared not only against the possibility of a raid, but also to deal with the extra cases should an epidemic break out in the city or in military camps. It is expected that it the call came the portion of the hospital that has been prepared would be in operation within an hour. The emergency hospital at Crinan street could be prepared and opened within three, hours, ' FIRST AID POSTS In addition to the hospitals arrangements have been made for four first aid posts in the city at the Boys High, Middle, South and St. George schools. Each post is equipped with the drugs, bandages, splints and other medical stores necessary to give first aid. inere are six stretchers at each post. _ Each of these first aid posts will be in charge of a dental surgeon, assisted by a trained nurse and a staff of seven to 10 trained in first aid. The doctors of the city will be engaged at the hospitals and elsewhere, and the services of the dentists, who are qualified to administer anaesthetics and narcotics for the relief of pain, will therefore be particularly valuable at the first aid posts. . r , . Operations will not be performed at the first aid posts. Serious cases taken to such posts will be given the first aid treatment necessary before they are removed to hospital. It is not intended, however, that all patients should pass through a first aid post before being taken to hospital. The aim will be to take all serious cases direct to hospital, if this is at all possible. The first aid posts are intended primarily for people suffering from more or less minor injuries. MOBILE DRESSING UNITS In addition to the first aid posts there are two mobile dressing units and 16 field parties, each party consisting of four St. John Ambulance trained assistants with a well-equipped first aid kit. The mobile units and field parties will answer calls for assistance and give first aid to victims on the spot. Each mobile unit is in charge of a dental surgeon with two trained .assistants The public when requiring medical and first aid assistance will, of course, apply through the nearest warden. For the transport of patients to hospital or first aid post there will be three hospital ambulances and eight motor vehicles converted for the purpose. These emergency precautions require an emergency staff, and arrangements to have this staff trained and ready have been .under way for months. The emergency hospital staff consists of 28 St. John Ambulance voluntary aids and 26 Red Cross voluntary aids. All have done their training, including at least 60 hours’ service in hospital. In addition, there are about 40 trained assistants for the first aid posts, 64 in the field parties and six in the mobile units. More are being trained in first aid and home nursing by the St. John Ambulance Association and the Red Cross Society. The ranks of the voluntary staff have been swelled by a number of former nurses who have come forward and offered their services.