ACCIDENTS DURING 1938

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 2, 4 January 1939, Page 9

ACCIDENTS DURING 1938

WANGANUI FREE AMBULANCE HIGHEST NUMBER IN DECEMBER “The highest number of accident cases in one month for four years was 114 in December,” states the report of the St. John Free Ambulance, Wanganui, for the year ended December 31. Nominally there were less accidents last year, but more accident cases due to the fact that several accidents produced more than one casualty. For instance, three accidents produced no fewer than 25 injured. The Ratana railway accident in March was one of these, 15 injured persona being attended by the ambulance on that occasion. There were 218 mote cases (accident, medical, and surgical) handled last year than for the previous year, but a reduction of 250 C miles in the total distance travelled u> shown in the report of the secretary, Mr. D. E. Gullery. This was attributed to the fact that there were no long distance transports last year as against six to the Wellington district the previous year. Details of the past 12 months show that the ambulance attended 171 accident cases (158 the previous year), 968 medical and surgical cases (663), a total of 1039 (821). The distance travelled was 10,469 miles (13,018). Figures for the four years the ambulance has been in operation are:— Accidents, 1935, 144; 1936, 162; 1937, 158; 1938, 171; medical and surgical, 1935, 613; 1936, 658; 1937, 663; 193 a, 968; total mileage, 1935, 11,556; 1936, 10,275; 1937, 13,018; 1938, 10,469. Special transports undertaken last year were from Wanganui to Danne virke, Okaiawa, Palmerston North, and Patea, and from Waverley and Tokaanu to Wanganui.