AMBULANCE WORK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8849, 29 August 1907, Page 5

AMBULANCE WORK.

Enthusiasm Among Ladies

Au enthusiastic baud is tho ladies' division of the St. John's Ambulance Guild. The ladies' branch was only commenced some three mouths ago, aud forty members were then enrolled for the classes iv first aid. In spite of the lectures falling frequently on stormy nights splendid attendances wore "recorded at the classes, two members driving twelve miles—in the rain often—to bo sufficiently well forward to sit for the annual exumination of the New Zealand Brigade. The examinations will take place next mouth, aud it is anticipated that between tweutv and thirty ladies of the Mastertou Branch will sit for the first section on first aid. Dr Archer Hoskiug has been delivering a course of lectures on this subject, last night the final lecture of the course being given to a large attendance. A lady'meniber. conversing with a Wairarapa Daily Times reporter, to-day, stated that the ladies' branch is imbued with the greatest enthusiasm iv the work of the corps. The lectures have proved of extreme interest and value, and the amount of good likely to accrue, as a result of the formation of the corps, is inestimable. The whole of the members would probably have been sufficiently advanced to sit for the first examination but for the fact that the weather conditions prevented some of them attending the opeuiug lectures, which threw them back in the subjects. Those not sitting for the forthcoming examination, however, intend sitting for next year's first section, while those who succeed in passins the first aid examination, will sit next year for the second, which will be on Home Nursing. This latter section is a much more comprehensive branch of the Brigade's work, and it is of more everyday utility, aud therefore of greater value. The ladies throw their whole heart into the work, and the lecturer is highly satisfied with the progress of the division. Dr Cowie will conduct the examination,those successful in passing which will receive certificates. In a circular letter, Major Barclay, of Palmerstou South, Assistant Commissioner in charge of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade in New Zealand, says:—"Experience has shown that a good many persons who attend ambulance classes fail to keep up ambulance and nursing practice, and thus forgot a great deal of the instruction which they have received. The principal object of the Brigade is to enable certificate holders to meet together for regular practice, aud thus keep up the knowledge which they have acquired, aud further improve themselves in ambulance aud nursing work; also to have a trained body of men or wonieu available in case of a sudden accident or illness occurring. "Whore Association lectures have been held, there should be a number of certificate holders available. If seven or eight nieu can be got to meet together, an ambnlauce division can be formed—similarly with a like number of ladies a nursing division can be started. The establishment of the Brigade would be of great advantage in connection with maintaining the permanency of the Association, in fact, there is no doubt that tho Brigade should be formed wherever Association classes have been held.'' As soon, therefore, as sufficient ladies have obtained a certificate in first aid, a ladies guild will be formed, which will be a permanent affair, at the meetings of which the members can maintain their practice and discuss the theory. The ladies are to be congratulated on the manner they have taken up a work so valuable to a community, and it is to be hoped that the efforts of candidates at the coming examination will be crowned with well merited reward.