ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 82, 24 July 1942, Page 5

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

WHAKATANE SUBDIVISION

CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT

At the annual meeting of the Whakatane subdivision of the St. John Ambulance Association, last Wednesday evening, the chairman, Mr A. J. Canning, stated as under: We have had probably one of the most difficult and yet one of the most outstanding years in the history of the St. John's Association. Whakatane Sub-District. It was difficult because we have had so many calls for classes in the Borough and County. It is outstanding because of the results we have obtained. First Aid classes, have boon held in Whakatane, Waimana, Tancatua, Te Teko, Edgecumbe, Matata, (>takiri, Awakcri, Poro Poro, Ohope, Manawahe and Wainui in addition to this members of the Association have been responsible for the training of the Home Guard Medical Platoon and have given First Aid lectures to E.P.S. organisations. Through our efforts all the E.P.S, Medical Units of the E.P.S. Organisations have been trained and in the main centres have carried out trials.

The results of these classes have

been very satisfactory, 287 have passed for First Aid and '37 for Home Nursing, making a total of 31.4, the results of 3 classes are still to come Avhich avill increase the above total. Classes arc Home Guard, Poro Poro and Whakatane Juniors. Classes Operating To carry out these clasess wc were fortunate in having tho services of Dr. F. J. Appleby, Dr. Cole, Dr. Tewslev Dawson, Dr. Maaka. Mrs Cowie, Messrs S. Bishop, A. Carl'ing, H. L. Drube and E. J. Ramson. Home Nursing classes have been held at Waimana, Whakatane and Tc Teko. The instructors were Matron Gribbcn, Nurses McKay and Gill also Miss Tait. A Cadet Corp lias been formed To facilitate the instruction we were compelled to purchase a human skeleton, which cost £15 and two under Mr 11. L. Drube. sets of charts, showing (a) the structure of the body; (b) circulation of the blood (arteries and veins); (e) functions of the most important organs, the lecturers are finding these very useful.

We have also had to secure uniforms and First Aid outfits for the Ambulance Brigade.

Work of Brigade The Ambulance Brigade which gives its services free lias been at call for the Whakatane Hospital Board any hour of the day or night, and has attended to 52 calls of sickness or accidcnt in various parts of the Borough and County and travelled a total mileage of 1838 during the year. In connection with this the Brigade have not so much as received any thanks or recognition from the Hospital Board. Our ranks having been reduced owing to some of our members being in the Armed Forces and overseas, the object of training the Nursing Division was in the event" of an emergency the ladies would be able to man the Ambulance. Through us starting this some misunderstanding appears to exist between the Red Gross Nursing and the St. John's Nursing Division, this is both unfortunate and undesirable, under this present state of emergency we should both pull together;and help each other. To-day we have a joint Council, the Order of St. John and New Zealand Red Cross Socicty and the functions and commitments are laid down and may be thus briefly summarised :—

Venerable Order of St. John

First Aid, Home Nursing, Ambulance Work, Instruction of Public. Promotion of organisations for service in peace and war : Ambulance Brigade Ambulance Transport: Home Nursing; Junior Cadet Divisions; Provision of Technical Reserve of the Medical Services ol' Dominion; the formation of Ambulance depots and First Aid Posts in or near mines, factories, highways, railway stations etc.; Hospital and Sick-room appliances apart ironi comforts: Blood Transfusion Service; District Nursing Service (Bedside), N.Z. Red Cross Society Provision of Disaster Relief; Instruction in Public Health and Hygiene; Promotion of Health and Prevention or Disease; Instruction of Red Cross V.A.D.'s in First Aid, Home Nursing etc.; Organisation of V.A.D.'s for service in Peace, War. and Disaster; Relief of local distress; Hospital comforts (as apart from appliances); Comforts lor institu(Continuccl in next column)