PATIENT IN A BOAT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 42, 18 June 1947, Page 5

PATIENT IN A BOAT

REMOVAL FROM ISLAND ' ST. JOHN’S MEN’S TASK A boat was used by members of the Whakatane St. John Ambulance Brigade on Monday to bring a stretcher case on the first stage of the journey to the Whakatane Hospital. The patient was James McEwan, a elderly man who has for many years lived on the small island in the harbour directly opposite the Strand. When the St. John’s men received the call three of them rowed over to the island in a flat-bottomed boat. The return journey was accomplished with one man rowing and the other two balancing the stretcher on which lay the patient, across the boat.

This nautical operation attracted quite a lot of attention, and there was a small group of onlookers when the boat' reached the launch jetty. The patient was quickly transferred to the waiting ambulance and taken to the hospital. However, it was all in the week’s work for the Ambulance men, whose readiness to respond to any call for aid is thoroughly appreciated by the people of the district.

FIRST AID CLASS

INTEREST AT TANEATUA A St. John Ambulance class to take a first aid course extending over the next ten weeks or so has been formed at Taneatua as a result of a meeting held on Monday evening. The chairman, Mr A.- F. McGougan, welcomed Mr A. J. Canning (chairman) and Mr A. Carling (vicechairman) of the Whakatane ' subcentre, who explained the duties and responsibilities of the St. John Ambulance movement. Mr E. Ramson, superintendent of the Whakatane Brigade, also attended and spoke on brigade matters. It was decided to start the class next Monday evening. When class members have completed the course of instruction and passed- the tests steps will be taken to form a Taneatua St. John Ambulance Brigade. This will be greatly to the advantage of the Whakatane Valley and ensure the attendance of qualified ambulance men at all sports, gatherings in the district and whenever accidents occur. There are already flourishing brigades in other country centres. . Mrs N. Semmens is to seek the support of the lady hockey players of the district so that as many of them as possible will join the class, with a view to forming a women’s detachment later on.

Miss Penny was appointed class secretary. Intending members can communicate with Mr Penny,' of the Railways, or Mrs Semmens. v