CARE OF THE SICK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 77, 26 December 1918, Page 7

CARE OF THE SICK

AMBULANCE CLASSES

TEACHING FOR THE YOUTH

0° Tuesday-.Mr. J. B. Finlay, secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association; Wellington Contre, waited upon the Hon. J. -A. Hanan, .Minister of .Education, with reference to a statement made .by the.Minister that he lmd under considarntion • the question of establishing evoning classes for courses of instruction in physiology, first aid, home hygiene, lome nursing, and laws for safeguarding the health of industrial workers, and anaking attendance compulsory thereat for joung people between the -ages of, say, 35 and 17. Mr. Finlay expressed tho .hope that tho Minister would bo able to bring about 6uch a progressive step, and emphasised the fact that the recent •epidemic had revealed a deplorable ignor•tince on the part of many of rendering, intelligent assistance in time of sickness. The public had learned a, sad lesson in sot seeing that provision was made-for . ensuring that people had a, knowledge of the subjects lie had referred to. The matter was one of supreme importance, and called ior practical attention in order that the people might be trained and prepared to meet similar conditions if they arose in tho future. Prominence should lie given to subjects of outstanding importance. Th-oro was widespread ignor-J since ■ amonp; people .regarding matters relating to the human body aiid the euro of it. Mr. Finlay stated that the question of the prevention of sickness and ■the saying of life was of such' supreme importance that the Government should endeavour to provide a national reserve of men and women to act as a line of defence in ""the saino manner' as our Territorial Army. The idea which tho . Minister had in his mind of establishing ■such classes would be welcomed by the thinking people of New Zealand. > The Hon. Mr. Hanan said lie was pleased to hear the views expressed by Mr. Finlay. He had received communications from othor parts of New Zealand ' urging him to take the'step that, hud been referred to. Before determining to establish such classes there were a number of details that would-require to lie carefully considered. The classes if brought into operation miglit be held in somo of tho primary schools land secondary schools m the evenings. The Minister thought that perhaps one night a week for a period of. six months might bo 1 sufficient, for tho first Year. He gathered from Mr. Finhty's remarks - that lecturers and demonstrators would be ensily procurnble. The classes if established would apply to those not attending Secondary schools or receiving evening instruction at technical schools. . Mr. Jlaiian said he was anxious to reach thoso young people who tiad left school,-and whose leuure time was not being proiitubly spent." Whether instructiou in sex hygiene should hlso be given was a matter which was ongaging bis serious'consideration. ' He was at present gathering certain information, and after the. holidays hoped to be in a position.to submit for tile consideration of Cabinet definite proposals lor the putting into Operation of a scheme at an early date.

In-connection with the above, tlie following is a copy of u letter, dated December 19, sent by Mr. Finlay'to the ilinister prior to tue interview;— .

"1 observed with- great pleasure in ' yesterday's Dominion that you hail maue an extra grant to the Wellington College governors-oiv condition' that 'first ail' and home nursing should bo subjects to be taught iii future. 1 may here add that another subject provided lor by my association is that of homo hygiene, and ill oi'Uer to give you aiv luca uf these- three courses and the wide range of subjects touched' upon therein; X am .posting you a copy of each text-book 13). As you may lie- aware, examinations are conducted throughout the Dominion . by our association, irom year to year, by our medical examiners, and certiHcates are issued on a pass, of 60 per cent. Our medallion is 'obtained by examination after an interval of. tivelve months' from the first 'first aid' ex/mination op a pass of 75 per cent. Most of our class.es are leoturedto by qualified mcdical' men. .Occasionally, hower, .qualified nurses and St. John Ambulance officers, have lectured . and demonstrated, in which case the certificates. only bears the signature Oi the examiner, uie secretary, and-His Excellency the. Governor-General.. If you nave resolved, on tho p'oiicy of getting these classes into secondary' schools, in the: Dominion, and propose to make uso of our association, I would be glad of an early intimation from you on this matter, so-that all materials can be;in. hand beiore classes are arranged for. . l"ou do doubt appreciate the world-wide recognition of the value of-St. John Ambulance certificate, etc, (copies of winch I am also posting you), and I think' it would be possible to frame some by-law in our rules and regulations whereby your own teachers, i! efficient and dulyqualified as St. John Ambulance certificated members, could give lectures and demonstrations, our association to issue the certificates on receipt, of examination results from tho schools.' Some of,the technical schools have put home'nursing;j on their syllabus, and as the course has ; -been made to cover,'instead of the usual j six weeks, a, period' of six months, the j examination results in these seliools'have j been excellent. My. committee is of' opinion that ''first aid' and home nursing should be compulsory subjects in the Stato schools sixth standard, and ni all college and technical schools. It

this were so, there would be n great nmount of qualified talent available to form, for futuro war emergency and epidemics, a'large and permanent national reserve of men and women in brigades and nursing divisions."