Great support for Waiouru's ambulance crew

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 682, 15 April 1997, Page 5

Great support for Waiouru's ambulance crew

Living up to its name, the Waiouru Ambulance Support Group has made a major contribution to the equipment and knowledge of those running the Waiouru Ambulance, which is now one of the better equipped ambulances in the area. This group, chaired by Ric Odom and operating with less than 10 people, applied for and were successful in obtaining funding from sources mainly within the Waiouru community over the past year. The Oasis Hotel's Pub Charity, the Dudding Trust, the Unit Private Fund Army Training Group Waiouru, the Mid-Winter Rage Committee and the Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess all contributed funds to help offset the equipment and training costs of the Waiouru Ambulance. The purchase of a Sagar splint for traction of fractured femurs and a spine board for immobilisation of patients with possible spinal cord injury or vertebral fractures will be of value when attending thenumerous vehicle accidents in this area. Reflecterised road jackets for the ambulance crew and additional pagers for the permanent volunteer crew were also purchased for use on a day-to-day basis. The remaining monies were put towards the purchase of six reference textbooks and costs associated with attending an Ambulance Training course in Napier during April.

As a further example of the Support Group' s work in raising the profile of the ambulance, the donation of two child restraint seats from Waiouru Plunket for use in the ambulance and a television set donated by Linc Quillan, manager of

Canteen Services Waiouru Camp, for the crew have beeri gratefully received. The ambulance is staffed by two permanent paid ambulance officers who work on a four day roster. However, on days off, both Sandra Spier of T aihape and

Ruth Quin of Hunterville, work on a voluntary basis in their local areas. They are assisted by trained volunteers on every call-out. The Waiouru Ambulance Support Group would like to offer their thanks and appreciation to everyone

who has worked with them to provide a better service for the region. Special thanks also go to the Waiouru Camp Hospital, doctors and staff for their assistance, the fire brigade and police, and to those who have donated fire wood.