The Ambulance Men

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 181, 21 October 1927, Page 10

The Ambulance Men

THEIR PLACE IN SPORT Activities of Association IT is to be feared that in sport as in most other branches of its work, the activities of the St. John Ambulance Association are largely taken for granted. Most of the players and fans regard the “Zambuks,” as they are called, as “part of the show.” Scarcely one in ten knows anything of the organisation which is represented week after week on the playing fields, the race tracks and the roads by its uniformed members, ready at a moment’s notice ot render first aid to the injured.

During the winter season with football and hockey in full swing, the ambulance man is kept busy, and even in the out-of-the-way grounds such as Otahuhu, Mangere and Purewa, there is always a man on duty. Carlaw Park, the headquarters of the League game and Eden Park, Auckland’s main Rugby playing area, both claim five first-aid men every match. Gallops at Ellerslie and trots at Epsom, besides claiming many members of the brigade, also have in attendance the St. John Ambulance wagon. Services are given free, although sums of money are always donated every year by the vari-

ous sporting bodies. In this respect the racing clubs, especially, are very liberal, while the Auckland Rugby Union this year has handed the Brigade £95, and it is expected that the Rugby League, as it has done in past years, will come to light with a substantial sum. WHAT THE FIGURES SHOW An interesting schedule, showing the public duty carried out by the Brigade throughout the Dominion on a recent Saturday afternoon has been issued* by Colonel Barclay, chief commissioner for New Zealand. Members of the Brigade were on duty,at 101 different sports and other grounds and attended to 416 casualties. The number of men and women who were on duty numbered 256, as against 186 on a corresponding date last year; there was *an increase of 27 in the number of grounds which were attended by the Brigade. In Auckland alone members of the Brigade have rendered first-aid to 4,159 persons who were taken sick or injured at sports grounds and picnic grounds, etc., since last October. The association has three very fine ambulance wagons, but as the distance covered already this year amounts tor well over 7.000 miles, another ambulance is urgently needed to cope with the work. The wagons at present in

use have been specially built, and are equipped with all modern appliances to ensure the comfort of the patients. They have balloon tyres and Lovejoy shock absorbers, with the result that the patients do not suffer from any jolting through the inequalities of the road. Each wagon has a well-fitted first-aid cupboard, while Mr. Langstone, the transport officer, and his assistants are skilled ambulance men, as well as efficient chauffeurs.

In order to obtain another muchneeded wagon, it has been decided to hold a street collection on November 4. It is up to sports followers and

players to do their bit to help. In several centres arrangements have been made for members of the nursing divisions to be in attendance at the various grounds where children from the public schools congregate on the weekly sports afternoon. This move has been found to be a most successful one, and is appreciated, especially by mothers. EXPENSIVE ACTIVITIES Interviewed this morning, Mr. F. J. Hutchinson, senior district superintendent, stated that in order to maintain the present service, which it must be admitted is an efficient one, and to continue for another year, £2,000 is required. Apart from sport, the association and the brigade play an important part in other respects. Since last October district nurses have paid 5,778 visits to the sick poor in their homes, and have given relief to 761 out-patients at the ambulance station, Rutland Street. The ambulance officers have removed 979 patients to the hospitals or their homes, and have rendered first-aid to 2,570 patients at the Queen’s Wharf, where a wagon is always kept in readiness for casualties on the wharves or waterfront. The Brigade and association are giving service 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.