FIRST AID CONTESTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 952, 21 April 1930, Page 11

FIRST AID CONTESTS

ST. JOHN BRIGADES MEET ANNUAL MEETING HELD Neatly attired in their trim uniforms, and professional-like in every movement as they raced to their patients to give first aid, efficient bands of St. John Ambulance men hailing from the various provinces throughout the Dominion, entertained a keenly interested audience at the Domain on Saturday afternoon. They contested the annual competitions promoted by the St. John Ambulance Brigade. In all, 64 squads took part, and activities were begun this morning when the Bailey Cup was contested. This competition, which is open to ambulance cadets, attracted only three teams, but it was the first occasion on which it had been held. Eight events were contested, all being so varied in character that the meeting served to illustrate to no mean extent the usefulness of the St. John Ambulance movement. In the Gaze Challenge Cup event, the teams of four raced over an obbandaged and whose injuries they attended to generally before lifting him to the stretcher and conveying him over the obstacle to the starting point. Time played no small part in all the contests, but care and general efficiency were always watched closely by the keen eyes of the many professional judges. Approaching the patient, handling the stretcher, treatment of injuries, lifting and carrying, crossing of obstacles, the answering of questions, general smartness and other such' points were necessarily attended to.

Perhaps the most interesting of events was that Cor the Gracie Memorial Cup. On receiving the order to advance, the teams fitted gas masks and proceeded into an improvised tunnel to their patient. Treatment was given and they returned with the patient through the tunnel. This rescuing was a lengthy process, but throughout the contest was witnessed by a large crowd. During the afternoon there were also events for the Ambulance Nursing Division. The prizes were presented at a social held in the Rutland Street Ilall on Saturday evening. During the evening other awards were made as follow: Lady Divisional Superintendent C. Bassett, of the Onehunga nursing division, received a five-years’ bar to her medal; Divisional Superintendent W. J. Elliott, of the National Reserve division, and Corps Officer U. Hitchon received the 3 2 years’ efficient service medals; Ambulance Sister Mrs. Goldie received a five years’ efficient service medal. A church parade, attended by about 100 officers and members of the brigade, was held yesterday morning. Members paraded at the Rutland Street Hall, and the parade, with the commissioner, Mr. C. J. Tunks, in charge, marched to St. Matthew’s Church. Results:—• The results are as follow: Gaze Challenge Cup, for promptness and attention at a serious accident, and careful stretcher work over an unsafe obstacle. —Onehunga Ambulance Division. Intercolonial Challenge Cup, for treatment of two injuries, crossing an unsafe obstacle, and individual tests in triangular and roller bandaging.—Onehunga Ambulance Division. Horsley Challenge Cup, nursing divisions, for treatment of a fracture with complications, and instructing bystanders in carrying a stretcher over an obstacle. —Auckland Nursing Division. Auckland Ambulance Cup, open to ambulance and nursing divisions, for treating a case with. improvised materials; a test of observation, tact, dexterity and resource.—Hamilton Division. Gracie Memorial Cup, for treating an accident at the end of a 50ft. shaft. Competitors are required to fix the patient to the stretcher so that it may be carried from the shaft in an upright position.— Hamilton Ambulance Division. Whangarei Efficiency Cup, for first aid in a dangerous situation, where members are themselves exposed to risk.—Locomotive Ambulance Division, Dunedin. Smith Hathaway rose bowl, for nursing divisions; first aid in theory and practice.—Onehunga Nursing Division. Nurse Saunders Jones Cup, for treatment and supervision of cot case.—Auckland Nursing Division. Bailey Challenge Cup, .cadets only: for stretcher work and bandaging.—Papakura Ambulance cadets.