AMBULANCE WORK.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 365, 20 February 1937, Page 4

AMBULANCE WORK.

ST. JOHN BRIGADE

Work For Year Commences At Stratford.

Training work for the year will be commenced by the Stratford section of the St. John Ambulance Brigade within the next fortnight. Colonel Dawson, New Plymouth, and District Officer R. A. Wall, will be present at the first parade.

Last year a heavy tax was put on the members and it is expected that, with tho Saturday half-holiday in operation, the Work will be even heavier and more men will be needed for football matches. There are at present ten members at Stratford and eight new recruits have signified their intention of taking up the duty this year.

Some idea of the importance of the free aid given by the officers of the brigade can be gained from consideration of the fact that the total number of cases treated at Stratford during last year was 185. This included 72 cates of injury at football matches and other sports gatherings. Stratford Corps. It is hoped to form a separate Stratford corps of the Brigade this year end when the recruits have passed tfieir first examinations the number will be sufficient to do this. The first course that will be under taken will be a series of lectures, giv en over a period of six to f ight weeks, t,v a medical officer. T’he instruc tion will include treatment of all cases of haemorrhage and wounds, fractures and dislocations, caset of insensibility and poisoning and gen era I first-aid work. When this is completed a course in general ambulance transport method is planned and after this the more advanced work of gas training. Th members will be taught the method of cooperation with the police in con trolling the situation! in |’ie event of cass of a gas attack on the civil ian population and the treatment of cas.es of gas poisoning. Dr. D. E. Brown, New Plymouth, who has re cently taken a course in this v'ork in ' England has offered his services for 1 training St. John Ambulance members I n Taranaki.. '