EMERGENCY PLANS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1940, Page 6

EMERGENCY PLANS

Details supplied at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board regarding hospital arrangements in the event of a major emergency arising reflected credit upon the board and its offlcers. The responsibility for such preparations has been placed upon hospital authorities and in Taranaki they are evidently prepared to accept them to the full. Arrangements have been made for suitable buildings for use as emergency hospitals, and the preparations envisage even the evacuation of the town of New Plymouth should this become necessary. Although the responsibility rests. with hospital authorities it is obvious from the particulars given at New Plymouth yesterday that the Taranaki Hospital Board has received the willing co-operation of education and church authorities and of other organisations. Schools, halis and racecourse buildings have been placed at the disposal of the board and steps are being taken to obtain and maintain the necessary equipment for emergency hospitals should they be required at short notice. All of which is reassuring as showing that the need of preparation for emergencies is being recognised generally. There is room for further co-oper-

ation on the part of the public in one respect. The number of volunteers for training as nursing aides is below requirements. Attention has been drawn to this on more than one occasion, and has increased the number of recruits. But still more volunteers are required without delay. In certain directions emergency arrangements can be improvised at short notice, but it is essential that nursing aides receive adequate training for the important duties they would be called upon to undertake should a major emergency arise. The means of obtaining that training have been made j available, and it is to be hoped that ; the appeal made to the public spirit of Taranaki women will meet with a prompt and adequate respoftse.