Choose the medical career that gives you a ladder you can climb.
You probably chose nursing because you wanted to do something for other people.
And that's as it should be.
But in the Navy we think you're entitled to do something for yourself as well.
So we offer you a medical training that can take you to the top.
If you are a young man with at least four '0' levels you could train with us to be a Medical Te chnician. You would be given a comprehensive specialist three-year course that would, for example, make you a State Regi stered Nurse, a R egistered Mental Nurse, or a Radi ographer.
Promotion can take you to Chief Petty Officer and a salary of over.£2650 a year. And there are opportunities for a commission.
Alternatively, you can join us as a Medical Assistant and train to be a naval doctor's right hand man.
The mone y's good. You can earn £25 .69 a week at 17-t. And, if you wish, we will help you get the necessary '0' levels to become a Medical Technician. Medical Assistants are encouraged to become Technicians and many do. Why sho uldn 't you?
Find out what a Navy medical career can offer you. Any expe.{ience you have could give you a leg up the ladder. And, if you're already qualified, you could come st raight in as a Medical Technician.
NATIONAL FIRST AID COMPETITIONS 1974 Programme
Feb. 20 (Wed.) Police (men, women & cadets)
Mar. 20 (Wed.) Elect. Supply Ambulance Centre (men & women)
Mar. 30 (Sat ) Nat. Dock Labour
Ambul. Centre (men)
Seymour Ha ll , Seymour Pl ace, London , WI.
National Sports Centre, Crysta l Palace , Norwood SEI9.
Queen Mary College, Mile End Road, London El.
Apr. 4 (Thur.) Distillers Co. Conway Hall , Red Lion Square, (Southern Area), (men & women) London, WCI.
Memorial Hall, Church House, Westminster, SWl. Fairfield Halls, Croydon.
Queen Mary College, Mile End Ro ad, London, El.
The Guildhall Preston , Lancs.
Seymour Hall Seymour Place, London, WI.
The Winter Gardens, Llandudno
The Pav ili on Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire.
Seymour Hall, Seymour Place, London, WI.
5T. JOHN
REVIEW
AT RANDOM
During 1974 it is proposed to issue twenty sets of marking shee t s relating to national first aid competi tion s. The se will be made available after each event occurs and consist of one team test plus two individual test s at a subscription of £6 00p for the year's supply.
Order s should be placed with the Competition Secretary, St. John Ambulance, 1. Grosvenor Crescent, Lond on, SWIX 7EF, before January 31 but thereafter singl e sets of sheets relating to specific competitions will be supplied subject to availability at a pro rata cost of 30p per set.
Grand Prior's Trophy p.2
The Wedding pA
An Area Publicity Machine by Ron Taylor and Steve Pallet p.6
Percy hamming for SJA p.7
Around and About by the Editor p.8
Mobility by Eddie Fisher p.12
Hypothermia by Denni s Clark p 14
The Crunch p.16
Order I nvestiture, Nov. 15 p.17
Readers' View s p.18
Visual Aids p.19
News from Scotland - Wales p.20
Overseas p.21
News from the Divisions p.22
National First Aid Competition p.24
EDITORIAL
Edited and produced for the Order of St. John by Driscoll Productions , 26 Pembroke Gardens, London, W8 6HU (01-6038512). Editor Frank Driscoll
ADVERTISEMENTS: Dennis W. Mayes Ltd. 69 Fleet St LondOn EC4 (01-3534447 and 4412)
Price 12p monthly. £1.70 per annum, including postage, from Review Sales, St. John Ambulance, 1 Grosvenor Crescent, London SWl X 7E F.
COVER ___________________________________
'Let's cut it!' says Ja cqueline Hembrow, of Bowes Park DivisiOn helped by Sgt John Ford, of St Pancras Division, when she saw the tier of wedding cake sent to the cadets by Princess Anne. Chief Officer Cadets Col. Pat Adams refereed the event.
by Watkin W. Williams Deputy Commissioner-in-Chief
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS the Duchess of Gloucester has long endeared herself to thousands of first-aiders throughout the United Kingdom for the immense personal interest that she takes in the annual competitions for the Grand Prior's Trophy, and it was a very great joy to welcome her once again at Seymour Hall on November 27 to witness part of the competitions and to present the awards. (Results on p. 2) The winning men's team came this year from Easton Colliery (West Lothian) incidentally , it was the first time in 24 years that the trophy has been won by a team officially representing the National Coal Board though it has five times been won by colliery divisions of the Brigade. The women's trophy, which on three previous occasions has been won by the Scottish Gas Board, came this time a little further south and was won by the North-West Gas Board_ But the men's and women's combined results were none the less a resounding triumph for the north!
When one considers that more than 20,000 first-aiders took part in the eliminating rounds that led up to the fin ,,11s, it helps to show up the splendid performance of the winners in its true perspective; and in congratulating them I should like also to congratulate every single one of the 20,000 on their share in making this national event the climax of a country-wide contribution to the safety and well-being of the community.
An innovation this year was the inclusion of a 'purple hearts' case in the individual tests, and I'm sure that every member of the audience (and, indeed , all the competitors, no matter how tiresome they may have found the victims to cope with) must have greatly admired the superb acting of the two 'casualties'. The day was made additionally memorable by the presence at Seymour Hall during the afternoon of N/M Mrs Kay Blankley and Sergt. Hayden Elliott of the Headquarters Transport Ambulance and Nursing Division, Belfast , who had been that morning to Buckingham Palace to receive from Her Majesty the British Empire Medal for Gall a ntry that had been awarded to
(Continued on p.ll)
Grand Prior's Trophy
NATIONAL COA L BOARD TEAM TAKES THE TROPHY FOR THE FIRST TIME
THE A WARDS at the Grand Prior's Trophy competitions, held at Seymour Hall , London, on November 27, were presented by The Duchess of Gloucester, Deputy Commandant-in-Chief of the St. John Ambulance Nursing Corps and Divisions. This year the competitions - the 24th for men, the 23rd for women - were filmed for the COl's overseas newsreel service. (See AT RANDOM).
St. John's wedding presents to Princess Anne.
From the Or d er a 19th-century etagere (for h o d n g magazines, records, etc) and on it the b eauti f ul carriage clock (187 0 om the cadets
this area had been divided into seven sectors each under a sector commander appointed from senior officers of London (Prince of Wales's) District, including Deputy Commissioner Col. R. Payne and most of London's Area Commissioners.
The seven sectors had 28 first aid stations along the route from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey , with an additional station in the forecourt of the Palace and another in the Abbey. These stations were linked by radio to a central Control Point.
Supporting or comprising the FA stations were 37 ambulances and 22 mobile first aid units. The stations were manned not only by members from London District but also by 250 members from the 33 counties outside London who, as is usual on these great State events, had been invited to send personnel to assist.
The day had been preceded by numerous planning meetings between St. John and the Police, the London Ambulance Service and the RAMC, so necessary to cover all the detailed work required to ensure that nothing wa s left to chance
The Wedding
THE R E MUST HAVE BEEN many proud moments for the cadets - and their officers - who watched the wedding ceremony of their Commandant-in-Chief, Her R oyal Highness The Princess Anne, on November 14. To the four cadets attached to the St. John Ambulance teams which attended the ceremony in Westminster Abbey, it will no doubt be a day they will remem ber for ever. Cadets and their officers from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth raised nearly £700 from which was p u rchased a magnificent antique (Circa 1870) carriage clock as their wedding p resent to Her R oyal Highness.
As it was understood that Her Royal H ighness would like some furniture, the Order also subscribed to a present of an antique early 19th-century Etagere (Circa 1805). This is an exquisite small piece of furniture with Canterbury-type shelves, which would be very suitable for holding record al bums.
The following telegrams were exchanged on November 14:
To: Her R oyal Highness The Princess Anne, Buckingham Palace.
St. John Cadets send Your Royal Highness loyal greetings and best
wishes on the occasion of your wedding.
To: St. John Cadets. Thank you and all for whom you speak for your very kind message. We appreciate it very much and send you our warm thanks. Anne.
The following letter was received by the Lord Prior:
Dear Lord Caccia, write to thank the Order of S t. John and the Cadets of the Sl. John Ambulance Brigade so very much for the piece of furniture and the carriage clock which you have given me as a wedding present.
I am so delighted with such charming presents and am most touched by the kindness and great generosity shown to me at this time.
Once again thank you for your presents which [ will always greatly treasure.
Yours sincerely , ANNE
We were delighted also to receive from Her Royal Highness the bottom tier of
one of her wedding cakes. A small ceremony for the initial cutting of the cake was held at Grosvenor Cre scent HQ on November 19 attended by thre e ambulance and three nursing cadets , who afterwards thoroughly enjoyed sampling the cake!
It was impracticable to divide the cake into sufficient pieces to send to every county so it was decided to c ut it into nine portions and ballot for those who would receive them. As a result, a portion went to: Priory for Wales, Dorset , Berkshire , Derby , Norfolk, Suffolk, Northants, Shropshire and Cambridge. (P.A.A.)
1100 members on duty
IT WAS A BRIGHT morning with a slight chill in the air when the first Brigade members began to assemble on the Royal Wedding route.
They were among some 1, 100 mem bers scheduled to cover the processional area. For St. John purposes,
One important item which stemmed from these meetings was that St John was to be wholly responsible for dealing with any casualties along the processional route (there were only 132 , none serious), with assistance from the RAMC who undertook to look after Armed Forces casualties (8, one a soldier thrown from his horse). Another new innovation was that the police asked if the St. John FA stations would act as collection points for 'lost children' on the basis that people recognised and trusted the Brigade uniform and would be content if they knew children c ould go to these points. Lost children would be cared for at stations for at least half-an-hour before informing Scotland Yard of the names and whereabouts of the youngsters. There were 28 lost children, 2 unclaimed by 5pm were taken to Cannon Row police station
When it was all over - the duty finally ended at 5pm - I asked Derek Fenton MBE, Deputy Commissioner of London District , who had been in operational control of the St. John part of the event, whether he was satisfied with the way it liad turned out.
'Everything worked according to plan,' he said, adding that the num ber of cases dealt with had been fewer than expected for a November day Undoubtedly the fine weather h e lp e d in keeping ca u a lty tigures low .
But I asked him whether the fact that Britain is an established Welfare State could have had some bearing on this matter. And whether he thought St. John still has a role to play in these even ts.
'It may be,' he said, people certainly seem to be fitter nowadays. But the role of St. John remains important because
London bound
mobile unit, which was stationed outside Buckingham Palace sets off for London - with Div/ Sup Mrs. C. Hodgk iss, Trpt/O J B. Bannard and Div Sup. T. W. Wakefield. (Photo Berrows Newspapers)
people who are not always as fit as they should be to stand for hours still want to see these important state events' I asked whether this need for St. John was likely to grow or decrease He thought that rather than decrease 'there is an ever greater need for the service of St. John , because the public , the police and the ambulance service all look to us to be present whenever crowds gather in great numbers; especially in these days of disquiet and unrest , when an unexpected disturbance can occur at anytime . It is important to he emphasised:that if St. John were not there and some untoward incident occurred, the first question everyone would ask is why were we not there.'
Mentioning that had seen it estimated that the number of people who had gone to see the wedding was about 45 000, I asked whether he considered that 1 100 St. John members on duty were too many. His reply was quite definite : 'Certainly, not For a major duty of this nature the size of the crowd likely to attend is as unknown as the weather ; we must always make our plans on the basis of being able to cope with any art of eventuality ; and if the number of people attending is not always as large as anticipated , it is better that we have over-provided rather than the opposite.' Might it sometimes seem to the public that our St. John men lining the route are part and parcel of , say , the police force?
'Well, said Derek Fenton , 'they certainly do take it for granted that St. John will always be present on these occasions but
rather doubt that they would consider us part of the police force. For instance, if an accident occurs , they would see St. John members working independently of the police , but in close co-operation with them
I next asked him whether having to cover all the large events which take place in the capital puts an undue strain upon the resources of Prince of Wales's District. 'Undoubtedly the capital has many types of duty which justifies the large membership of London District,' he replied, 'and keeps them busy over the whole year, with perhaps some members being on duty three or four times a week. But we in London know that with a national event such as the Royal Wedding we can always rely upon a ready response from surrounding counties to provide us with assistance.'
Finally , put to him the question of how he sa w S t. John doing its work in the future. He replied, 'If St. John is to playa major role in the future it must be constantly striving to improve its training and equipment , and to keep abreast of modern methods and requirements.'
From what Derek Fenton said I think it would be fair to sum up: St. John is living up to what the public expects of it , even if SJ is like an old friend whose presence is inclined to be taken for granted. Like an old friend, St. John must always be there, in case they are required. This I feel is the way the public sees St. John at public functions. And would like it to continue so.
W.A.H.
Hylton Poynton, Director Overseas, do the honours, while waiting anxiously are (I to
Sgt. John Ford, John Carrington, Jacqueline Hembrow, Fiona Strachan, Lyne Howard and Fred Mead
SJA Worcester's
An Area Publicity Machine
HOW SOUTH - EAST LONDON SET-UP THEIR'S
- AND LEARNED THAT IT NEEDS CONSTANTLY TO BE PUSHED!
first year of the committee's existence have been an official area publicity brochure, and a portable exhibition stand for use by divisions on a free loan basis. The stand has already proved its worth , having been used by twelve divisions since its completion in June 1973.
by Ron Taylor and Steve Pallet, AMs Divisional publicity offic ers
ON JANUA R Y 1971, Area
Co m missioner Arthur Bone appointed A, S /0 J ohn Bedells to be public relations officer for South Eastern Area, London ( P rince of Wales's) District. This post had bee n allowed to lapse several years before, with the result that publicity throughout the area was either non-existent or p r etty ineffectual.
South-Eastern A r ea consists of the L o n don Boroughs of B ex l ey, Bromley, Greenwic h Lewisham and Southwark, and the new PRO 's first act was to make his appointment known to the civic authorities (by a letter to the Mayors, enc losing a copy of the Area D irectory) an d to the local newspapers (nearly twenty of them), most of which pu blished a short article or a picture with caption, or both. This was a rather d istasteful exercise for the new P RO, who felt that his job was to help other peop le blow their trumpets, not sound off on his own - but it seemed to be essential.
T he next step was to write to the s u perinten d ents of the forty adult d ivisio n s in the area, asking them to appoin or e ect one of their members as p u blicity representative, a ll of whom wo ul d t h en be invited to a meeting at Lewisham Town H al1. (This meeting did not, in fact, taKe place until O ctober, 1971, which was the time it took some d ivisions to find a representative. The m ills of St. J ohn sometimes grind rather slo w ly, probably because some members still believe we shou l d challenge the R oyal Navy for the right to be called the Si lent Se r vice!)
Meanwhi l e a campaign was prepared to flood the local media with features about St. J ohn, just to see what could be done. This proved quite successful when meas u red by the space that was given by a fair proportion of the papers, and at no cost to u s b u t t h e time it took to 'chat u p' t h e editors and send them copyp lu s a few shillings postage.
The general publicity meeting finally took place, and included addresses by the Area Commissioner and Mr. Walter
divisions.
Hoadley, the Public Relations Adviser to London District. There was also a great deal of useful discussion, so much so that it was decided to make the meeting an annual event. [n the months that followed, it became evident that this meeting had had the desired effect of making some divisions much more publicity conscious.
1972 was Cadet Jubilee Year, so another newspaper campaign was u n dertaken, this time supported by a good deal of local effort from individual divisions. All this activity was most gratifying, but it tended to raise the work-load of the PRO to an alarming degree! [t was because of this that the idea of the Area Publicity Committee was conceived.
In the latter half of the year a small committee was formed from the three or four divisional publicity representatives who had shown the most interest and initiative over the past twelve months.
At the inaugural meeting a deputy chairman and secretary were elected, and dis cussions began as to how the committee should be constituted so as to give the most effective assistance to divisions , and to provide a focal point for pu blicity effort in the area. It wa s decided that the full committee should consist of twelve mem bers - the Area PRO as chairman, his deputy, and two members from each of the five London Boroughs. In this way information and advice could be disseminated by the committee members throughout the d i vis ions in their Boroughs , while problems, suggestions and ideas could be fed back to the committee. Application forms to stand for election to the committee were sent out, and an election was held at the next General Publicity Meeting, which brought the committee up to strength
Among the practical suggestions which have been brought to fruition during this
The publicity brochure is a completely updated version of a pamphlet produ c ed some thirteen years ago. It comprises four pages on a single folded sheet, each containing a photograph and dealing with a different aspect of Brigade involvement - ambulance mem bers on a public duty, nursing members at work in a F AP , cadets and the 'S1. John Family'. The photolitho process was used, so that the plates can be kept indefinitely and supplies are assured for as long as
divisions want to buy them (at cost) and use 'them for their own pUblicity and recruiting campaigns.
The committee issues an Area Publicity Directory (a folded duplicated sheet) every year, which give s the names, address and telephone number of every divisional publicity representative , indicating the committee members , as well as oth e r useful contacts from the District PR Adviser to the keeper of publicity stores. This ensures that each divisional PR knows where to get help and advice, and who his neighbours are if he wants to combin e in ajoint endeavour.
Si nce the c ommittee was formed we have been told that, under the re-organised Brigade formation our area will be sub-divided into c orps whose
Percy hamming for SJA
IT WAS OUR TURN (London District's St. Michael's East Wickham Nursing Division) to stage the TV episode for filming by Cablevision (our local TV) for publicity for SJA's S.E. Area.
Winter was approaching so we decided hypothermia would be a suit a ble subject, and to present our episode in playlet form rather than as an instructive talk.
This, of course, meant we needed a script , so we began by imagining the incident and working out suitable dialogue. We particularly wanted to emphasise the fact about not heating a hypothermia victim with hot water bottles; naturally, our first reading of the script contained a surfeit of references to hot water bottles! But we learned fastout came various hot water bottle lines. And then on re-reading we found that the point was not emphasised enough, so back in went some of the deleted lines. And soon we had the right balance.
With the script to our liking we then set about casting. Our story told of a little old lady collapsing , two children finding her, and neighbours and a SJ nursing member coming to her aid. Two nursing cadets were cast as the children , adult members for the other roles.
Cadet District Nursing Officer R. Penny was asked to vet the script and action, to say a few words of explanation at the beginning of the story, and advice and suggest attending SJA courses at the end.
The proposed incident was agreed by the Cablevision/St. John liaison committee, and the filming was to take place at my home. A policeman (a Special supplied by the local police) and a St. John ambulance and driver were written into the story.
The first rehearsal was hilarious. Our opening was to be a close-up of the old lady's front door showing a few days' of
boundaries will coincide with the London Boroughs. So, fortunately , our publicity organisation is already set up for the new formations and very little adjustment will be necessary.
We feel that South-Eastern Area's publicity machine is now more or less in being, and should soon be able to make progress which, hopefully, will be ref Ie cted in recruiting figures and increased financial support. There is obviously a long way to go; although we have learned a lot ourselves , there is still a great deal more to learn - and then to teach others what we have learned. And always more effort is needed, for one thing we have discovered: the publicity machine doesn t run by itself - it always has to be pushed!
delivered milk still there, but then someone suggested it would be better to see the old lady s cat miaowing and so draw attention to her plight. In fact we could use Percy my cat , who was prowling around. It was agreed, so Percy was written in. The fact that Percy rarely miao wed seem ed unimportant
However we'd get over that when the time came.
Our little-old-lady (N / M Mrs J. Riggs) proved a pro blem too - in trying to make her look the part with make-up and wig heavily coated with talcum powder.
At last filming day arrived. Percy was grabbed and shut in the house - just in case. The little-old-lady's wig was dusted with talc, and everybody waited for the camera crew. It was nearly dark when they turned up. Not to worry,' they said.
'We'll use our lights and it'll look just like dayligh t.'
The camera was soon whirring The little-old-Iady tottered along the hall clutching an empty milk-bottle - to fall. The fall was very convincing but unfortunately a cloud of talc spoiled the effect. So instead we daubed her wig with cream and then flour, which seemed to do the trick.
(Left) Filming S.E. London nursing members for TV (Above) Percy relaxing after working in front of the camera
Filming progressed slowly. Then it came to Percy's part. I got hold of him, and begged· him to try to look hungry. The two cadets said their piece to the camera and then I handed Percy to one of them. 'Look how hungry he is she said to her friend and Percy instantly put his pa ws around her neck miaowing perfectly, and then faced the camera to cry at the top of his voice.
'Cut,' said the director. 'Fine. We'll have one more shot of him.' Percy was well in But where was he? - For the next shot? Percy had bolted into my neighbour's garden.
Other scenes were filmed while my husband went after the temperamental Percy. Eventually he brought him back and tempted with a bowl of his favourite food, Percy did his stuff for the camera again, with a really piteous miaow right on cue. It just shows you, you never know your own cat.
The next day we went to the studio for the editing, when the best scenes were chosen. For our first attempt, the filming had gone very well, and it was interesting to see how TV programmes are made. On the screen our epic ran for 20 minutes and of one thing I'm surethose of us who were involved in the filming will never forget the correct treatment for hypothermia. Let's hope the programme had the same effect on the rest of the audience.
Mrs. N. E. Phillips, Divisional PRO
T he portable exhibition stand for use by
The stand folds up and will go into the boot of a car
FATHER AND SON
For outstanding first aid in a difficult and potentially dangerous situation, SJ A Meritorious Service certificates have been awarded to Mr. Leonard Harwood and his 16-year-old son Peter, both of Brixham , Devon. Mr. Leonard Harwood is an auxiliary of the Brixham Cadet Division and Peter is a cadet sergeant.
On September 3 last year Mr. Leonard Harwood sa w a light aircraft in difficulty near his home in Great Rea Road , Brixham. Soon afterwards he heard the plane crash nearby.
With his son he drove his estate car to where the aircraft had crashed upside down and embedded itself in a bungalow.
There was a strong smell of petrol and it was only with difficulty that Mr. Harwood and Peter, together with others, got into the building and removed a woman passenger who was alive and conscious. They also saw a man and a girl who appeared to be dead.
When Peter Harwood started to rip off the plane's wing fabric he found a boy , who was moved to safety by the Fire Brigade.
As no ambulance had arrived at the time, Mr. Harwood had the injured boy placed in the back of his estate car and, accompanied by his son, drove him to Torbay Hospital with a police escort.
F LYING WINNER
Miss Phyllis Eason, a Serving Sister and member of Taunton Nursing Division, will be visiting Malta this year to study the history of the Order as a winner of the National Westminster Bank's Chief Executive's Award Scheme
HOME FR O M THE SEA
SJA member and skipper/owner of the fishing boat 'Our Daddy', 67-year-old Alfred John Pengelly, of Looe, Cornwall. was recently presented with the BEM by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Sir John Carew Pole.
Mr. Pengelly, who is chairman of Looe Harbour Commissioners, has been connected with the sea for over 50 years.
AROUND and ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING O N IN THE WORLD OF ST. JOHN
BY T H E EDI T OR
TO SCHOOLS
At the 1969 AGM of the Liverpool Association Centre, the then Chief Edu cat ion Officer spoke about the importance of first aid in schools, and suggested that Divisional Education Officers should be approached with this end in view
Centre Chairman Mr. W. J. Clements made an approach but was unable to make any headway at the time. It was said that there was no time in the school curriculum available for this item. But on July 6 1973 he was fortunate to meet the headmaster of Whiston Higher Side Comprehensive School and arranged for a team to give his school-leavers a short talk on the history of S t. John Am bulance , followed by the film 'The Order of st. John', a demonstration of resuscitation with 'Rususcianne', and also of modern methods of bandaging. Questions were invited and forms and pamphlets were issued to those interested. This proved very successful and brought approaches from other schools in the district. This programme has since been repeated at Prescot Boys Grammar School (on two occasions), and also at Whiston Central Secondary Modern Com p r ehensive School , the Blessed
A PPO INTMENTS
Chairman , Shadow St. John Councils: Lancashire Lord Cozens-Hardy; Greater Manchester Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw ; Merseyside Mr. K. C. Cooke.
Isle of Wight: Lt. Col. G. Webber to be Dep Com.
Canada Lt. Col. Charles Dalton DSO, ED , appointed Director Genera l vice Brig Gen. C. J. Laurin resigned.
Malawi The Hon. J. Msonthi to be Chairman of Council vice Col. Lewis resigned.
Mr. L. G. Salt to be Commissioner vice the Hon. J. Msonthi, NB the appointments of Chief Com. and Senior Com. have been discontinued.
Nigeria : Mrs. K. A Pratt appointed Principal Superintendent eN).
for some of them have not even heard of st. John. It would give a boost to recruitment which is so essential to our organisation.
So far as Liverpool's team is concerned they intend to visit every school in the district, but this will, of course, take a long time and a lot of work. This is not admittedly, what was intended by the Chief Education Offic er , in 1969, but it
A Worl(ing day .
When 17-year-old Paul Dolman , an ambulance member of Sneyd Green Quadrilateral Division (Staffs), arrived as usual at 9 am at the tailor's shop in Hanley where he works, his boss asked him to help unload any delivery vans which came that day.
Sure enough, a van arrived soon afterwards and Paul started to fill in the delivery note before going out to help unload Suddenly there was a screech of brakes and then a thud. From the shop
Ed m u nd Arrowsmith Comprehensive School , Huyton Girls College, and to the Huyton Squadron Air Training Corps. There has always been a very appreciative audience about 100 and more - and volunteers try 'Resuscianne'.
Mr. Clements believes that this idea may be of interest to other St. John organisations. He is quite certain that it would have the effect of making the younger generation St. John-minded -
69 - year -old Mr Arthur Burton of Bilton, Rugby, after receiVing the MBE from the Quetln Mother recently Mr Burton, who joined in the Brigade in 1936, is an Officer Brother and reti red county staff officer still very active raising funds for the Brigade At the Palace with him were his cousins, Mrs. Lowe and Mrs Kennard
does have the effect of getting the teachers interested and results in excellent pu blicity.
2nd
ST EP
The highly successful Association Branch publication 'First Steps in First Aid' , designed for the lower age groups in the primary educational system, has now been joined by a companion publication 'First Steps in Home Nursing'.
A FIRS T
F 0 11 0 wi ng a fortnight's ambulance instructors' course at Wrenbury Hall, Cheshire, I hear that SJ A Guernsey's Transport Sergeant Michael Dene has qualified as an instructor in professional ambulance training.
This is the first instructor's certificate to be issued outside the United Kingdom by the Department of Health and Social Security. Only 24 places were allocated to 80 applicants from ambulance services throughout the UK.
The lead-up to the Wrenbury course req uires a t least five years' professio nal ambulance service, wide experience of instructing and attendance at an instructors' course at the Southern Ambulance Training School , Bishops Waltham Southampton, from where
suitable candidates are selected for further training and examination
Wren bury Hall.
Sergeant Dene in the past 12 months has spent three weeks as a supernumary instructor at Bishops Waltham, and he and Transport Member Keith Fothergill visited the famous United World College of the Atlantic, South Wales, for the purpose of instructing students in first aid and, in return, gaining valuable training in inshore and cliff rescue work.
doorway Paul saw that a car had run into the back of the parked van, trapping the driver who had started unloading
Telling one of the staff to phone for police and ambulance, Paul ran out of the shop and with the help of some passers-by freed the driver , for he knew the am bulance could be delayed in the rush-hour traffic. The man had a fractured femur and an open fractured tibia, which was bleeding freely, so Paul
gave first aid there and then By chance a photographer was nearby and took these pictures after the am bulance had arrived.
The man was taken to hospital and over a cup of tea Paul realised that normally he fills in the delivery note after helping the driver to unload And he's now wondering , if he'd been hit by the car, whether anyone would have been capable of helping him.
(Left) Ambulance men take over from Paul Dolman (facing camera)
Guernsey's T/Sgt Michael Dene (See A FIRST)
at
As well as assisting with the general training of the local professional am bu l ance staff, Sergeant Dene will be ca ll e d on fro m time to time to instruct at the Southern Training School.
210 THANKS
Southampton's very active Friends of St. J ohn organisation has 92 members and 35 u n iversity students who visit 210 elderly
a n d l onely folk daily or weekly according to their need. There are also 78 Junior Frie nd s of St. John (girls from Sholing
G i rl s' S c h ool aged between 16 and 18 yea r s) who, in pairs, 'adopt' one lonely resi d ent living in the three local authority homes on the Bitterne side of Southampton.
The old people selected are those who do n ot receive any visitors at all, and whe r e possible the girls take them out for w a l ks and gene r a ll y treat them as 'adopte d gr an d parents'.
Du ri n g 1973 three very successful outings, each of 80 guests, were made to Lee-on -So le nt West H owe, (Dorset) and Sout h sea.
T h ey h a d been given the name of one severe l y disab l ed old lady who had not left h er h ome for 13 years, and she was dehg h ted to accept an invitation to the fi r st outing which she enjoyed so much an d (as hers was a special case) she was a lso taken a ong on the third outing. This l a d y h ad to be carried from her home to the coach, and the great pleas u re she d erive d from these outings can well be imagi n e d.
Among the organisation's other 'so m eo n e cares' activities for the elderly a r e concerts a n d the distribution of gift v o u c h ers at Ch r istmas.
Some people obviously do care.
10,001 NIGHTS
Member of Chapter General Sir Harry Sinderson - one-time physician to I raq's R oya l H ouse and the B ritish Embassy in
VISITING
J UH members visited Kingston upon Thames in 1972. October last, 5 members of SW Area, London District, visited R avensburg JUH. (L to R) D/Supt. N.E. Mahony, ASO S. Barnes, Sgt. G. R. Francis, AIM C. Birkbeck, with President of Germany's JUH Graf zu Bentheim and Senior Medical Officer Herr Gabler
HELP A T H A N D
Yorks' Acomb ambulance cadets have been out helping the elderly and the infirm The following letter was received by the Div/Supt:
Baghdad - he first arrived in Iraq in 1918 on board a Naval tug - has written a book about his 28 years in Iraq called Ten Thousand and One Nights, recently published by Hodder and Stoughton (£3.95).
We want your ideas, in an essay, on the best way to award a Welfare Cup on a national basis:
1. Entries (max. 2000 words) to be divided into two c ategories:
a) Aged 16 years or over on February I 1974.
b) Under 16 years on January 31 1974.
2. Essays to be typed or written legibly (one side of paper only), and sent to: The Chief Nursing Officer, St. John Ambulance Brigade, 1, Grosvenor Crescent, London, SW1X 7EF by January 31 1974.
3. Entries to have the word 'Welfare' written on the top left-hand corner of
'I am writing this short note to let you know how grateful I am to have these two boys to help me with the garden. They are a big help and very willing.
'My husband had a stroke 2Y2 years ago and he also has multiple arthritis.
Yours faithfully , L. M. Green (Mrs.)'
the envelope, and must be accompanied by the writer's name (Mr , Mrs, or Miss) , Brigade rank a nd unit (Division, Corps, Area, etc.) or other connec tion (eg President, Auxiliary).
4. Entries in catego ry (b) to give the writer's date of birth. Those which do not give this information will be treated as ca tegory (a).
5. [n judging the essays, credit will be given to ideas on the subjects, and only in the event of a tie will the quali ty of the e say itself be taken into account.
6. There will be a prize of £5 for the bes t essay in each category.
A second prize may be awarded in either or both categories if the standard of entries warrants it.
Seymour Hall - having received the BEM that morning - Belfast's Mrs Kay Blankley and Sgt. Hayden Elliott each of them for their heroism in rendering first aid under fire which I described in this column in the August Review It was an immense pleasure to meet them and to have them with us on this occasion.
Af rican memen to
While was being shown round the Harare (African) hospital in Salisbury Rhodesia, I came across a very smart police sergeant named Mr. M'C hede, who was introduced to me as a member of the Brigade. Dr. Gane , the Area Commissioner , afterwards told me the following story a bou t him
While he was still taking his Association course to qualify for Brigade membership he came home one evening to find his wife in a distracted state because their ba by was having a serio usly alarming fit of choking He instantly picked up the child by the ankles, held him head downward s and thumped him between the shoulder-blades, whereupon he promptly recovered. 'Is that what they've been teaching you?' Mrs. M'C hede asked; and when her husband replied 'Yes' , she said Then I'm going to join'.
Mr. M'Chede is now Divis iona l Officer in charge of the large and flourishing Highfield Ambulance Divi sion, and his wife is a member of the equally large and flourishing Nursing Division.
And at the end of the evening that I spent with these divisions , after I d presented certificates and had been round chatting to them individually and taking part in their group training activities, I was surprised and delighted when a shy and smiling Mr. and Mrs. M'Chede ca me
AT RAND OM
(Cont f ro m page 1)
forward and presented me, on behalf of them all, with a very beautiful soapsto ne carving of an African winnowing co rn, which is now sitting on the mantelpiece in my office at Grosvenor Crescent, a daily reminder of one of the best recruiting agents - and one of the best recruits - in the St. John family.
Th anks, S A !
Recently I received, as Chairman of the St. John House Club, a most generous gift of £500 for the re-decoration and re-furnishing of a double bedroom at the club, to be known as the 'Protea Room'.
(The pro tea is a South African plant with large and very beautiful flowers of almost waxen delicacy).
This wonderful gift was the brain-child of a member of the Witwatersran d Centre who stayed at the club a few months ago, but it was contributed by members of all A ssociation Centres throughout the Priory of South Africa.
Words fail me to express our gratitude for the genero ity of this gift, which is not only a valuable contribution to the residential amenities of the club but particularly welcome at this time when we are trying on a very tight budget, to improve the standards of our service and a t the same time maintain as far as possible our very modest scale of charges.
Thank you Sou th Africa
Ha ve a b as h
We really DO want to know your ideas about how we can best organise a competition for the Welfare Cup so generously offered to the Brigade by Sir Keith Joseph.
You will have seen, in each issue of the Review since September details of our invitation to you to take part in an essay competltlOn on this subject. The invitation really is to YOU , whoever you may be, young or old, and no matter what rank (if any) you hold in the Brigade.
Please don be put off by the perhaps rather daunting reference to an 'essay competition', nor by the statement that it should be 'of not more than 2,000 words' It 's your ideas that we want, and
it's quite po ssi ble that the best ideas of all might be expressed in not much more than 200 words and in a form that you'd never dream of presuming to describe as an 'essay'.
So please have a bash, and your ideas - even if they don't come anywhere near to winning a prize - will be most welcome. On the opposite page are the conditions of entry , and don't forget that the closing date is January 31
A funny thing happened on the way to
In the eyes of the general public, the white sling of the ambulance member's haversack, standing out against his black uniform probably spells St. John' more clearly than anything else. But an officer of the Brigade is far less easily recognised by his uniform, and I'm sometimes tempted to wonder whether we all oughtn't to wear a haversack with the white sling.
I've been mistaken for all sorts of people in my time. Setting aside the frivolous reference of one of my more waggish pupils to 'that Gestapo uniform that you sometimes affect', I was once mistaken for a mem ber of the Salvation Army (which r took as a great compliment) and have several times been mistaken for a policeman.
On one of these occasions the resemblance to police uniform stood me in very good stead for it enabled me quite innocently to 'co mmandeer' an ex-army DUKW to evacuate aged and infirm people from a housing estate during the Thames floods of 1947; on another occasion, when I was summoned by ambulance to a treet fight on a Saturday night , one of the casualties got up and ran away at sight of me , for fear of arrest.
But I think the best of all was a few weeks ago, when I was walking in uniform along Chesham Place (near Belgrave Square) and met a woman hurrying along the pavement , who stopped and said Excuse me, but are you a traffic warden?' Somewhat taken a back, I replied apologetically 'No, I'm afraid I'm not', to which she made the unexpected rejoinder 'Oh well, that's all right then', and pursued her hurried way.
At
Mr & Mrs M'Chede, of Salisbury Rhodesia, presented me with a soapstone carving
MOBILITY
is a great asset
by Eddie Fisher, Area PRO
SOME 2 YEARS AGO it was sug ge sted by the Commissioner of the Eastern Area of London District Mr. Robert T. Bax, that it would be a great asset if the Area had a mobile aid unit for use at larg e public gatherings or at the scene of a major disaster. Eastern Area , incidentally, stretches from the City to the coast at Southend . A committee wa s formed and began o rgamsmg fund-raising events which produced nearly £2,000 by various mean s large and s mall donation s, se lling matches , tights , toy s, and large sums were raised from sponsored walks swims and greyhound racing , as well as just asking for money. The Area Vice Pre sident , Mr. Eric M. Stitcher , wa s our guiding light an d great inspiration in all our money-raising efforts. A s our dream began to become reality in terms of cash, a smaller committee consisting of the Area Surgeon , the Nursing Officer and a few others with technical knowledge started looking at mob le units of other areas and making plans for our own vehicle.
Transport si ngl e-decker bus was purchased from the Boar d at a reasonable price and a local coach-b uilder was found who wa s willing to take on the job of conversion. Plan s were now drawn. All interior seats were removed from the bus; the rear emerge n cy door was widened and a set of steps, which folded back inside the vehicle, was added; and the whole floor was raised and levelled.
Four examination couches, one a rem ova ble stretcher trolley, were fitted so that each can be screened off by curtains on ceiling rails. A sink unit , with pumped water from a 40 gallon tank under the vehicle and hot water from an electric heater , was fitted as well as cupboar d , drawer units and working tops. A 40-gallon tank for wast e water is also to be insta ll e d as it is consi d ered u ndesira ble to discharge waste ou tside.
The original interior lighting was retained but extra fluorescent lighting and strip heaters were installed. The latt er ca n be run off local power supply or a 7 kilowatt generator which also s upplies power for emergency flood lights. This generator is carried under the vehicle in its own compartment and is mounted on
The vehicle in Brigade colours and fitted with blue flashing lights on roof and front was commissioned at a dedication service on July 1 1973. Since, it has been used at eleven large events in the area, at which over 200 cases were treated, and was in continuous use as the medical centre at the Area cadet camp in September. It was also s tationed in the Mall for the wedding of Princess Anne.
The unit is the property of the Area but it is available free of charge to all divisions in the Area for their large duties.
An Area driver is then in charge of the unit bu t it is staffed by mem bers of the dividion responsible for the duty.
To familiari s e members with the unit and its equipment training exercis es or visits to Divisions by the unit will be made.
The cost of the vehicle its conversion and basic equipment was met from the fund, but much of the small and expendable equipment was donated by various manufacturers and individuals
The vehicle carries all necessary basic requirements plus oxygen equipment and suction apparatus It is also hoped to carry more advanced equipment for the use of surgeons.
A group of supporters is being esta blished who will covenant £] per year to pay the running costs of the unit,
which are es timat e d at £250 a year. What e xactly doe s such a first-aid unit contribute to SJ A' s service? It provides on-the-spot conditions of good lighting, heating , hot and cold water, and height and s pa c e in which to work for treating even the severely injured or ilL It is, in fa c t , a mini-hospital that comes out to the people , where ever they may be. In a medical or s urgical emergency - such as heart attack or internal haemorrhagethe patient can be treated and taken to ho s pital at the same time . And of course it is good public relations - tangible proof that the organisation knows the needs of the 70s
wheels at one end for removaL It is petrol driven, easy to start and runs for about 1Y2 hours on one gallon of fueL The flood light s are portable, stand on tripods with 5 0 -yard leads.
The unit's windows have been fitted with blinds which pull upwards, which means the windows can be obscured without cutting out daylight. The floor has an easi ly-cleaned covering and working tops are fitted with formica.
The existing front door has been retained as a staff entrance or for walking cases. 20 sitting or 4 stretcher cases can be accommodated.
Our fund raising has also produced sufficient money for a support vehicle, which we are now looking for. This vehicle will be able to link into the generator suppl y and will carry the main radio. Use of radio in the unit will be kept to a minimum in order to avoid unnecessary noise for patients.
Under normal short-term duties the unit will serve as a first-aid unit , while rest, refreshment, etc, for duty personnel will be taken in the su pport unit. The support unit could also be used to take cas ualt ies to hospital in an emergency.
London Eastern Area 's
HYPOTHERMIA
LA Y INSTRUCTORS NOTES ON A SUBJECT WHICH NEEDS CLARIFYING
HYPOTHERMIA; the title did not mean much to first-aiders until the authors of First Aid (2nd edition) introduced it in 1965 and made a brave effort to describe it as 'the result of cold exposure'. Within a year or two several authors followed suit with varying success because they usually dealt with only part of the subject and us ed different names for the same thing. I n essence, there are two vari ab le co nditions : the degree and type of cold and the fitness or otherwise of the person affected. A table of the books and the headings used in them to describe the conditions will illustrate this variation.
BOOKS CONSULTED HEADINGS USED TO DESCR IB E (l)Effect of extreme (2)Effect of chi ll on co ld on fit persons weakJy persons
The Essentials Exposurc to inclement Severe accidental coo ling of First Aid 1967 weather of the body 1972 Effects of cold (infants, e lderly or infirm)
The Anatomy (not m e ntioned ) Accidental hypoth e rmia of First Aid 1966 (infants, e ld e rly) Dead ly- co ld
New Essential Wet- col d exposure (not m e ntion e d) First Aid 1967
New Advanced A c u te hypotherm ia Subacute or c hroni c First Aid 1969 Immer s ion chilling hypoth e rmia
We t-cold chilling (infant elderly)
New Safety and We t-cold c hilling (not mentioned) First Aid 1970 (Wet-cold exposure)
First Aid Cold Exhaustion Severe accidental coo lin g (3rd edition) 1972 of the body (hypothermia) (infant s, elderly, infirm and drugged) (apparently includes the immer sed)
In t he se co ndition s the skin becomes a conductor of the precious heat needed to keep the patien t alive and any increase in heat production by acti vity (as in swimming) is quickly dispelled into the w e t -e n velo ping and ever-circulating medium , the water. Other def ences of the body the clothing and the insulating layer of fat under the skin, only partially protect. The still layer of air or water held by the c lothe s close to the skin is quickly disper sed by movement and the insulation of the fat neutra li se d by the dilated surface blood vessels.
Knowing all this, certain rules of prevention can be laid down an d followed. The first is obvious; do not get into cold water. Wear specia l protective clothing, if possible, not only to delay wetting but also to limit the movem ent of still air trapped near the ski n Remain st ill in cold water remembering that activity is always harmful as it results in heal production which is lost immediately. The treatment is rapid rewarming. Wrap a nyon e taken out of co ld water in dry towels or warm blankets or put him in a warm bath even if he is apparently dead.
by Dennis Clark MBE FRCS
In order to conduct a di sc us sion the following c lassifi catio n will be adopte d :
I Exposure to severe cold including immersion ch illing
Cold-wet exposure
2. Accidental cooling of the body in infants, the elderly and infirm or drugged.
Ex posu r e t o severe co ld : I m m e rsi on ch ill ing
Strangely, immersion chi lling is mentioned only as one of the causes of severe accidental hypothermia in First Aid (3rd edition) but it occurs frequently enough to warrant more consideration than that. New Advanced First Aid points out that a thousand lives are lo st each year around the coast of Britain from immersion chilling. These were formerly attributed to drowning, bu t it is now thought that thi s form of hypothermia is a far mor e common ca u se of death in the cold seas than the entry of water into the respiratory tract. The account also point s out the alarming speed at which body heat s lo s t to water on immersion ; the ratio is twenty-seven tim es as fast as that lost to air from a nak e d body. Not only this, but the natura l a djustment s of the body to retain h ea are lo st because, in water with a temperature under ten degrees centigrade, the blood vessels of the skin lose the power to contract and actually dilate. This allows the blood normally retain e d by their co nstric tion in the deeper ve sse ls and vital organs to circulate near the already chilled sk in
T o e nsure safety, careful route planning of any proposed expedition is needed, using local knowledge of terrain and weather; providing sk illed leadership , adequate e quipment in c luding waterproof clothing or specia l suit s; arranging or carrying s helt er; the participants must be fit and the proj ected route must be given to others. Only in New Advan ced First Aid is the importance of warm head covering pointed out; for abo ut 20 % of the heat from the body can be lo st through an exposed head and face_
Acciden t al c ooling o f the b od y
Co ld-wet exposure
It is true that both cold-wet expos ur e on land and immersion in cold water share the end results of pallor, deadly-cold skin and body, un conscio u sness and death. All the same it is important to note the points of differenc e.
In cold-wet exposure (co ld exhaustion or co ld-w et chilling call it what you will) a period of onset can be observed which ca nnot be seen in immersion chi lling This onset varies but is de cribed well in First Aid (3rd edition); slowness, apathy, weakness, abnormal behaviour, lack of co -operation, dreaminess an d st umblin g. The rest of the clinical picture is the same for both conditions and the treatment the sa me ; drying and heating
It is worth notin g the emphasis put on this treatment (even though the patient appears dead) by New Advanced First Aid and New Essential First Aid for it is the opposite of the treatment needed for infants, the elderly or the drugged overcome by severe acci dental coo ling of the body. The prevention of 'CO ld-exha ustion' is well covere d in the two books mentioned above and in New Safety and First Aid, but is stra ng e ly omitted from o ur own First Aid (3rd edition).
The Surgeon-in-Chief strongly recommends t h is 16 mm film as teaching m aterial for this subject
or eve n imperceptible pulse and is deadly cold to the touch. The heading 'Subacute or Chronic Hypothermia' may mi slead because the onset may not be slow at all and a ba by, for instance, may be c hill ed very quickly. The possible appearance of a baby deadly-cold but m a intaining a healthy rosy colour is brought out in both St. John books, but not in the others.
Prev entio n of the con dition by warm e nvironment is best e mphasis e d by New Advanced First Aid.
This condition is called 'Acci dental Cooling' (or Severe Accidental Cooling) in the Essentials Of First Aid and in First Aid (3rd editio n) 'Accidental Hypothermia' in Th e Anatomy Of First Aid, and 'S ubacute or Ch-ronic- Hypothermia in New Advanced First Aid. All these books d escribe the condition occurring in patients with faulty heat regulation, who therefore s u ccumb more easily to chill than a fit healthy person. Re covery , too, is often up set and warming after exposure to cold can give rise to undersirable comp li cations. These patients include infants, the elderly and people affected by certain drugs or illnesses. The babies are s u scep tible to cold because their large body surface relative to the ir size mak es the loss of heat easy. The e ld er ly are at risk because of their inability to generate heat by activity. Th e third group, mentioned in some text books but omitted from others, are those patients affected by drugs such as alcohol, carbo n-monoxide poisoning, barbiturates or other sedatives and illnesses associated with inactivity such as myxoedema or a poor blood supply such as diabete s. Fortunat ely the importance of heat loss in a case of, say, carbon-monoxide poisoning is secondary to more urgen t effects of the poison, though it is as well to protect the patient with a blanket during transport. This group of patients by t hei r very inactivity must be co nsider ed with the babes a nd elder ly as patients at risk because heat loss is induced by conditions within the patient and not on ly by those of the surrou ndings.
The clinica l picture of accidental cooling of the body is des cribed well by the four text books that deal with il. Someon e, old or young, is discovered uncons cio u in a cold r oom, is then seen to be pale , is found to have a slow , weak
Health in C old Climates (Col. 21 mins.J Hire charge £1_60
Distributed by : Services Kinema Corporation, Chalfont Grove, Narcot Lane, Gerrards Cross, Bucks.
Tr eatment, by preventing further heat los s with blankets or clothing (wit hou t attempting to reheat) and by rapid transfer to hospital, is covered by the three text books mentioned above. The warning against re-heating is mo st emphatic in New Advanced First Aid but the book fails to explain the rea so n It remains to our own First Aid and Essentials to explain that a fatal fall of blood pressure, the result of dila tation of surface blood vessels, can occur, and from which these already debilitated patients cannot recover.
This survey has ranged through he subject of general effects of co ld on the human body as presented by six recent first aid textbooks. It would appear that there is some co nfu sio n of nomenclature. I therefore suggest a simple classification based primarily on the condition of a patient exposed to chilling and, for convenience, presen t two clear cut entities; the effects of excessive cold and wet on fit persons and the effects of chill upon vulnerable people. Actually it is realised tha t all gradations occur. Each case must be treated according to the prevailing circumstances and it sti lJ remains for the first-aider to exercise his judgment. The correct treatment, obvious in most cases, whether to warm or only to maint ain r esidual heat, is decided on the knowledge of the possible variations. Such knowledge can only be gained through reading widely and discussing freely.
References: First Aid Ord Edition) 1972. The l:..ssentials Of First Aid (lst and 2nd editions) 1967 & 1972. New Advanced First Aid by A. Ward Gardner & Peter J. Roylan ce, Butterworth, London. 1969 New Essential First Aid by A. Ward Gardner & Peter 1. Roylance Pan Book s Ltd 1967. The Anatomy Of First Aid by Michael Win t an ley Dail y Mirror Publi ca tion 1966 _ ew Safety And Fir t Aid by A Ward Gardner & Peter 1. Roylan ce, Pan Book Ltd. 1970.
Explains the health hazards met in cold environmen s such as wintry co ndition s in the U K ., N.E. Europe o r Scandinavia. Desc rib es the signs, prevention and first aid treatment of frostbite, immersion foot and gene rali sed hypothermia, and how they can be prevented by specia l c lothin g and precautions. Suitable for showing to all rank and also to Boys' units and yo uth organi at ion s engaged in advent u re tra in in g
The Crunch
EVERY YEAR since 1954 the London branch of the Electricity Supply Ambulance Centre has held a weekend residential course for its senior first-aiders on new or improved first-aid techniques. Held at the Electricity Council's training establishment at Horsley Towers, in Surrey, the course includes group discussions, practical demonstrations and exercises, and is (limed at encouraging and improving job safety and also combating home, industrial and commercial hazards.
Over the last 4 years the theme of these courses has been intentionally set outside industry, with exerci es involving the 'First Five Minutes' as found in the SJAA handbook Digest of First Aid.
The theme of the latest course was 'From Casualty to Patient and Home Again', while the exercise was called the 'Crunch'. The 'Crunch', which involved 20 first-aiders, consisted of a head-on collision between two cars which then careered into a queue of people at a bus-stop. A cyclist and another car were also involved. The result was 20 casualties, who were treated in a small hospital set-up specially for the exercise.
The photographs show how thorough and realistic are the settings for these courses.
Dr. Taylor, CEGB's Assistant Regional Medic al
ami n ng patient with Miss Goodman, Senior Group Nurse, Bankside Generating Station - and very attentive first -aiders
ORDER INVESTITURE
AS DAME
Myra Edith, Mrs. Jones, OBI:. (Canada)
AS COMMANDER (BROTHER)
Kenwyn Edgar Steer (Devon)
Herbert Edwin Bennett (Essex)
Richard Riley Bibby, QPM, (Lanes.)
Philip Andrew Banks Raffle, MD, MRCP, DPH, DIH. (London)
Lt. Co!. John Char les Makelym Fitz-Simon, MB, BCh, SAO. (RAMC)
Richard Howarth, MD, Ch.B, FRCS, DLO. (British Railways)
R-Ad!. John Douglas Try thall, CB, OBE. (Soms.)
Surg. Capt. Louis George Henry Le Clereq, MRCS. LRCP. (RN)
Cdr. (MS) Thomas Robert Clarkson, MAPHI, MRSH. (RN)
Sidney George John Webb (Herefre)
Thomas Cochrane Taylor, MB, BS, DLO. (Yorks. NR)
Surg. Cdr. Philip Charles Fulford, MVO, BSe, MB, MCh, FRCS. (RN)
Arthur George Puckering, QPM. (Durham)
V-Ad!. Sir Ronald Brockman, KCB, CS I ClEo CBE, DL. (Devon)
AS OFFICER (SISTER)
Evelyn Mary, Mrs. Unett (Wores.)
Crystal-Margaret, Mrs. Bennett (J erusalem)
Joan, Mrs. Norton (Essex)
Jeanne Mary, Mrs. Percival, SRN (Kent)
Patricia, Miss Gould, RRC, QARNNS. (RN)
AS SERVING BROTHER
Leonard Williams (Northd.)
Eric Selby (Notts.)
Frank Harris (Worcs.)
K enneth Branson (Yorks. WR)
John Edgar Smith (Surrey)
Harry Harley (Wores.)
Joseph Mills, BEM (York WR)
Raymond George Buckland, SRN (Sussex)
Angus lain Macleod, MB, ChB. (Yorks. WR)
George We twood (Wores.)
Christopher Hugh Merry, MRCS, LRCP. (Yorks. WR)
Kevin Leo Henry Flynn, MB, ChB. (Warwieks)
Donald J ohn Pllyne (Wores.)
Kenneth Burge s (Yorks. WR)
Percy Gordon Longhurst (Sussex)
Herbert Ronald Co ll ey (Yorks. WR)
Graham William Primmer (Wilts.)
Harold Hold en, MRCS, LRCP. (Lanes)
Luther Maurice Liversidge (Yorks. WR)
Ernest Ralph Cooke (Warwicks)
Thomas Malcolm (Yorks. WR)
Aaron Bailey (Yorks. WR)
November 15 1973
Cyril Henry \-<ish (Yorks. ER)
John Heath (Yorks. WR)
Thomas William Irving Bainbridge (Wores.)
Kenneth Arthu r Bassendine (BR)
Alfred William Darrall (Derbys.)
Donald Charles Dickerson (Dock Labour Bd.)
Charles Robert Forrester (Cheshire)
John Fry, FCA. (Plymouth)
Graham Roy Hooper (Cornwall)
llenry Richard Howard (BR)
Eugene Stubbs King (Yorks. WR)
Cyril Ingram (BR)
William Stanley Lloyd (Dock Labour Bd.)
Douglas Joseph McGaskill (Chesh ire)
William James Maret (Elect. Supply Bd.)
Robert Pasquill Marsden (Lanes.)
Arthur AntJlOny John Palmer (Dorset)
Philip Edward Plummer (BR)
Robert George Ridout (Bristol)
Frederick Herbert Rimmington (Birmingham)
Arthur Kenneth Desmond Rutherford, BA, MB, BCh, BAO. (BR)
Arthur Taylor (Lanes.)
Cecil Norman Trelfa (BR)
Albert Stanley Wheatley (Elect. Supply Bd.)
George Frederick Wheeley (Worcs.)
Arthur White (BR)
Sidney Wooldridge (Wores.)
Reginald Worthington
David Norman Sadler (Kent)
Michael George Bartlett (Northd.)
George Leonard Plester, MB, ChB. (Warwieks.)
Herbert Jame Cole (BR)
Lionel John Blackburn (Yorks. WR)
AS ASSOCIATE SERVING BROTHER
David J ohn Waters (BR)
MAN - ABOUT - THE - HOUSE
AS SERVING SISTER
Jean Christine, Mrs. Cleasby (Devon)
Jean Margaret, Miss Boyd, MB, BS, MRCS, LRCP. (Essex)
Margaret I sobel, Mrs. Allanby, SRN. (North ants.)
Ursula, Miss Harrison, SRN, SCM, HV. (Surrey)
Olive, Mrs. Laws (Warwicks.)
Nellie, Mrs. Selby (Notts.)
Mary Ellen, Mrs. Johnston (Surrey)
Kathleen Bertha, Miss Cheke (Northants.)
Margaret, Mrs. Adamson (Northd.)
Irene Mary, Mr Smith (Surrey)
Eleanor Mary, Mrs. Boxall (Sussex)
Annie, Mrs. Beasley (Warwicks.)
Doris, Mrs. Staff (North ants.)
Mary Maisie, Mrs. Douglas, S RN , RSCN. (Surrey)
Harriet Sarah, Mrs. Sanders (Notts.)
Kathleen, Mr Clu tterbuek (Soms.)
Doris Christine, Mrs. Mann (Suffolk)
Freda Mary, Mrs. Finney, SEN (Warwieks)
Ivy Mary, Mr Bailey (Northants.)
Reta, Mrs. Davison (Northd.)
Lorna, Mrs. Bentley (Notts.)
Sybil, Mrs. Green (P lym outh)
Catherine Mary, Mrs. Starr (Soms.)
Harriet, Mr Simmill (Staffs.)
K athleen Mary, Mis Harding , MD BS , MRCS, LRCP, DPH. (Suffolk)
Ruth Miss Green (Surrey)
Marguerite Alice, Mrs. Smith, SRN, SCM. (Sussex)
Phylli s Edna, Mrs. Birch (Soms.)
Janet Louise, Mrs. Barnes (Birmingham)
Doris Brownfield, Mrs. Plummer (PO Ambul. Centre)
Margaret Betty, Mrs. Turner (Devon)
Jean Valerie, Mrs. Williams (Wores.)
The scene is set. (Below) The short spinal splint in use
Photos: Richard Best, London, NW4
From the Electlicity Council's Ambu lan ce Bulletin
FIELD TRIALS OF EQUIPMENT
from Profes sor Sir Hedley Atkins, Chairman, Medical Board May I take advantage of the hospitality of your columns to express the gratitude of St. John Ambulance Medical Board?
One of the duties of the Medical Board is to be aware of all new pieces of equipment that may be of value to St. John Ambulance in the training field and also in the practical work of the Brigade. The Board delegates to the Surgeon-in-Chief's Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. R McL. Archibald , the investigation and trial of all new equipment placed before it. Thereafter , that co mmittee often places new equipment on field trial to our counties.
As Chairman of the Board I am impressed with the repor ts that we receive from our mem bers - to all of you therefore who have taken part in equipment field trials may I express the Bo ard's gratitude - and to all of you who will give such voluntary service in the future may I say how grateful the Board will be for such co-operation. Sometimes it is forgotten that the les s glamorous duties are of great importance to the work of the Order of St J ohn.
Headquarters
LARGE LONDON DUTIES
from Nursing Member K. Taylor
H edley Atkins.
A few days ago it was mentioned in a general con versation that the ambulance members from the D ivision to which we belong were asked to send some members and an ambulance to attend the wedding of Pr incess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips. I was surpri sed to hear of this as the Nursing Division had heard nothing of such a request. When I enquired further, I was told that London had a lr eady suppli ed enough nursing members.
I s it fair that London Div isions should have all the large duties that go on within London eg: The Lord Mayor's Show, Trooping of the Colour, etc? Surely the fairest way for this sort of duty is that, if X number of members of all ranks are needed , for a circular to be sent to divisions , say within a radius of 60 miles stating how many nursing and am bulance staff are required from that division? If a divi sion cannot supply their full quota then another division gets the chance to supply extra. This to me is the only fair way for those who do not live in London Farnborough
READERS VIEWS
Readers' views and opinions, which should be sent to the Editor, although published are not necessari ly endorsed by the Editor or the Order of St. John and its Foundations. Although readers may sign published letters with a pen -name, writers must supply thei r name and address to the editor.
Our public image will not then suffer Someone's watching , like Big Broth er! London, S.E .9
GREAT CAMP
from A. Jewell , Divisiona l Superintendent
L. S Walker
As well as winning the Countess Cairns national camping cup at Bexhill-on-Sea this year, our Fareham ambu lan ce cadets thoroughly enjoyed the splendid camp and great credit must go to the commandant Mi ss Willis and her wonderful staff. Cadets who have attended this ca mp must now run into many thousands. Wickham, Hants A. J ewell
RARE BUT from J S. Binning , Deput y Chief Medical Officer , Association
In July 1973 R ea ders Views was a letter from Cadet Sergeant David Hearne ca lled Injury Id ea' to which I added a comment to the effect that 'inj urie s to amputation st umps a re rare, but there is always a first time in everything.'
VISUAL AIDS
Tlie SI lU/1II I1mlmlallel' Jll1l11·/IIedw I1ppraim/ Pallcl, \\'liicll lIIeets jorIJllglitly 01 IIQ alld comprise) doctors, 1II/1'\'es , flrsI-aiden alld 1I wal Old experls, IS 011(' of lli e officlOl/)' appolliled panels 0/1/1(' Bril s" ,H ed ca / 1SS()('w l inll. il s r eFiew\' helllg pllblislied III tlie BMI1 InformatlOlI III /972 II, e Gllide tu Films alld FIrst 11id was publis/led (a l'ailabl e /rom I/,e Stures, 35p pillS I)()s t agej. 1;' mid 19 74 il is lioped 10 pllblish. lI'illt tlt e
MIND HOW YOU GO (16mm Col : 12 minsl Free Loan
COl Hercule s Road Westminster Bridge Road , London, SEI 7DU. No. UK 2712 , This film deals with the 6 principles of the Green Cross Code ; Its purpose is to support teaching to younger chi ldren by relating essential points to a simulation situation in an urb an area.
The panel considered this a good accident prevention film, the importance of which will lie in discu ssion! projects, etc, after and indeed before Its Th e fIlm on its own is too complicated for your young children and s uffer s from a Cockney background, an accent which may be unintelligible in northern location s.
Audience : Young c hildren St. John cadets and juniors,
CARBOHYDRATES AND THE CALORIE: Filmstrips £1 .5 0
Longman Group Ltd, Longman House , Burnt Mill, Harlow, Essex,
A simple introd uction to the science of nutrHion.
The panel considered that as this strip was produced over 20 years ago , it should be withdrawn from circulation and a ,new up-to-date issue be produced. Not only is the visual techmque (black and white) old-fashioned , but nutritional terminology has cha nged too.
Audience : Not recommended,
ABOUT SMO KI NG: Tape/Slide 30 Trans : £2.75 per set.
British Medical As soc., T avis tock Square , London. W C.I.
The panel was impressed with this presentation; it covers its subject well , is interesting as well as informative. It shows all aspects of the work of the community nurse and stresses the need for co-operation. This presentation s hows some of the services availa ble to the sick and elderly and is a u se ful aid for st. John members undertaking thi s type of duty.
Audience : Although pre sumably in tended for professional audiences, this presentation would have great value when shown to the public at large.
THE SENSES
OF MAN The ear/TSB4 Tape/Cassette, 16 slides, te aching notes
Distributed by CI. Audio Visuals, Durham Rd, Boreham Wood , Herts Pri ce: £3.50
Thi s programme provides an introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the human ear.
The presentation is far too complex for its intended audience of students up to the 6th form The level of understanding required is medical student level. The slides are good although inclined to be over-burdened with data ; they would be useful as an instructor's set. The commentary material is too detailed and given at a speed too fast for comprehension by mental processes.
Audience : Medical and nur sing students.
Why does a senior officer not comply with Dr ess R egu lati ons? My area commissioner plays hell if we have as much as a button out of place or undone. Wh at he ' d say if I wore a chain I'd hate to thi nk ! Your ruling, please. Birmingham Central H.EI And November issue's cover picture : In foot ball cases such as this A
I have now seen a case of fracture of an amputation st ump , a nd a very short one at that. Treatment in ho s pital consisted mostly of bedrest. The en d result was good. Headquarters
BOOKS
1. S. Binning
THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE DINNER PARTY BOOK
WHICH ', The Con s umer Assoc., Buckingham S1. London WC2N 6DS : £1.60
At present cookery books are fashionable reading. This one gives 2;00d entertainment, co njuring up a pleasant picture of gourmet dining and wining at home.
The introduction w;t h explanatory notes is exce llent , giving many good ideas and hInt s and at the end of the book the ba sic definitions and recip es are extremely useful for the cook who needs reminding.
The menus themselves are well planned and easily interchangeable. But since this book was produced in 1971 , many of the recipes have now become rather expensive to follow, a las.
The wine suggestions are an addition which the man of the house will probably appreciate. This book would make a good present and an interesting addition to the kitchen shelf.
Mary Graham
This presentation does not morali se or condemn, but provides a basis of practical information upon whi c h young children may draw their own conclusions.
The panel considered this a good presentation that places facts fair ly and squarely before the viewer. Its implications are there to be considered or disregarded to choice. The transparancies might have been strengthened by visual illustrations and more factual photographs of pathological specimens, but on the whole its message is clear.
Audience : All young children an d adolescents. St. John cadets and juniors.
POT OR NOT : Slides plus commentary, 28 Trans : £2.75
British Medical Assoc ., Tavistock Square London W C I.
This strip is subtitled 'A plain guide to drug depend a n ce'. It provides a basis of factual information for young people to draw their own conclusions.
The panel considered this a good pre se ntation that achieves its objective of p lacing appropriate fact before the viewer. How ever in such an emotive subject it is a matter of opinion if uch a dispaSSionate , low key approach is more valuab e than the stri d ency found in American films on the same subject. On balance, the panel felt the approach in this presentation correct.
From the visual aid view point there is too much art work, and an insuffiCiency of photography.
Alas , it must be r epor t e d that our teenage guest viewer found both 'Pot or Not' and 'About smoking ' in effect iv e.
NURSING IN THE COMMUNITY
Distributed by Camera Talks. 292 Price £8 Cassette/Slide Programme . 36 slides.
The work of the ski lled nur ses whose specia l training teaches them to adapt their ski ll s to places other than a hospital.
thanl(s ...
Visual
NEWS from SCOTLAND
N e w Ye ar re sol ut ion s NEW YEAR'S DAY still means much more to the Scot than it does to the English. But while it is a day for jollity and recreation it is also a time for a re-examination of our lives and for resolving to do better. For all of us in the Order it is a day for examining our past conduct as members of St. John and deciding what we should do in future. And it seems to me that we might profitably ask ourselves some leading questions.
First, are we committed to the Order in thought as well as in feeling and deed? It may seem odd for me to refer to the intellect in the context of a commitment which depends greatly on emotion and expresses itself most clearly in action. But a full commitment, with all that that entails, does need conviction as well as feeling; and for all of us conviction is at least partly based on thought. Most of us cannot, for instance, feel that the sick are our superiors , our 'Lords' to whose interests we must bow: they are too obviously weaker, and their diseases may even repel us. But as St. Augustine long
WALES
WITH THE reorganisation of St. John counties, which comes into effect in April 1974, in line with local government, North Wales SJA Denbighshire and Flintshire are to form into two new units, Clwyd North (covering the coastal belt) and Clywd South (the inland and mountain region).
This division follows the two distinct types of first-aid requirement in the new county. Along the coast the Brigade helps the millions of holidays-makers in the Wrexham and other inland areas, the needs of the residents and beauty spot visitors are important.
The Clwyd South Area will be staffed by the old Denbighshire Brigade which has many divisions in the Wrexham area. In the new county as a whole there are 28 divisions.
Cadet Sund a y
There was an excellen t parade 0 f officers and cadets for the Cynon Valley St. John Cadet Service held this year at Bethania Chapel, Mountain Ash.
Led by the police and local band the parade was headed by the Colour Party from Abercynon, followed by District Staff Officer Mrs. P. Harrison-Roderick Area Officer Lyn Rees and ambulance
ago pointed out, love for our fellow men needs an act not of emotion but of will ; and such an act can only result from the intellectual conviction that our faith demands that we treat the ick man as if he was , in fact, the person of Christ. Involvement s hould follow commitment and involvement expresses itself most clearly in action. We should, of course, all ask ourselves if we give enough of our time to th e Ord e r and whether we employ the time we do give in the right way. Hard work is worth while only if it is efficient and effective. Of course there are many members who for good reasons find it hard to give much time to the Order's affairs. They may be in jobs that make great demands on their time or they may be young people struggling to make their own way in the world. For these there are other ways of contributing to the Order , of whi c h financial support is only one, though it is immensely important. The Order 's aims can be furthered not only by occasional participation in its activities, which is better than nothing , but also by moral support, by the sort of unoffi cia l
CADETS AT WORK
13 - year -old Susan Ellis is one of eight cadets of Ca diff's Ely and Fairwate r Division who take it in turn every day to do all the shopping for ocal pensioners The D ivision's superintendent, Mrs. Alma Cridland, said: 'I think it does as muc h for the c h Idren as it does for the old people. It's really visiting service as well. The Division has wa iting ist of mo r e cadets who want to do the s hop ping sh 0 u d anyone drop out. (Photo: Western Mail)
publicity in ordinary con versation whi ch helps to build up reserves of good will. Everyone undersland s that there are limes in life when it is hardly possible to do more.
Effective involvem e nt requires participation not only in our activities but also in our future planning. The Priory of Scotland, as have said many times before, is unusu a l in that it backs no single activity but is involved in m a ny. This its glory, while the diversification of interests means that we are healthily not reliant on only one type of charity. We can be seen operating wherever our fellow men need help, whether at work or, in the case of mount aineeri ng and skiing, at play. The Scottish priory thrives on the application of new ideas an d every member must be prepared to put forward new sc heme s and to cha llenge accepted mode s of thought: with us parti cipat ion means more than woodenly following the leadership of others a nd simp ly doing as one is told. Involv ement requires as much thought as does commitment, for only if every member is ready to us e brain as well as brawn will S co tland continue to be to us the most interesting and exciting priory within the Venerabl e Ord e r.
J.R-S
and nur sing ca det officers and cadets from the Valley. The sa lut e was taken at the Town Hall by Commissioner R. O
Rigg s.
During the service, which wa co nduct ed by the Rev Ru sse ll How e ll s and Rev. Jam es Waugh , the Code of Chivalry was read by Cadet Susan William s, Mountain Ash Divi sio n.
Mr s. Bridget Lewis presented Special Service Shield awards to Juli e Ll oyd, Diane McDonald , and Sandra William s, all from Penrhiwc eiber Divi sion.
A visitor from Nigeria designated to St. John (Wales) for a short period was among those present.
OVERSEAS
PAKIS TAN
Report s from SJA (both Association and Brigade) in Karachi - despite the recent war and other civilian problems - show that they are very active, covering all spor ting events, religious and national days and ca lling out a ll divisions in emergencies.
Their ambulance service, for instance,
SOUTH AFRICA
Saras Manilal, 18 year old nursing member from Pietermaritzburg, Natal, receiving the Silver Life Saving Medal from the Prior for South Africa for a beach rescue attempt a year ago, as reported in AT RANDOM, August, 1973
turned up so promptly at a recent mill fire that the owner later presented them with a new ambulance equipped with oxygen a pp aratus. That's gratitude for you.
During recent floods in the country the first voluntary organisation from Karachi to offer its services was the Brigad e.
The latest plan of SJA Karachi is to build and equip a 200-bed hospital in a
Life Saving
3. To carry out research into life aving techniques and equipment which can be passe d on 10 maritime lo ca l authorities and the life sav ing organisations for their attention.
The ce ntr e owe it beginnings to the United World College of the Atlantic with which it sti ll retains close links.
T
EVER Y YEAR far too many people die needle ss ly They et out for pleasure by the sea, on lak es or rivers, then tragedy overtakes whe n perhaps a boat c apsize, a tidal c urr ent takes charge, or the weather uddenly c hange s.
Th e National Coastal Re scue Training Centre at Aberavon, South Wa les, seeks to assist existing life- sa ving organisations (The Royal Life Saving Society, The Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain, and the Corps of Canoe Life Guards), all of whom arc represented as members of it s Administrative Committee. Th e Ro ya l National Life Boat Institute and HM Coastguards have re presentative s on the co mmittee and their professional advice is avai labl e for the training programme.
The ce ntre, which opened in 1969 has three main aims:
1. To provide courses (14 days, 7 days and wee kend) to qualify young peoplc as competent life savers.
2. To show through all type s of water activity the hazards involved in recrcal ion on water.
Transport Member Colin Bartie, a senior and full-time member of the Transport Department, SJA Guernsey was r ece ntly se le cte d to attend a two -week course at Aberavon. He is in cha rg e of th e Department's inshore life boa t training, and in commo n with general practice will be passing on knowledge he gained on the course to member participating in thi speciali sed fie ld of re cue.
The course proved a physically strenious one, each day comme ncing with a pre-breakfa t swim of %- milc pool exercises and life-savi ng in st ru ct on.
After breakfast the programme co ntinued with canoeing, ,urf boarding, inshore life boat and rescue training. Physical fitness exe rcises were also part of the day' s curriculum.
Mo t even ing were pent by the s tud ents, who includ ed police cadets and life boat inspector, s tudying tides a nd c urr en , res u sc itation signa Uing a nd r e "C ue techniques.
During th e second week of the co ur se Colin Bartie undertook qualifying examinations whi ch resulted in the fo llowing awa rd s: The Roy a Life Saving Society: Bronze Meda llion The Surr Lifc Saving Association of Great Britain : Bron le Medallion; Amateur Swimming Association (Personal Survival tests): BronLe , Silver and Gold Medals.
new suburb 14 miles from the centre of the city.
Our members in Karachi certainly seem to be go-getters, and they're probably too busy to find a public relations officer who can send us (and other publications) reports with black and white photographs about what they're doing. But t hey should try to do just that. For the world today is very small.
DO N'T JUS T STA ND T H ERE!
About 1,000 people drown in the UK each year. Some 700 do so accidentally, of which nearly 300 are children. About 60 % of these accidents occur in the home and inland waters , of which 8 % occur in canals.
To heed the rules of water safety and to learn to swim are the best preventatives. But when a person is in danger of drowning their life can depend on a pas er-by using his knowledge or skills of saving life.
If you don't know how to help find out now_ Good swimmers should train in life saving techniques. Everybody should know how to give artificial respiration. 1974 is Learn to Life Save Year.
* The e are the fac s of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' national water safety campaign for 1974 : LEARN TO LIFE SAVE. The campa ign is organi ed in conjunct ion with the Royal Life Saving Society, which annually trains 150 ,0 00 people (ma ny of th e m sc hool c hildr en and teachers) in life aving sk ill s. Details and a poster of the campaign can be obtained from the Head of Safety Education Divi sio n, ROSPA, Royal Oak Cen tre , Brighton Road, Purley, Surrey, CR22UR.
Guernsey's
M Colin Bartie (Photo: Guernsey Evening Press)
News from Divisions/Centres
Hants' SJA Emsworth celebrate their 25th anniversary with (left) Mrs. M. Jones, President Nursing Division, and yachtsman Sir Alec Rose, President Ambulance Division
Mrs. Pauline Davis, DIS Stroud Nursing Cadet Division, Gloucs, receives her 25 years' service bar from County Staff Officer,
Mr. G. T. Clark. Mrs. Davis' husband, daughter and son are Brigade members (Photo: Gloucs Newspapers)
NOTTS - The results of the 2nd annual Cadet Presidents' tJOphy competition , held at Stanton S 1 A HQ, Ilkeston, on Nov. 17, were Chaddesden & Spondon nursing cadets, 58 marks; Stanton ambulance cadets, 57; Chaddesden ambulance cadets, 42 ; llkeston ambulance cadets, 32; and Stapleford & Sandiacre nursing cadets, 26: maximum marks 80.
The tJOphy was given and presented by Mr. H. Pinchin, president Stanton Ambulance Cadet Division.
NORTHANTS - The Miller Cup, after 72 years as a competition for ambulance team and the chief award of the WeUingborough Corps (now the Central Area of the county), has this year also been thrown open to nursing teams. Cadets competing for one of the county's major awards the Stone Cu p - had to deal with three casualties caused by the explosion of a letter bomb in an office, two of them being badly injured, while the third was alarmingly hysterical. This contest i for teams of two ambu lance and two nursing cadets and was won by the team of the Northern (Kettering) Area, Timothy Toobey and Ian Toobey, of Corby IStearts and Lloyds, and Angela Goodman and Janet Farrington, Kettering.
OBITUARY
MR F. G. PRICE, MBE , CStJ, on November 25 Founder member Halesowen Divisions Corps Superintendent, County OffIcer , and Area Commissioner.
At Seaton, Devon (Left) Superintendent - in - Chief Lady Moyra Browne opens the newly enlarged SJA HQ, and (below) 71 - year - old AIM Reg Walli s, of Beer, retires after driving the Seaton SJ ambulance since 1966. He s congratulated by Supt. Ron Pavey (right) and Mr. Norcombe, the president (Photo: Seaton News)
.......
DIS Mrs Tho mas, fou nder member of England's We stern - most nursing
REVI EW CROSSWORD No 1 (74) Co m piled by W A. Potter
ACROSS :
1 Pharmacis t turned up before appliances acti n g like the ven tricles of the heart.. (5). 4. Separately developed extremit ies of long bones. (9). 9. Wheezing sounds from co nge ste d and partially obstructed air passage s. (7). 10. Hyperresonant percussion note indi cat ive of pneumothorax. (7). 11. Poisonous metal guide. (4).12. Day by day r eco rd of events. (5). 13 Ju st a sm all lake (4). 17 Tea sed in a manner to allay excitement a nd worry. (6). 18 Gregarious animal forms cystic swelling of tendon sheath. (8). 21. For washing the hip s and butto cks (4-4). 22. Depart precipitously at end of year with a politician (6). 24. Di sg ui se for su rgi ca procedures. (4). 25. Eng land lose s two point s for secretory organ. (5). 26. Rouse a com motion (4). 29. Diffi cu lty in mi c turition. (7) 31. Mini T.P.R. taken to make an impres s ion (7). 32. Condition resulting from defi c iency of thyroid secretion. (9). 33. We object to male animal in part of mandible. (5)
DOWN:
1. Lo ss of movement and se n satio n from father an d artist with gradual decline of fever. (9). 2. Inflammation of the heart muscle. (11). 3. III and vomiting. ( 4 ). 4. Swe et medi c inal prepa ration (6) 5. In sea-b ird , a luminium produ ces hidden form of haemorrh age. (8). 6 Ba ck of one with sp in a l caries. (4). 7. Sickne ss ending nau sea. (3) 8. Infect ion of eyelid embraces a number in fashion. (5). 14. The mid-part of the upper regions of the abdomen. (11) 15 Saint co mbine s with sailors to produce d eep, penetrating wounds. (5). 16 A Greek without fail is it not so? (5).19. Di sease of kidney from reco n s tru c tion of inert hips. (9).20. Girl in unu sual test for 18 across of sy mpath eti c n ervou s sys tem (8). 23. An ext raordinar y gain for pain in heart or throat. (6). 24. Wild m o rning for a lady (5). 27. The part of the pelvi s below the top of the pubic bone. (4).28. Stimulus to more rap id progress (4). 30. Number of mu scles attached to eac h eyeba ll. (3).
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD No 12 (73)
ACROSS:
1. Diplopia; 5. Shaved; 10 Cows-lip; 11. Admiral; 12. Open ; 13 Plain ; 14. Plan; 17. Tuber c ulo sis; 20. Inflammation 25. Ke en; 26 Stump ; 27. Sera; 30. Eseri n e; 31. Ethmoid; 32. Patent; 33. Stoppage. DOWN: 1. Do ctor; 2. Pow-der ; 3. O-gl e; 4. Impul se; 6. Hom e; 7. Virili
DO YOU NEED THE "BREATH OF LIFE"?
St. John Ambulance Tour May 1974
Express Boyd Ltd. are pleased to announce another tour next Spring to Syria & Cyprus. The itinerary is: -
DAMASCUS: MAY 11th & 17th
PALMYRA: MAY 12th & 13th
ALEPPO: MAY 14th & 15th
LATAKIEH: MAY 16th
NICOSIA: MAY 18th to 24th
A full programme of tours has been arranged in Syria to include visits to Homs, St. John's Castle in Aleppo, Krak des Chevaliers : and in Cyprus to include Troodos, Paphos and Limassol
£229.00 inclusive
For further information and bookings contact :EXPRESS BOYD LTD. Travel agents to St. John (Formerly Express Travel & Transport Co Ltd.) 4/5 Bonhill Street, London, EC2A 4BX. Telephone: 01-6286060
Nursing in Action
When you're young, you want action right from the start of your nursing career And t hat's just what we'll give you here at the Tunbri d ge W ells & Leybourne Group of hospitals, You will learn about the latest advances in nursing t echniques in our schoo l of n ursing and enjoy a I ively social l ife in one of one of the loveliest corners of Englan d , If you are over 18 and looking for action in a n u rsing career we can offer you a choice of fou r courses, 3 years for State Registration, or Registered N urse M ental Su bnormal ity; or 2 year courses for State Enrolment, Gene ra or M ental Su bnormal ity and Shortened Post Regis t ration Courses,
A ct now by w riting , quoting r ef, (J A ,B') t o M r s M p, C rawford, Principal N ursing Officer, Educatio n C entre, Pembur y H osp ita , Pembu ry , T unbri d ge W el s, Ke nt. THE ACTION GROUP
All you need for a medical career is a little help from us.
As a Medical Technician or Medical Assistant in the Royal avy, you're one of a small group of experts.
So we're able to give you individual training that helps you make the most of your abilities.
If you are a young man with at least four '0' levels, yo u could train with us to be a Medical Technician. You would be given a comprehensive specialist threeyear course that would, for example, make you a State Regi stered urse, a Registered Mental Nurse, or a Radiographer.
Promotion can take you to Chief Petty Officer and a salary of over £2650 a year. And there are opportun ities for a commission.
Alternatively, you can join u s a s a Medical Assistant and train to be a naval doctor's right hand man.
The money's good. You can earn £25. 6 9 a week at I7i· And, if you wish , we will help you get the neces sary '0' levels to become a Medical Technician. Medical Assistant s are encouraged to bec o me Technicians and many do. Why shouldn't yo u?
Find out what a av y medical career can offer you. Any experience you have could give you a leg up the ladder. And, if you're already qualified, you could come st raight in as a Medical Technician.
A
Readers'
News
p.21
News from Divisions/ Centres p.22
EDITORIAL:
Edited and produced for the Order of St. John by Driscoll Product ions, 26 Pembroke Gardens, London, W8 6HU (01 -6038512). Editor Frank Driscoll
ADVERTISEMENTS: Dennis W. Mayes Ltd 69 Fleet St London, EC4 (01 -3534447 and 4412)
AT RANDOM
by Watkin W. Williams Deputy Commissioner-in-Chief
CONGRATULATIONS to all those members of the St. John f a mily whom Her Majesty was pleased to honour on New Year's Day. There were three awards made s pecifically for services to St. John Ambulance ; an OBE to Major T. W. Gracey , Commander StJ A and Commissioner, East , South and North Devon ; an MBE to Mr. F. W. Murkin SRN County St a ff Officer for Training, and a BEM to Mr. W. V. Savage, Divisional Superintendent (R) Letchworth Ambulance Division, Herts. Major Gracy joined the Brigade in Devon on retiring from the Royal Artillery in 1954; after a year's service, first as a County Staff Officer and as D.eputy Commissioner , he was appointed CommISSIOner m 1955 and Commander StJA in 1968. No mere catalogue of the many ways in which he actively involved in voluntary public serVIce to the could adequately convey the extent to whIch he is universaly respected and admired throughout the county , nor the enthusiasm, dedicated service and high standard of efficiency attained by St. John workers in Devon as a direct result of his . example and leadership. Mr. Murkm became Divisional Nursing Officer of the Braintree & Bocking Ambulance Division Essex in 195]; nine years later he moved to Some;set and was appointed CSO (Training) , and for the past 13 years his service to the community has been outstanding, while his experience, advice and help as County Training Officer are in constant demand. Mr. Savage has been a member of the Brigade in Letchworth for the past 35 years , 15 of them as an officer of a Cadet Division and the last 14 (until his recent retirement) as of the adult Ambulance Division. Though an accident in early life left him blind in one eye and totally deaf his work and example as a dIVISIonal superintendent and as supervisor of a St. John Medical Comforts Depot has been quite exceptional , and it is largely to his example and inspiration that St. John members in Letchworth owe their own tremendous vitality and the high
(Continued on p ll)
Let's look to the Future! PART ONE
NOW AND AGAIN, in this busy modern world, we in St. John should find time for a short period of introspection and assessment. For over the last few years there have been considerable changes which affect our organisation.
About 20 years ago, under National Health, there began the professionalisation of Britain's ambulance services, now virtually completed throughout the country; since St. John had initiated the ambulance service in practically every village, town and county, many of our members were very resentful of this change and some fought a rear-guard action - doomed to fail, of course - to resist progress.
More recently, with momentum accelerated by the Salmon Report a nd the hospital hierarchy it set up, the improvements in the re c ruitment and staffing of hospitals have materially altered the need and scope of our voluntary service in Casualty and Ward.
Much more recently, the creation of residential training colleges for new entrants to the professional ambulance service under the Miller Report , has greatly modified the attitude of that service to first aid, sudden illness andmore profoundly - the transport of handicapped or crippled people from home to treatment centre and back again.
And most re ce ntly , within the l ast three years, the Government ordered
JOHN SINJIN WI4HT-BANN, S tO ct,::Jary, La:1 I I'\ Slrl1dm; M
local a uthoriti es to set up departments of socia l service to find out the extent of welfare needed by the 'housebound to bedfast' and this created a new group of local government officia ls who were expressly instructed to interview such cases to ascertain their need, not to commit themselves in any aspects of relief but only assure the handicapped person that they would endeavour to direct and organise the voluntary organisations appropriate to the need. Against this background let us examine our scope, opportunities, and responsibilities in the terms of the 0 bjects of the Brigade as set out in Brigad e Regulations, BR6 , as follows:
(a) To train an d maintain a body of men and women thoroughly efficient in First Aid and Auxiliary Nursing
(b) To afford for holders of approved First Aid Certificates to meet together for training and practice , under qualified members of the Medical and Nursing professions, with the 0 bj ect of combining individual efforts in the service of the public.
(c) To provide First Aid and Home Nursing for the injured and sick.
(d) To provide ancillary services both to the sick and injured and in and for hospitals of all kinds.
(e) To provide Reserves for the
shou ld think 'If you were any good at it you co uld m ake your Uving at it as I do'. Some are even blunt enough to say so when ci rcum stances bring us and them together.
The aspects of our service seem to be :
A) Public Duties
Let us face facts honestly.
We are called upon usually at very short notice , to provide personnel and, often, ambulances and other expensive equipment, for such events as gymkhanas , church fetes , s pon so red walks, pop festivals, rugby and socce r mat ches , etc
R arely do we have scope t o put our efficiency in first aid to a ste rn test, but we give kindly and effective albeit usually trivial service, to a very large num ber of people ; sometimes we do have a real case' and can have the sa ti sfica tion of sending a 'fractured collar bone ' or the like to hospital quickly and efficiently.
At football matche s our role is ill-defined ; often we have to stand aghast as we see treatment a ppli e d which is a negation of all we have be e n taught (and, in turn, teach) just so that the team does not play one man sho rt '.
stretcher and ambulance)
Oft en on public occasions the police (for whom I have great respect and liking) take charge and organise the 'incident'. I ca n recall a case where the inspector , leading his quartette , said 'Come on St. John, turn out your white bag and let 's have the gear.
You see th ey are professional tak e-chargers and we are on ly amateur do-gooders with no way of establishing our (probably!) co nsiderably greater capa bility.
B) Transport Duties and Welfare Services
Over and above the many calls which co me to us just because we exist for such purposes , we have nowadays many people 's hopping around' to find jobs for us. The professional ambulance se rvice is now ext remely well equipped and trained to deal with pile-ups on motorways street acc idents etc., and is les s and less willing to accept the time-consuming chores of transport to and from treatment cen tre s etc.
(such as mid-week when most of us must take time off work to oblige) or , as has happened many times, with a request to go to a distant town to pick up a handicapped person and take him to an even more distant place. When it is pointed out that we do not operate in so meone else's territory , we are expecte d to give the address and/or telephone number of the cSt. John 's people' in the distant territory
Medical Services of Her Majesty 's Armed Forces
(f) To prepare such permanen t organisation during times of pea ce as may at once be avail a ble in tim e of emergency.
(g) To give opportunities for boys and girls to learn and practise First Ai d Hom e Nursing and other su conducive to the training of goo d citizens.
First of all, let us acknowledge that in this materialistic world we are there to be taken advantage of; in fact, we should be gratified that we are regarded as able te give service. I have never met with an) antago ni sm from the general public (. few professional ambulance men apart! but , as a house-to-house collector I ha ve met several people who don't see the need!', 'What's the National Health for ?' etc.
Generally speaking we are regarded continui ng a Victorian anachronism like soup kitchens, handy at public functio m to furnish 'a bit of plaster 'cos the has a blister on her heel from new shoes or produce a friangu lar bandage (costin! I3p!) to mop down the baby who brought up its feed'
Unlike professional ambulance (ambulancers they now call themselves and all grades of nurses we have not haC the in-service training which can only b obtai n ed by accepting paid service; it almost inevitable that such professiona l:
At professional football matche s we stan d in the wind and rain wat chi ng the star per fo rmers , for whom transfer fees running into hundr e ds of thousands of pounds have been paid, whilst wondering if th e club will recognise our services (a nd the inevitable expenses!) in any other way than inviting the superintendent to the annual dinner. (Of course the trainer of the star teams is, nowadays very often a professional phy siotherapist or m e dical gymnast and all he wants from us is the
Train Disaster
Di st ri ct's SJA Deputy CommISSIOner Derek Fenton was in the area at the time of the Ealing , West London, tram derailment on De cember 19 and directed to the scene by Arnvmg 10 minutes after the aCCIdent. occurred, he treated 6 casualties.
SJ A Ealing's mobile first-aid unit and 25 members from the area were also present and dealt with 20 casualties, some being accompamed to hospit al by 3 nursing members 10 people died and more than were injured in the cras h ( Phot o: The TImes)
Although there is agreement among such bodie s up and down the co untry t h a t when th e victim of a car crash is discharged from ho spita l the local ambulance service mu s t arrange his return to home town, when it is a matter of arranging for a 'wheel-chair case' to be transferred to another address the voluntary ser vices are appealed to.
Then, as any secretary or divisional contact knows, doctor s' secretaries and su ch co nc e rn s as Round Table, Rotary , Lions Clubs, British Legion , WRVS , etc., get into co ntact with u s often to arrange extremely awkward transfers
No one credits any government with great prescience or fore-planning so it was not likely to have been a deliberate plan which closed down Civil Defence just before the new Department of Social Service was set up. Had the Civil Defence organisation existed it would have been the obvious work-horse to carry out the field work for the new Welfare Dispen sers - and its cost to the State would have soared astronomically As it is, in the absence of such a state-financed organisation, there is no alternative but ourselves and our sister organisationand it is assumed that the voluntary organisations would not demean themselves by asking 'Who pays?'
Whilst on the subject of transport let us consider the costs of ambulance work. However the division obtained its vehicle(s) , whether as a gift or bought out of divisional funds, the running expenses for petrol oil, tyres , insurance, depreciation , etc., have to be met. Since petrol alone costs more than I p per mile (a gallon of petrol , costing say 40p , takes an ambulance about 25 miles), considering the other factors we can work on the safe assumption that at less than 5p
Let's look to the Future! (contd.)
a mile we are subsidising another charitable organisation - which is rather absurd!
But, in many divisions there are other factors, such as a paid full- or part-time driver, which greatly increases the cost per mile. On transport duties, divisional members often discuss this salient item of cost.
From such contacts it would seem that most divisions think in terms of lOp to 15 p per mile , reserving the right to scale up or down to meet local circumstances.
Nowhere has the local Director of Social Services any funds to meet such expenses so, even when his department has found the job for us, we are left to collect from the handicapped personoften an embarrassment, because such are usually not affluent.
In the sphere of welfare services we are called upon to perform all sorts of home nursing and other services. Often neighbours, relatives, friends, etc:, of the one in need make the approach to us, sometimes the 'professionals' - district nurses, welfare workers, doctors - unload on to us the chronic cases in order that they can better deal with the saturating number of acute cases. And it is very easy to find oneself over-committed since we have no one upon whom to transfer the 'long-term' case other than another colleague.
C) First Aid Instruction and Training
In these days of almost complete professionalism there is one strange gap. Someone in each division, usually the divisional secretary, undertakes as an unpaid volunteer the considerable task of arranging the Autumn and Spring first aid course in which a lecturing doctor (who is
entitled to be paid professional man's fees - and why shouldn't he be?), supported by a few mem bers of the division demonstrating the practical aspects, ena bles mem bers of the general public to convince an exammmg doctor (also entitled to be paid!) that they deserve the certificate which will enable them to collect the bonus the firm pays in order that the requirements of the Factory Acts can be met.
Our prime purpose in running such courses is to try to keep up, or even increase, the strength of the division, so, providing we do not run at a loss we are not desperately anxious to make the course outstandingly profitable. But since the firms have to satisfy the Factory Acts and their employees are doing it for the bounty, we would be mugs if we did not ensure that the expenses of the course were more than met.
All the same we deplore the general attitude, exemplified by one member of a recent class, a schoolteacher who, not being sponsored by industry had been allowed to pay the basic minimum class fee, asked, because he had been put in charge of physical education, how he could 'keep it up' on gaining his certificate; on being told that 'we'd be delighted to have him join the division' he replied with unfeigned astonishment 'My dear fellow, how on earth do you suppose I have time for that sort of thing?'
0) First Aid Competitions
A very valuable aspect of training is to form a competition team and have it concentrate on the rather-specialised presentation of first aid which is necessary for success. A team of divisional members often finds itself ranged against teams of professional fire b rig ad e mem bers, am bulancers, policemen, etc, - even works and factory teams subsidised and encouraged to train during working hours; the experience can be disappointing and embittering.
Cases are known where such professionals have arranged to borrow Brigade uniforms to wear in the final rounds of such competitions as the Dewar Shield.
No disparagement of such advantaged teams is intended; they are usually deserving of the cup for the best teamand that's what the competition is all about - but they are not so dedicated and altruistic, and their success does not foster recruitment nor improve relationship between the professional services and the amateur, since it strengthens the belief that the amateur is, ipso facto, less efficient and capable.
E) First Aid Incidents
How easy it would be for a Brigade member to carry out the instructions in chapter one of the manual if all others present, the casualty, bystanders, others willing to help, etc, were willing to let him assume the role tor which he thinks
his training and acquired skills en title him.
If someone at the scene of an accident announces 'I am a doctor' or 'I am a nurse' everyone accepts his or her authority without question despite the facts that every doctor is not necessarily a specialist in first aid and that there are many grades and proficiencies in nursing. Such professionals are protected by law in the right to their authorative titles.
We can say 'I am a St. John man' but to most laymen we might just as well have said '1 am a vegetarian' since, in the eyes of public a doctor, a nurse, a policeman, is, by definition , the expert, entitled to take charge. Of course, strength of character and a belief in one s own ability can help some of us to tak e charge - but we aren't all 'Little Hitlers '.
There was a case some years ago in th e writer's experience (and every Brigad e mem ber can ma tch this with an anecdot e of Ius own) where a very-determined woman standing astride the casualty announced that 'it is a fractured base o skull' and fiercely drove away anyone who offered to 'interfere' When asked if she had any qualifications she said 'What has that to do with you?' Since she was acting on the side of over-caution the best move was to call up an ambulance which , on arrival, took away a case of 'slight concussion with a split rim of the external ear '.
There is the well-known local case of an accident in a country lane where a young man jumped out of his car and declared 'I am a doctor' only to be told by the rugged old countryman kneeling by the casualty 'I was in charge of A.R.P. in this village during the War and if you try to interfere with me I'll knock your block off!
Those who have read this far will fa ll into two groups ; most divisional members will agree that I have stated the facts of life, others will probably say 'If he's so pessimistic and dissatisfied why doesn 't he leave?' This begs all the questions raised. One can be very devoted , de d i cat ed, kin d 1Y, pat i e nt, an d long-suffering without being 'fond and foolish'!
Undoubtedly, there are selfish people who take advantage of us ; certainly there are those who, in these days of 'wid e boys' and 'artful dodgers', regard us as the proverbial 'Joe Soap' - but this need not deter us.
We know, better than most that there are hosts of less-fortunate fellow citizens who await our proffered services (and, since by the very nature of their disablement, they cannot fight for themselves we must be their vociferous champions). We are determined to carr) on the work started by our fathers and grandfathers about 100 years ago and we are dedicated to seeing that our youngsters carryon with that work.
Continued next monl
visiting Africa
Mr. Wa tkin W. Willi a m s, Depu t y C-in-C , vi sit e d St. John in Africa from Augu s t 15 t o October 5 and ga ve u s a re port of hi s tr a ve ls in At Random.
In Mombasa presenting warrant of appointment to Miss Snehal Shah Divisional Surgeon Dr. Shah practises at the Coast General Hospital At the Nairobi ShOW with Mrs C A Everard , Principal Superintendent (N), Kenya
I n South Africa, with (L to R) Mr W. A. Rothman , Commissioner, Natal Inland District N M Saras Manilal, recently awarded the Silver Life Saving Medal of the Order ; and Mrs V E. Green, D Supt I ndian Nursing Division, Pietermaritzburg
(Left and below) With cadets of the ndian Nursing DiVision, Salisbury Rhodesia The nursing cadet (below ) had no safety pin for her triangular bandage, so the Deputy C in - C produced one - from the back of the flap of his tunic!
A small department at St. John AmbulanceHQ, 1 GrosvenorCrescent, London,headed by Squadron Leader Geoffrey Meek and assisted by John Lockett, is responsible for both fund ralSlng appeals and pu blic relations on behalf of The Order of St. John In its present form the department was set up during the past twelve months.
TO HAVE both fund nusmg and public relations 'under the same management', so to speak, is logical, for good and effective public relations , spreading as it does accurate information and news about St. John and its foundations, considerably increases the effectiveness of appeals for financial support from the public.
In many circumstances modesty may be a virtue, but when seeking support for a cause the response in unlikely to be great if little or nothing is known about the established aims and achievements of that cause. In fact, people are unlikely to give to an organisation about which they have little or no knowledge. It is therefore fundamental to our public relations policy not to hide the light of St. John. To help everybody connected with St. John to get the most out of local public relations, the department recently published a booklet (25p from HQ) which is a basic guide to the news media and includes fund raising hints. Its introduction quotes the Institute of Public Relations definition of public relations: 'the deliberate , planned and sustained effort to esta blish mutual understanding between an organisation and its public'.
For St. John this definition could not be more apt; for our task is to convince people of the need for money and personal service, both of which are vital to the expansion of the Order 's work in
A FINE STORY -SO LE '5 TELL IT!
the service of mankind. We have a fine story to tell. So let's tell it!
All PROs
Whether we like it or not, everyone of us is a PRO for St. John Ambulance when we appear in pu blic in uniform .. and to some extent when we're out of uniform too. For rightly or wrongly people judge by what they see and hear. How else can the casual observer assess anything? Would you bother further about something that did not instantly attract you by its appearance? It's the wrapper that only too often sells the goods!
But the quickest an d most effective way of communicating with the public is through the medi a-the national and provincial press radio and television. And this is what PR is all about, helping the news media to help us. If we at headquarters and all the voluntary Brigade PROs up and down the country do not feed the press with achievement stories and ideas for feature articles, only the less desirable news is likely to get into the papers, and even that may be inaccurate simply because of a failure by us to provide the press with information.
Needs stressing
A fundamental fact that needs stressing over and over again in all SJ PR is that those who carry out the work of St. John are unpaid volunteers, and that the Brigade (which gives so much in the way of public duties and is therefore most known to the man-in-the-street) is not a part of the National Health Service , so relies solely on voluntary public support, both financially and in terms of service.
Public relations which makes an impact on the media also raises morale , especially in the Brigade, and stimulates recrui ting
Those most closely connected with Brigade duties are often so familiar with their work that they tend to regard it as commonplace and of no special interest to anyone else. Whereas those of us
involved in public relations must always try to stand back a little, to look at the incident or occasion from an outsider's point of view and then if it seems not entirely commonplace to find an inter· esting way of projecting it to the public
This is particularly true of those situat· ions when acciden ts occur or when service is courageous. Then every opportunity should be seized to inform the press, television and radio, so thai through them the public is made aware 01 the vital services St. John contributes to the daily life of the community.
News releases
In recent months the Public Relatiom Department has issued a considerable amount of information to the new media. News releases have dealt with sud diverse subjects as Brigade division a' duties at the Royal Wedding in Londo n t he Order's Annual Report, whi cl reflected a year of striking progress; SI John Air Wing operations; major natio na first-aid competitions; awards for gall· antry in Northern Ireland and elsewhere investitures and visits of distinguish ec personalities from overseas.
At the beginning of the football seas or a brief feature entitled 'St. John Behi nc the Touchline' was widely distributed IC the provincial press. This emphasi ed tJlt quiet and dedic ated work of St Joh r volunteers not only 'behind the touc h line' at football matches but in virtually al situations where crowds gather an C accidents can happen.
The response to this feature fron feature editors and columnists was ma s, encouraging and many provincial news papers, in co-operation with countl headquarters , ran fealure articles on th. Brigade's work. Even more gratifyinf perhaps was the response from local rad i( stations on this theme.
The Director of Public Relations a Grosvenor Crescent is anxious to devel ol and maintain the closest possible worki Oi relationship with Brigade PROs in tIl. counties. Many county PROs came I:
London at the time of the Pre sidents' Conference last Octob er, so they were invited to Jom a public relations sy mposium on the day following the conference. This proved highly stimulating and it is hoped that similar meetings can be arrange d in future, at least on an annual basis.
Ideas
Successful pu blic relations in any context thrives on good internal co mmunications and the continuous interchange of ideas. The Order PRO in London will en d eavour to send county PROs copies of most press releases, some of which may be of interest to local newspapers throughout the counties. And , likewise loc ally inspired l1ews and feature material may well lend its e lf to spec ial treatment for the national news media and magazines
Geoffrey Meek and John Lockett are available at HQ to assist county PROs in their efforts to gain the widest an d most news coverage and to develop pubhc relations proje cts.
In addition to press relations the PUbl ic Relations Department , its Exlllb.itions Officer Mr. 'Nobby' Clark, orgal11ses exhibitiqns and d isplays at a
variety of public events, such as agricultural shows , up and down the country. It produces the Order 's and some of the Brigade and Association's literature, brochures and posters, and is also responsible for the production of films on the work of the Order and its foundations. During the past year the department has produced a new three-minute appeal film which will soon be shown in cinemas throughout the country. Collection box es will be rattling in cine ma foyers after each performance of the film, but it co uld also provide Brigade county PRO s with an opportunity to tell local newspaper editors about the film - and local Brigade activities
Yet another function of the dep artment is the monthly production of our magazine the S t. John Review, under the editorship of Frank D riscoll. Now that the new Public R elations Department of St. John has been established its telephones seem to be constantly ringing and mail is flowing in as more and more people and organisations want to know about our activities. And , significantly, a large proportion of these enquiries come from school-teachers and children, which seems to indicate that adventurous youth has now found the greatest adventure and challenge of all - serving their fellow men.
This space is reserved for a monthly PR column as back-up to the annual symposium. A column of PR news and ideas - from HQ and throughout the world of St. John.
Director of Public Relations - Sqn. Ldr. Geoffrey Meek
Says the Order's new Public Relations Department at HQ
Public Relations Officer - John Lockett
THANKS
A note handed in at a bank during December and passed to the Order reads: 'Re your appeal 1970/7l. Please receive the sum of £175 to help your cause - save d up in my life-time. Yours sincerely'
To the lady, a Serving Sister from Weston-super-Mare , Somerset - thanks.
HOME, SWEET . ..
An article in the October 1973 Which ? called Keeping Children Safe from poisoning focuses some so bering home accident facts. It states that each year about 25 children under five die as a result of accidentally swallowing me dici nes or household chemicals. Aspirin is the single most common culprit.
25 000 children under five are 'to hospital for actual or suspected poisoning each year. And. if the results of a study of home accidents in Bristol by the Medical Research Division of the Health Education Council are typical of the country as a whole, nearly one in every 100 children under Jive will be involved in this type of accident each year.
Home it seems, is not so cosy after all.
MED CONF 73
Proceedings of the 1973 conference have been published and a copy has been forwarded to each county secretary; those who attended the conference have been sent a copy of the publication but spare copies are available (free) from the Medical Secretary at London headquarters.
written
AROUND and ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST. JOHN BY THE EDITOR
her autobiography; it begins 'The reason I am writing this is because my main interest in life has always been the St. John Ambulance Brigade. '
Her interest in nursing goes back to her chi ldhood days and she is fortunate in having been able to fulfil her determination to serve mankin d in many parts of the world - India, Malta, Russia Rhodes , Cyprus and in many countries of Europe.
Mrs. Smellie is still active as a lecturer and President of Stanway Combined Division , Essex, and no Brigade occasion is complete without her infectious enthusiasm.
Her book, which is full of intimate and fascinating tit-bits, will be read with interest by her many friends in the Brigade.
It is entitled The Modern Crusader, and can be obtained price £ 1 including postage (typically, the sales will benefit the Brigade in Essex) from Shippey's Bookshop , 47 Head St., Colchester, Essex.
SPOTLIGHT ON NURSES
I hear that the United Nations Genevabased International Labour Organisation
APPO I NTM ENTS
HQ : Due to a re-arrangement of duties, the Association Branch Assistant Dir ector Generals will in future be described as follows : Mr. Cook (F) - Finance; Mr. Thomas (E) - Education; and Mr. Bellamy ( D) - Dev elopment.
Bucks : Miss Nancy Sale to County Superintendent.
Gloucester: Lt. Col. F. Williamson resigned as 'Dep. Com.
Isle of Wight: Dr. G. L. Way to County Dir ector.
Lanes: Dr. J. V. Dyer to Commissioner NO.7 Area.
N. Ireland : Miss Miller to Dist. Superin tendent.
and the World Health Organisation have been turning their attention of late to 'im prove the conditions of nurses throughout the world'.
To quote from a summary of these organisation's views on nursing in general
Recruiting problems, chronic turn-over of personnel and a high drop-out r ate after a few years' service - these were some of the reasons why the nursing profession was now going through an acute crisis, made even graver by the fact that there had never been such a demand for nurses.
A t the heart of the pro blem were difficult working and living conditions of
SUPPORTERS
nursing personnel.
More than 3,600 , 000 persons in the world are working as nurses, either in hospitals, in the public health field or within the community at large. To the normal nursing services , which are becoming increasingly complex and numerous, can often be added administration tasks and the training of beginners in the profession, without taking into account the educative role of nursing personnel vis-a-vis the public.
At present , the working week of nursing personnel varies between 40 and 54 hours, and sometimes more, depending on the country. But how can one define hours of work when nurses are on call round the clock? Emergency clinics, overtime, night work and the shift system produce various problems. Moreover, the fact that human lives often depend on nursing care places a heavy responsibility on nurses. The resul t is physical exhaustion and nervous tension, which are dangerous both for those who provide the care and for those who receive it.
The economic and social position of nursing personnel in no way corresponds to the growing importance of the role played by the nursing profession in improving the health and well-being of
Market' celebrations the SJA uniform was among the various national costumes and AIM R. Gould had to treat one of the representatives Photo Dennis J. Bussey, 17 High St, Buxton)
the world. The profession, still essentially considered as women's work, undoubtedly suffers from certain types of sex discrimination. It is apparent, for example, in the level of pay. It would be desirable for more men to enter the profession.
Other questions to be discussed at a meeting soon concern the standards and methods of training, control over entry to the profession, social protection, trade union rights and facilities for collective bargaining. The meeting may make proposals for the preparation of international standards for the employment and working conditions of nursing personnel.
GET-TOGETHER
Brackley is one of the more remote places of Northamptonshire and until the reorganisation of the county was not a member of any corps but the divisions
there were attached to county office. In consequence they had little association with other members in the county.
A step towards overcoming this was taken recently by Wellingborough Ambulance Cadet Division when they invited the Brackley boys for a get-together. The combined divisions of 38 cadets took part in an outdoor exercise in which casualties were treated and afterwards at the HQ engaged in tests of skill and knowledge with their hosts. A meal provided by the Welling borough Division brought a successful venture to a close.
SNIFFING DEATH
Sniffing from aerosols is a practice which has contributed to at least two deaths in the last few months.
In Daventry, Northants, a coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure on a young man who was found dead near a
THE TWO FACES OF
(Right) Sgt. Jenny Gordon, of Devon's Bideford Nursing Cadets, when she received her Grand Pr ior's badge in January 1973. (Left) Yes - the same Jenny today, now in the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corp. The Bideford Gordon's are a SJ family - mum is an auxiliary, brothers John and Ian are ambulance members (and in the County ambulance service), and sister Elizabeth is a cadet sergeant soon to qualify for her Grand Prior's badge
MY STORY
Mrs. Elizabeth Smellie MBE has
At Buxton's ( Derbys) recent 'Kommon
tin of anti-perspirant. A pathologist said the propellent gas in the spray caused freezin g in the lung tissues, resulting in d eath fro m lack of oxygen.
At another inquest in London, the coroner was told that two cans of pain relief spray were found near the body of another young man.
A pathologist who gave evidence at the inquest sai d that furniture polish, pain re lief spray an d shoe cleaners all contain the ingre d ients which can cause harm He a dd e d 'The smell of these sprays is very
This is the third case of the sniffin g d eath that I have come across personally in the last year.'
As sniffing could easily become as widesprea d here as it is in the States, it is high time manufacturers added labels warning of the dangers of sniffing aerosols.
- from R OSPA 'S Care in the Home.
BOOKS
Three new publications from the B.M.A. are:Films in Medical Education. A working party pr esents a repo r t in respect of the efficient u se of films in teaching and the pro d uctio n of ed u cationa l fil m £1.50 pl us postage, from Councils & E d uc. Press, 10 Q ueen Anne St., Lon d on W lM 9LD. Medical Films 1973. A cata l ogue of all films in the B.M.A. library together with those receivin g B L. A.T commendation.
£ 1. 00 inc!. postage.
Static D isplays in Medical E d ucation. This report offers infor m atio n an d gui dance in respect of static d isplays an d the use of simple material fo r individual teaching. £1.0 0 incl. postage . Both from D ept. of A/ V Communications, B .M.A. H ouse, T avistock Square, London WC I H 9 JD
THE BONUS YEARS
'The B onus Years' is a new radio series of eleven programmes which will be looking
London District membe r s, headed by the C ommander, Group CaPtain G o don P irie, turned up in force at their HQ recently to say farewell to George Elton Bates, r etiring after 50 years in the Briga d e. Mr. Bates MBE, a Comman d er of the Order, was Superintendent of Holborn Division for 20 years, then on District Staff, and for the last 18 years has averaged 750 hours a year on public duties
Just about to break into the can - can? - And why not? For these six gals of Derby's Matlo ck Combined Division are the first to win Gran d Pr or's badges since the Division was reformed 4 years ago and the first in Matlock for over 25 years. (L to R) D /S upt Mrs C. G Lambley and les g rls: Angela McKenna, Heather Lamble y Alison Shephard, Beverley Elliott, June Da kin and Jill Greenstock. (Photo: Derbyshire Timesl
esteem in which their work is held by the local community.
At least three other St. John members are also included in the list of New Year honours: Mrs. M. C. Lang, for the past 22 years President of the Lowestoft Nursing Division, who was awarded an MBE for her services to the local community; Miss A A Unthank, for many years Principal Superintendent (N) of the Brigade in Hong Kong, who was awarded an MBE for her services to animal welfare (but I know full well that there are countless human animals in Hong Kong whose joyful thanks to her on this occasion will be no less heartfelt than the more silent gratitude of her dumb friends!); and finally, Mr. C. G. Otway, who until 1969 was for many years Superintendent of the Ambleside Combined Division , and who received the BEM for his services to mountain rescue in Westmorland.
Als o May I also, on behalf of all of us in St. John Am bulance , express our delight at sharing in the congratulations and the joy of our two sister organisations, the BRCS and the WRVS , at the signal honours conferre d on two of their leaders Angela Countess of Limerick, doyenne of the BRCS and Chairman of the Standing Commission of the International Red Cross, has been made a member of the Order of Companions of Honour ; and Dame Frances Clode (as she now becomes), Chairman of the WRVS has been created a Dame of the Order of the Br itish Empire.
The ideal shape
at the position of the elderly and the problems which they have to face. The series began on Thursday, January 24, on BBC Radio 3 , medium wave, and can be heard from 7.10 pm to 7.30 pm. It is presented by David Hobman, Director of Age Concern.
GI NCO BI LOBA
If you mentioned Ginco Biloba in most Sf. John circles, writes our correspondent from Northants, it would pro ba bly conjure up visions of some ailment or other that had been thought up by the medical profession. However the Laugh with Dan the first aid man
members of Kettering HQ/K aycee Nursing Division know that it is the Latin name of a tree they have planted in th e grounds of an old peoples' home there Better known as a maiden hair fern tree it is the division's recognition of 'Plant , tree year' and also of its own 75 th anniversary - at least the HQ part of it the Kaycee part of the division bein 1 amalgama ted much more recen tly.
In the presence of Mrs. C. Upton, the Divisional President and members of the division the tree was planted by the oldest Miss Annie Hudson , wil e has served in the division for over 5( years.
The Chief Commander utterly surprised me the other day by referring to me as the inventor of the quadrilateral division! I must confess that I took the remark as a compliment, though I knew it was an undeserved one for I doubt if quadrilateral divi sio ns were ever 'invented' - I think they just 'happened'.
But it set me looking into the growth of this very recent development in the St. John family history which seems to be spreading rapidly with a very considerable measure of success. I ce rtainly remember that at a National Training Conference held at Bristol in 1968, I said that my ideal of the Brigade Division of the future was a combined division to which all members of the local St. John family adults and cadets of both sexes could belong; and I believe that in an 'off the cuff' attempt to explain my meaning I referred to such a division as quadrilateral (I've never ceased to regret the name , but no one has yet co me up with any other, and I'm afraid that it's here to stay!).
And in looking through my back numbers of the Review I see that in a letter published in 1969 T referred to 'my own pipe-dream of the future of the Brigade , in which the basi c unit is a division consisting of four
AT RANDOM
(Cont from page 1)
sections adult ambulance, adult nursing , cadet ambulance and cadet nursing' and continued:
'The Divisional Superintendent (Grade IV) would be the guide, philosopher and friend who had overall charge of the whole division but (ideally) did not run anyone of its sections himself. Each section would be under the charge of a Section Officer (Grade V) , with Assistant Section Officers (Grade VI) if the numbers justified this. The whole division would share the services of one Divisional Surgeon and one Divisional Nursing Officer, and probably also one Secretary and one Treasurer; in large divisions, each of these could have an assistant if necessary. The sections would normally meet and train separately, but would sometimes meet together in various combinations (e.g. both adult sections, both cadet sections, both male sections, both female sections, or even all four sections together) for special occasions when suitable ; they would also work together in the fulfilment of public and other duties
'I am absolutely convinced that , despite any disadvantages that may spring to the fertile minds of objectors this kind of St. John family unit is the shape of things to come, and that when once it has been established it will result in far greater efficiency , far greater harmony, far fewer vacancies in the posts of Divisional Surgeon, Nursing Officer , Secretary and Treasurer and far less leakage at the age of cadet-to-adult promotion.'
The ew Cross Division (London Distri ct) was the first quadrilateral division to be registered as such on January 1 1969; and during the five years that have elapsed since then , the quadrilateral 'infection' has spread with remarkable rapidity. But what really matters is not the official form of registra tion, bu t the harmony, the shared
involvement in serVlce to the community and the close relationship between ambulance and nursing, and between adults and cadets, among all members of the St. John family in one particular town or neighbourhood. It's possible for four separate divisions workin g closely together to be far more effectively united than a single quadrilateral division in which there is disunity; it all depends on local circumstances and local personalities, and it's vitally important that no St. J ohn members or units shoul d feel themselves 'pressurised' into any particular form of registration merely for the sake of conformity. But I'm still as firmly convinced as I was five years ago that , given tactful leadership and the right local conditions, the quadrilateral division is the ideal.
What many people don't realise is that it's now possible (again, given the right conditions and with the Commissioner's approval) for divisions to be combined in any pattern that suits local needsvertically or triangularly, as well as horizontally or quadrilaterally (I hope 1 haven't invented any more ghastly new terms!).
A division can be combined as A & N, or AC & NC, or A & AC, or N & NC, or any combination of three or four of these that the Commissioner approves as suitable. But apart from the harmony and effective working of the family unit, there are four factors of paramount importance in the running of any combined division :
( I) that there should be proper facilities for the various sections to work and train separately, probably far m ore often than they train together ; (2) that divisions which inclu d e members of both sexes must have at least one male and one female executive officer; (3) that a male officer in charge of nursing personnel must hold a nursing certificate and maintain its validity: (4) that a combination of A and N , at either adult or cadet level, must not be to the detriment of the nursing training of the women and girls , but should if possible extend that to the men and boys.
Confrontat ion at HQ
Do we, as a nation, sometimes need to face a crisis in order to restore our sense of values? I'm sure that in normal times we use up far too much heat, l ight, food and all sorts of other commodities that we've got into the habit of wasting simply because they are so plentiful. In times such as the present, we learn to be thankful for the little we ve got, and to value it at its true worth Or so I thought when, walking along a dark corridor on one of our three 'power-less' days last week, I nearly bumped into Miss North carry ing a tea tray to the pan try, preceded by the Chief Staff Officer bearing a candle!
of lines
by Jean Cullinan
OUT ON t h e Mareham R oa d a m ile or so
f r o m Horn cas tl e i n Lincolnshire a
mo torc y c li s t an d h is pillion passe ng er have co rn e t o grief w ith a car. They are flu n g into a d itch - both unc o nscious.
Som eone d ia ls 999 an d , fro m that mo m e n t on, those two Lincol n shire boys have a far better ch ance of living to ride again t h an they woul d have in most other c o un t ies i n B ritain.
T he Police throw the s witches to start life-savi ng action and m ake haste to the scene. T he y ca ll an ambu lance, initiate first aid, keep all safe from passing traffic and keep sightseers out of the way.
Bu t here in Lincolnshire, the Police will
d o so m ething else that is crucial to the surviv al of these two casualties. They will im m e d iately cal! up the nearest general practitioner, wherever he may be, by radiote lephone - and if the doctor is in his car he may well get to the accident seconds before the Police themselves. In the doctor's car is about £80s' worth of equipment especially for emergencies like this - intratracheal tubes, drip sets, oxygen, bags, suckers and so on.
Al! the most capable first aid in the world cannot save a patient whose airway is not effective. But this doctor can intubate and institute the vital resuscitation measures that would
transmitter is needed for the north of the county , where at present the doctors use the direct ambulance frequency; this is so busy with calls between the ambulance men and their stations that it is hard for the doctor to listen for the one call that may be his. For LIVES's fourth transmitter, when they get it , there is a convenient pylon on top of the second highest point in the county at Fulletby just outside Horncastle LIVES would be worth having even if Lin c olnshire were exclusively rural. Agricultural machinery can cause horrific injuries to workers miles from anywhere. Country lanes are hazardous to motorists. But now there is North Sea gas and oil being piped ashore on the coast and related industries are springing up around Grimsby. Humberside is developing refinery and chemical industry and trade through the ports of Grimsby, Immingham and Boston has greatly increased. This has brought heavy lorries flogging their way through the county on roa ds never meant for them In Lincolnshire now, accidents on roads , in factories, on farms and in rural industries can be massive. Heavy lifting and cutting gear is needed and it is important to know where the nearest is This is where t he Fire Service plays such an important part in LIVES. They have such equipment or know where it is.
As Dr. R. Williamson of Horncastle insisted: 'It's the co-ordinating factor that's so important - knowing at an instant where you can get hold of x, y or Z. If they want a doctor, he's just part of the team. It may be that it's cutting equipment that's the most important It's an integrated thing. It's all the services pulling together to improve the existing services.'
otherwise have to wait until the patient reached a casualty department nowadays often miles away - by which time it might be too la teo
The set-up is this. The Police, Fire Service Ambulance Service, all work with local general practioners in an organisation called LIVES Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Services. About 100 doctors , spread over the whole of Lincolnshire. work to a rota system. So far, 90 of thern carry a Pye 70 Pocket phone linked on their own radio network to fOU l transmitters. One is in Dr. Michael Cooper's surgery at Nettleham ne ar Lincoln and covers an area from Lincol n. across to Gainsborough and down to Woodhall Grantham and the fens A second tr'ansmitter is based in a hospital at Boston and covers the fenny southern part of the county right down Norfolk. Both these transmitters belo n! to LIVES They have just got a thi rQ which will take care of two 'blank' areal round Bourne and Stamford A fourt h
Harper
The story of LIVES is a heartening one in these days of big battalions. It is a story of perseverance and resourcefulness on the part of the doctors who launched the scheme and of equally persevering and imaginative effort by the people of Lincolnshire.
About two years ago , Dr. J. R Harper-Smith , single-handed practitioner in the village of Tetford, to the north-east of Horncastle, was turning over in his mind Dr. Kenneth Easton's road accident scheme in the North Riding of Yorkshire.
By COincidence , unknown to him , Dr. C. M. Cooper over at Nettleham near Lincoln was cogitating likewise The two doctors virtually said 'Snap! and joined forces on the doorstep of the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police. They w.rote to every family doctor in Lmcolnshire and got a good response
The Police and the Fire Service were wholeheartedly in favour. Lincolnshire's three local authorities (Lindsey, Kesteven and Holland) were all encouraging T?e doctors then got registered as a chanty and imported a f und-raiser who up the nam e LIVES for the mfant service. An appeal was launched ,
Doctor takes an emerg ency call. The green - and -wh te Medi -flash roof light is held in place
initially for £30,000. Because it was a local charity, it ca u ght the pub lic's imagination. The doctors stumped the county giving lectures. R otary, R ound Table, Women's Institutes and others raised money in all sorts of ways. Lindsey County Council gave an interest-free loan of £5,000 over five years In addition to fund-raising dances and the like, local schools helped with collections and sponsored exercises such as h u sh-ins. The Round Table at Market R asen has a 'Sponsor-a-Doctor' activity and so have some of the schools. Queen Elizabeth Grammar School and Banovallum Secondary School at Horncastle, and Alford Secondary School and Gartree Secondary School at Tattershall make spinal boards for the doctors to carry in their cars.
From the outset, both the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the three local au thorities were willing to allow the ambulance service ' s radio network to be used if the Department of Health and Social Security had no objection.
The DHSS seems not to have c o me well out of this, despite the lip-service its successive masters have always paid to local 'i nvolvement' , 'participation' and the like. First , the Department agreed. Then, just as LIVES was taking delivery
of its first ra d ios, it with d rew its per m ission to use the ambulance frequencies. No reason, it seems, was ever given, and every effort by the d octors to talk things ove r was stone -w alled. F inally, says D r. Harper-S m ith, LI V E S got so desperate that they blew the story to the press, local an d national. L ocal MPs waded in and eve n tually t h e DHSS yielded.
The next thing they want is bleeps. A bleep can be attache d to the P ocket phone so that, if the doctor happens to be somewhere like Woolworth's when he gets . a call he can go out of earshot before he take it. This has important legal implications because, LIVES, though it was started with roa d accidents in mind, is proving invaluable for the emergency in the isolated farmstead. If the message is that Mrs. Brown has taken an overdose, or Miss Smith is having an abortion or Mr. J ones has shot Mrs. J ones, then confidentiality is at risk if the doctor is in a very public place.
Now that LIVES is firmly established and developing further, the DHSS is showing interest. One can only hope that, if the D epartment does take a hand LIVES will remain the vital, and vitalizing, local effort by local people that it is to d ay.
(Reprinted from Nursing Times)
Pye 7 0 Po cket p hone locked into mountin g in doctor 's car
The author in Istanbul
I WAS at the end of six years of study; three years at Cambridge reading English; then three years at London taking medICIne Duri ng a long vacation at Cambridge I had biked through France to see Rom anesque architecture (and a girl in Lyons, who was away with another when I arrived), so I then followed the pilgrimage route to northern Sp ai n. Later I biked to Rome
With stu die s now completed, 1973 wa s to be my last long vacation. So I de ci ded to bike to Jerusalem a trip which would include my three great interests; old pilgrimage routes, Crusader sites, and medicine
I bought a secondhand bik e in London's Petticoat Lane and set off on Jul y 10, crossing from Harwich to the Hook of Holland on the overnight ferry.
The first lOOO miles across Holland Germany and Austria were a wet-weather !log with a series of breakdowns - gear cable, punctures and spokes - and yet I averag ed 75 miles a day over 12 days of riding . By the time 1 reached the Yugo slav border I was exhausted, frustrated from
APilgrim' Way
to Jerusalem
bike failure, and depressed . I arrived in the first Yugoslav town, Cakovec, with another slow puncture, no Yugoslav money , and not a word of the language, Serbo-Croat. But in the deserted town I met two boys who understood English and asked them if they knew of anywhere cheap I could stay the night. Easy, they said, and took me to their home where their parents entertained me as an honoured guest. The next morning the whole family helped with repairing my puncture and I set off again loaded with packages of sandwiches.
After th e cold richness of west Europe , this waS the beginning of the warm hospitality that I found in the east.
The next day I stoppe d at a shop to buy a drink but was told that I would have to drink it at a cafe across the street.
Hearing this, an old woman with a row of gold teeth beckoned me into her garden and indicated that I should sit on a bench while the beer was brought to me. The woman and I could not speak a word to each other. She went into the house and returned with bread and tomatoes, which she presented to me, and coffee which we drank together on the bench. When I got up to leave she pressed a bottle of slivovec into my hand:>, as though parting with a grand son to war.
At Vukov er I was welcomed at the monastery by the monks and sisters and
By JOHN SEDGWICK
stayed the night in a beautiful room overlooking the D anu be.
After reaching Belgr ade I had spoke trouble again, and this time my bike's front wheel became seriously buckled A new wheel was far too expensive to buy , so I had visions of having to a bandon th e trip. But a policemen so lved my problem
He fetched a small wiry man and his son , who without a word to me picked up and carried the crippled machine while I followed , through a maze of back streets to where his wife was selling tomatoes and wa ter-melons ou tside their tiny house. Here the little man set about m) buckled wheel first with an axe and the n by jumping on it For a moment I thought he was mad But soon he had the wheel spin j1ing truly the spokes so tigh t that they sang. No, he didn't want paying - just a beer at a nearby bar. The beel tasted good.
But when we returned to the bicycl e the front tyre was flat. In a tiny shed, b) the light of a candle, with rain nOlI tum bling down overhead, he set about cutting and rejoining the inner tube witt the skill of a surgeon.
It was late at night when he finishe d the job, so he indicated a shed piled wit h rusty bicycles where I could sleep. We at e tomatoes and water-melons for supper
Then he, his son and I slept on the flo Oi of the shed, while his wife and elderl)
mother, who stepped over us to go out to the yard every half hour throughout the night, slept in a doorless compartment behind the shed. I have rarely met people so poor in material things - or so rich in kindness.
When I stayed in monastries I could talk to my hosts in French or Latip But when I stayed with simple people, which was more often, our conversation was restricted to sign language, although r often found that well-known footballers' names were common to us.
On my 15th day in Yugoslavia, near the border of Bulgaria , I paid for my first evening meal. In the restaurant I met a man who said although he couldn't put me up for the night he would arrange for so mewhere for me to sleep. So off we went into the night. Then we ran into a policeman who obviously knew the man and having heard my problem insisted that I stay at the man's house. Which was all rather odd But stay at the man's place I did - a hovel of two rooms adjoining a rubbish dump. In one room slept his mother and an orphan boy they had adopted, and in the other himself and a drunken vaga bond. I slept on the floor in the men's room.
The first problem I found in Bulgaria was that a nod means ' no and a shake of the head means 'yes' rather confusing for the English.
With food such as spicey sausages, strong thin peppers and tomatoes for suppe r and sweet fritters and plum jam for breakfast , thirst could be the traveller's main problem in Bulgaria' s dry and hilly landscape - but along the roadsides and in every village can always be found taps with cool fresh water in abundance. A favourite Bulgarian drink with supper is medjka, a mixture of yellow lemonade and heavy red wine - and a fine drink it is too. For breakfast at a climbers' hostel I had schnapps and sultanas - which kept me pedalling hard all morning.
The roads , which were now very rough and pot-holed, seemed to be climbing continually towards the distant mountains. The roadsides were decorated (if that's the right word) with huge posters depicting strong-jawed men wieldina hammers and strapping women with raised sickles, all staring stolidly into the future. I could have done with a bit of their exaggerated energy to help me up those hills.
Once at the top of the mountain roads made fast time, but wear and tear on tyres soon meant replacing inner tubes . At Provdiv I enquired about new tubes COUldn't get the right size; instead of 27-Inch tubes I bought 28-inch, which I assumed to be l::uger. In fact, they were shorter. than the old ones, but with stretchIng I made them fit.
Now I joined the main road through Bul . g.ana to Turkey, which was heavy with tounst traffic. I frequently met British cars with caravans, their occupants
brewing tea by the roadside; I was always welcomed to join them. In central Bulgaria I had cursed the hill-roads; now I waS bored by the long stretches of dull , flat road, the only relief being the signposts showing the decreasing distance to Istanbul.
The dreary villages through which I now passed were lined with women sitting on the pavements sewing together strings of tobacco leaves, which were then hung against the house fronts to dry
The weather turned wet and miserable and I had a cold. Istanbul, the 2000-mile landmark of my ride , was three easy or two hard days of riding. I decided to make it two days. But before reaching the Turkish border I hit a sticky patchliterally. What I took to be a wet road ahead turned out to be freshly-sprayed tar. And I ran slap into it. I managed to get off the sticky mess onto the roadside gravel without falling, but it was some miles before my wheels ran truly and free of the sticky goo
Once across the border into Turkeyitself a long and tedious affair with officious, pistol-packing customs-men - I met my first camel train, set agaInst a background of minarets rising above the next town.
In Europe the exhaust outlets of lorries are on the off-side of the vehicle but now I suddenly learned that in Tu;key they are on the near-side - and they temporarily suffocate and often bum the poor cyclist as these juggernauts roar past, horns blaring.
For my first night in Turkey I found a very cheap hotel and went to sleep, after leaving my bike locked up in a nearby shop, in a dormitory with six empty beds. But I was awoken early; the other beds now had big bundles stuffed under them and on them grotesquely fat male all snoring loudly With sleep impossible, I went down to a cafe and drank sweet tea and ate quoits of seeded bread until the shop opened and my bike was released.
The last 100 miles to Istanbul, which I covered in a day, was the worst ride of the entire journey. It was along the main road used by traffic from all over Europe converging on Istanbul and its ferries for Asia. Everyone was hell-bent for 'Stambul. I was just sucked along by the inferno of heat, noise and dust - to arrive at the information office at the gates of the city exhausted.
From that point, I didn't know what to do and I didn 't care. I had to sleep - I
The route of John Sedgwick's long ride
A medical student makes the most of his last long vac - by biking
In the Balkans -
for drying Rhodes - the palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of St John
The author arrives at the St. John Ophthalmic Hospital - with the Warden
Dr. Batten and staff members knew that; but I was incapable of making a decision as to where to sleep. I was about to flop down in a chair in the information office when I realised I was answering questions - where I had come from - and how I had come. The next thing I was being led out to a car - a chauffeur I noticed was putting my bike into the car's boot. Then a man joined me in the car, explaining that I was going to a hotel, as a guest of the company. We were then driven at break-neck speed through the teeming city streets. I was led into a hotel, to a room clean and fresh, with a bed, sheets, hot running water, a shower - and peace.
The following 8 days in Istanbul - as a guest of the Turkish Touring Association, of which, I learned, my host was the director - gave me a complete rest, physically and mentally. My host usually took me out to lunch and then showed me various parts of the city during the afternoon. A city fascinating in its contrasts; from priceless riches to extreme poverty; with a philosophy of cleanliness yet permanent squalor; ancient beauty and modern ugliness; cool tranquility in the mosques and fetid chaos in the streets.
I left IS'tanbul by ferry for a delightful
day crossing of the Sea of Marmara , my bicycle in the hold with the cattle.
Landing in Asian Turkey at Canakkal , just north of Troy, I reached the remains of that ancient city the next morning, to be sadly disappointed by the shapeless heap of stones after the excesses of my imaginary Troy kindled by Homer and Shakespeare.
I made a leisurely 45-miles-a-day ride down the eastern seaboard of Turkey, staying 3 days in Izmir, and then boarded a ferry at Marmaris for Rhodes. Boarded, I say; in fact I leapt aboard just before it sailed, having been told by the police that my ticket (bought in Izmir) was for another company's boat which left the next day. After the ferry had left harbour I was summoned to the bridge where the captain said I would have to buy another ticket. I refused, as I couldn't afford it. So the ship was turned back, a boat came alongside, my bicycle was lowered on to it, and I was told to go down to the boat too. Back I was taken to Marmaris.
At the shipping company's office I was told that my 'ticket' was a voucher which I should have exchanged for a ticket at this office before the ship sailed. Eventually everything was sorted ou t and I found myself sleeping the night in an open 25-foot boat. Next morning a small French car was loaded onto the boat, and two Italians and a Swedish woman came aboard. The crew hoisted sail - and off we set for Rhodes.
I spent 5 days in the old city of Rhodes, staying in a cheap hostel run by Mama and Nikos, a man and his wife. There were about 40 people staying in this hostel, where the food was good and plentiful, the atmosphere warm and friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there, mostly spent wandering around the old city which is still so redolent of the days when it was ruled by the Knights of St. John.
From Rhodes I sailed in a very comfortable ship to Cyprus, where I wasn't allowed to land as I had only £5 of the £50 a passenger must have to land; so I stayed aboard ship until we were
ABRITON IN NORWAY
Jack Beaumont hails from Bridlington, Yorkshire, but for the last 20 years he has been livi'1g contently in Norway Married to a Norwegian, and working in a factory, he is a member of the factory first aid unit and the local Rode Kors Hjelpekorps (Red Cross).
He writes: AFTER BEING away from active first aid for so many years I find I have much to learn. Therefore I have a Norwegian
escorted by 2 MTBs into Haifa Harbour the next day
What struck me most about Israel was its western rather than eastern European atmosphere. Not wanting to arrive in Jerusalem as I had at Istanbulexhausted - I accepted a lift to Tel A viv from an American passenger. But from Tel Aviv I rode the last leg of my 2,400 mile trip to Jerusalem . Going up to Jerusalem ' is not I soon learned , a Biblical figure of speech. It is fact. For Jerusalem is 2,500ft higher than Tel Aviv, and the road leading there is hot, very hot, all the way.
The Jerusalem that entered on September 13, two months after leaving London , was not a golden city flowing with milk or honey. It was of skeletons of concrete buildings , vacant windows like orbits of a skull, hitch-hiking soldiers carrying machine guns - for the 1973 Israel-Arab conflict was but a month away.
I made for the Ophthalmic Hospital run by the Order of St John in Britain the main reason for my long bike pilgrimage to Jerusalem. For I had been invited to stay there and study the work of this hospital , which gives ophthalmic treatment to anyone in the area free of charge. Started in Jerusalem in 1882 , the hospital's fine new building at Sheikh J arrah was opened in 1960. The patients, mostly Arab, come from far and wide often travelling by camel, and arriving in the shaded hospital courtyard with their families, friends, and bundle s of goods. With 80 beds and two operating theatres, the hospital has 5 doctors and 6 English nursing sisters among its 32 nurses and orderlies Every year some 5000 eye operations are performed, and 25,000 out-patients are treated.
I spent two weeks observing the work of this happy , relaxed British outpost of service to mankind ; and then , selling my bike for what I paid for it, I flew back to London in 5 hours. My pilgrimage had cost £100, £40 of which was on ferry tickets.
My last long vac was over.
We in the Scandinavian Rod e Kors Hjelp ekorps have recently had a new uniform it is ligh t blue with black beret. Those members living near mountains train in mountain rescue work, while those in towns hold exercises involving railway, vehicle and factory accidents.
The last time I was called out on an exercise it was a co ld winter's evening , pitch dark as on ly Scandinavian nights can be. Living near our IIQ I reported early and was detailed to the first am bulance; we have two ambu lan ces plus two LandRov ers. We were told; 'This is an exercise. There has been a land-slide in the hills. Many people are injured. Take the forest road.'
We set off through falling snow, our heavy winter-tyres making a lot of noise on the slu sh-covered road. As we began to clim b the winding narrow road in to the great pine forests we had to be mor e careful for here the road surface became very slippery. Our vehicle was a glow of ligl)t which opened up the darkn ess with its head-lights. Then a waving torch was seen ahead; we ca me to a slithe ring sto p; each with a coil of rope over his shoulder and a first-aid satche l , ou t we climbed.
That direction ,' the m an shouted. " Follow the foot-prints. Twelve injured. Watch it - it's very slippery.'
Carrying 12 roll e d blankets our party waded through the wet snow of the forest. Eventually we heard ahead the moans and calls for help. Sprawled in all positions on the hillside were the 'casualties'. Then our first aid began
The last time I was calle d out on a non-exercise, the message was: 'Come at once. A boy lost in the forest.'
Again it was a pitch dark night. I donned rubber boots and took a staff for probing into forest pools. Lots of woollen clothes under my working uniform. A strong belt, attached to it a 6in-bladed hunting knife to mak e a splint or a stretcher from tree branches. And an extra: a packet of honey-drops (he'll like those).
I will always remember that search At the edge of the dark forest I whispered to companion: 'Seems hopeless In this.' With the leading members using we moved into the forest in hne, probing pools, under boulders, The 3-year-old boy had been mlssmg for two hours . The search had to be thorough.
In 1 hour 57 minut es we found the tot, exhauste d a nd asl eep in a sort of foxhole,
Mr. B eaumont, who will b e vlsztzng Manchester, Bridlingt on, London and Southampton during the last three weeks of July 1974, would very much like to participate in a SJA exercise while in Britain. His address is Loavegen 15, 3900 - Porsgrunn, Norway.
manual on my desk in the factory and one in my car. I also have a British first aid manual, 1923 edition, by my bedside , so I thought it sensible to ask your HQ if I might have a more up-to-date edition. True to St. John traditions , your Stores Manager extended a helping hand across the cold North Sea by sending me the latest edition.
Having also received the Review I thought readers might like to hear of our
a c k Beaumont, an ex - RAF man
training, which in winter is often carried out in deep snow with 20 degrees of frost.
Becau se of the density and vastness of our forests members of the Hjelpekorps must be. able to use map s and compass. he IS expected to keep physically fit. take care of this by each su mmer taking Norwegian ath letic badge which Inclu?es jumping, 'cycling, thrOWIng, SWImming and ski-ing. One is expected to be able to ski and make a stretche r on an extra pair of skis.
(Right) A girl from the korps on a summer exercise Below)
A k orps sk party mak ng for the mountains
Three of the vehi cles owned by Jack's K orps
COMPETITIONS
from Bruce M. Coltman, Area Staff Officer
With reference to A/S/O J. E. Smith 's letter on Competitions (Dec. Review), may I as the officer who defended the national services at the conference referred to reitterate my reply given at Nottingham, and develop the theme with information found after careful research?
Like many other keen competitive first aiders, I too used to be under the misguided impression that teams representing the police, fire service and other national services were paid to compete on behalf of their respective service. This illusion was quickly dispelled when joined one of the national services and found that in my conditions of service were the requirements that:
1) I obtained the Bronze Medallion of the Royal Life Saving Society.
2) I obtained the Basic Adult First Aid Certificate of the St. John Ambulance Association.
In addition to this I was required to undergo a comprehensive training course.
I checked through my contract and found no mention of payment for holding such a certificate. I queried this and was politely informed, 'You just get one. If you don t you could get the sack.' This may sound severe and over-dramatised, but one of my intake was dismissed from the service for failing to obtain a first-aid certificate. He was regarded as unsuitable
This regulation still applies to the police, though now , due to manpower shortages, refresher training is not carried out i n many forces unless there is some major new development.
I am informed by a friend in the fire service that all trainee firemen are required to meet a similar regulation ; in fact should they ever wish to be considered for promotion one of the first things they have to produce is either a current first-aid certificate or a St. John Bronze Medallion which is s till issued.
My enquiries with the NCB revealed that miners like to h ave a first aid certificate, 'just in case'! They too , however , have .to possess such certificates should they ever wish to apply for semor positions underground.
Having set out the requirements of the P!Ofes.slOns mentioned, let us now consider the actual competltlye fust ald.
All first-aid competitions are governed by one main rule : that each mem ber of the team is the holder of a current first-aid certificate; who the certificate is issued by is immaterial, though we would hope St. John.
Every national service has a nation a l first aid championship, as do we in St. John. It is therefore only natural that the heads of these services will encourage their staff to be good at first aid. However this encouragement is not always as good as it sounds, and in some cases reaches no more than a pat on the back.
Within the police service, training of teams varies from force to force and is only for force-recognised competitions, ie the police regional and national championships. For these mem.bers are allowed to train while on duty This does however qUlte often cause considerable disruption of the officer's normal working pattern When at training sessions they are duty standby,. as they are at competitions. No extra payment IS made for dOl.ng such work, nor are they paid on results. All they generally recelve is their bus fares.
This situation would appear to be the same in the other national services. Wh ere this 'professional' tag has come from I don't know.
I wonder if the person who originally raised this question has ever thought how many of these 'professionals' are also mem bers of St. John divisions and represent their division in St. John competitions? I know of many such people. They not only represent their division at competitions, but they also. go out and train what we could call the opposition No professlOnal ill the true sense of the word would be likely to do that.
Until recently I was a member of a Police St. John team, with members scattered all over Northumberland. Our No. 4 lived one mile from the Scottish borde'!' and travelled 56 miles to a meeting , trained for I Y2 hours, travelled home again and went to work a
READERS VIEWS
local police force. In previous years a selection of policemen from all parts of D orset have attended a fortnight.'s traJning at a.l?cal army HQ and virtually ate, slept and drank fIrst-aid competitIOns for the two weeks.
The St. J ohn newcomers soon lose heart when they see a lice team winning every competition in the area Don't think I'm ;aOying they aren't good first-aiders, but so could all of us be if we had this type of training.
A recent classic example is a policewomen's team which recently started from scratch with the only experienced mem ber taking the No. 1 position. After a period of intensified training, they came second in an area police competition and won a local competition against teams recognised as potential winners.
Readers' views and opinions, which should be sent to the Editor, although published are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor or the Order of St. John and its Foundations. Although readers may sign published letters with a pen -name, writers must supply their name and address to the editor.
Also when these 'professional' teams take part in the D ewar Shield competition at county level , surely (out of respect and they are meant to be closed divisions) they should wear their St. John uniforms? That is, if they possess them. To show there is no malice between us and our friends of the local constabulary, we loaned a uniform to one of their team members in order that they could compete in the Regional competitions, and were surprised to find that they had won the uniform cup .
I expect readers are now saying that their local 'professional' teams take their uniforms out of polythene and moth balls and therefore very rarely fail to take the uniform trophy!
I wonder if these 'professional' teams would be such consistent winners of this trophy if they had to stand on a grass track course in pouring rain and then treat a rider in the middle of the course?
I would like to say, however, that we have several friends in the police force and are very thankful for the help they give us throughout the year. We are looking forward to competing against them during 1974.
Poole, D orset C. A. Gale
few hour s later. When as a t ea m we were doing well, traini m sess ions were held twice a week - in our own time and, believe or not at our own expense.
is a team of colliery workers from a village II
ALWAYS HAVE A GO
from Lt. Co1. R. B . Robinson , County Staff Officer , Cadets I have just read with interest Mr. Harvey's delightful article,
mid-Northumberland who travel all over the North and th: Midlands every Saturd ay when there is a competition arrangea
They hire a bus and take along their friends. This is all done a their own expense and in their own time, for I know that thl NCB is not able to give them any support.
I could go on for volumes on this subject but will sum up. n men of the national services are required to hold first-a il certificates in order to co mply with their terms of employment
Very few, if any, receive payments for this.
Th e only advantage they may h ave is that virtually every dal they have to give first aid in real life. It is this extra 'practice' th d makes them excel - not remuneration. The answer, therefore , that everyone who is keen on first aid s hould join the natiom services! On the competition floor m embers of such services dl have disadvantages , but that is another story:
Once and for all, let u s banish this moan about th professionals in competition work. Ther e is no place and no nee for it.
Remember why we are in St. John - to serve m ankind.
I should like to thank those who supported my views • Nottingham , especially Wg.Cdr. T. Fazan, the officer from th London Fire Service , and also the many members of my servl C who enjoy being St. John first-aiders.
Newcastle on Tyn e Bru ce M. Coltma Edit: Next month we hope to publish an article on Iii Northumberland Colliery Division referred to by Mr. Coltman.
from C. A. Gale Divisional Superintendent
With referen ce to J. E. Smith 's letter Competitions (D e Review) I mu st say 1 hav e always had a bee in my bonnet ab o' the professionals t aking part in S t. John first- a competitions and would lik e to endorse Mr. Smith's flf paragraph.
In Dorset we are lucky in only having to co mp ete agalllst t
reprinted from The Nursing Times, on prison camp surgery (Dec. Review). Re aders may be interested in another example ofsurgery under difficulties which I came across, I am happy to say, second hand.
In Janu ary 1948 I came home from India and Pakistan and among my companions on the journey was a colonel of the Indian Army who had been a prisoner of the Japanese on the notorious Burma-Siam railway. For the benefit of those too young to know this was a project on which the Japanese employed prisoners by forced labour, and treated them as entirely expendable material. Nothing whatever was done to preserve their health and the loss of life was appalling.
One medical trouble was 'jungle so res ', which afflicted our troops on both sides of the front. They were due, I believe, to climate and malnutrition, and they were very persistent even among men receiving medical care. Among the prisoners this affliction assumed much more severe proportions and it was not unusual for gangrene to develop, with fatal results.
There were of course doctors among the prisoners but they had absolutely no drugs, instruments or facilities. One of them eventually decided that he must attempt amputation of the leg in cases which were sure to be fatal otherwise. Incredibly, he did this using as his instrument a piece of broken glass! No anaesthetics, of course.
H e lost his first few patients, but then had a success and, thus encouraged, began operating rather earlier in the progress of the disease, naturally with more frequent success. I have no wish to 'cap' Mr. Harvey's story of the marvellous work he and his team obviously did, but I believe this to be an astonishing example of what can be done in even the most unfavourable circumstances. I remember the name of my informant but never knew who the doctor was, nor whether he survived or his work was adequately recognised. I have always advocated proper attention to le arning improvised first aid, without the accepted equipment. Perhaps this story will encourage people to 'have a go' when everything appears to be against it.
Pewsey, Wilts. R B R obinson
JOINT EXERCISE
- ambulance service, hospital and SJA
Kingston upon Thames Am bulance Division, the only SJ unit which operates as an integrated part of the London Am bulance Service on an agency basis, recently took part in an exercise with the LAS and Kingston Hospital - excellent practice for our boys
The call out to a power station involved 3 buses in a simulated crash with over 50 casualities. Kingston DiVision sent 3 ambulances its first acting as reporting vehicle until the arrival of the LAS incident officer.
Kingston Hospital sent a medical team and acted as reception for casualties
At the incident (L to R) A Kingston Hospital staff nurse, AIMs T. Seakins and P. Rooney and a LAS Member
NEWS from SCOTLAND
GLASGOW
T H E ST. JOHN (Glasgow) Housing
Association, which under the enthusiastic chair m anship of Mr. Matthew Taylor has been planning protected housing for the el d erly, has now the satisfaction of seeing its goal in sight. The foundation stone of the first block of flats was laid by Lord Rowallan on November 20. The building is now rising and had there been no economic crisis with its accompanying restrictions 26 flats in Partickhill would have been occupied by late 1974. As things are, it is still hoped the schedule will be met and the commIttee IS encouraged by all the help and cooperation it has had from concerned in Glasgow CorporatIon s committees and departments. It · should be remembered that this is the first project of its kind in Glasgow. It surely will not be the last , particularly as there are already those within the Ord er who are pressing for a second scheme.
Aberdeen
On November 24 over three hundred members of the Order and their guests attended a special investiture held at Haddo House , the home of the Marquess of Aberdeen and Tem air, the Pri o r of Scotland. The service in the private chapel , conducted by the Rev P H R. Mackay, was followed by a
and then by the investiture. The following wer e invested.
wie
Elizabeth, Mrs. Camp bell
BOOKS
Which? Slimming Guide: The Consumers Assoc. Buckingham St London WC2N 60S.
On e is tempted to say of this wide and painstaking review of the whole problem of slimming 'Abandon hope all ye who enter here' for the truth must be told forthrightly: there is no easy way to slim. It is perhaps unfair for a doctor to review this most excellent treatise on the diffi cult project of l osing weight, because most doctors, and certain l y all physiologically minded doctors, know
accomplished by reduction in the intake of food, and unfortunately all the ni.ce sweet tasting foods, all the favounte dishes, are the ones which add inches to the hips alm ost over night.
To which may be added the demon drink: gin, whisky, vodka, beer.
Name your drink. It is brimful of calories.
The late Oliv er Hardy was heard to say on one occasion 'I only have to look at a glass of whisky and I put on weight'. Sadly, he was right.
Some time ago, General Horrocks gave a TV series of talks on battles in the Second World War including the Ardennes campaign of 1944-45. He was later parodied by a knowing wit who said 'If you want to win the Battle of the Bulge (indicating his abdomen) you must
cut off supplies' (both hands round throat).
This revised publication by the Consumers Association will help those who want to reduce weight by will power and discipline, but it will not help the wishful shrinker.
J.S .B.
First Aid books
SJ A's range of books on first aid and its teaching is continually being widened. Today, there is availab l e at very low cost published material for nearly everyone, from the age of seven to seventy.
For example, First Steps in First Aid is written for school children between the ages of eight and ten. The book First Aid Questions and Answers has been produced to link up with the First Aid
ST. JOHN'S WORT
AMONG my treasures is some St. John's Wort which I found growing on the North Downs some fifty years ago and pressed in one of my cuttings books.
Emma Honeyman , Mrs. Cochrane
Catherine Agn e , Miss Greig
Christine Crawford, Mr s Leggat
Janet Homall. Mrs Mc Guckin
Catherine Murray Rennie, Mrs. Pender
Evelyn Mary, Mrs. Ramsey Moira Rose , Mrs. Smith
Presented as Esquire
Andrew David Gordon (Pef'onal Esquir e the Prior)
Roy Hew Dun can Montgomerie (Perso n, Esquire to J. A. Montgomerie, The Duector c Ceremonies).
Through the passage of time it has turned brown and the leaves have shrivelled and look like tabacco. The flowers have disappeared, but the stems and branches have remained intact.
When the wort was picked the flowers were bright yellow and numerous, clustered at the ends of short side branches and the stems, making a handsome head of bloom.
The petals were marked with black dots. The sepals, slightly coherent at the base, had black glandular dots on the margin. The leaves were without stalks, oblong and about half-an-inch long, growing in pairs on alternate sides of the stems and branches. They had oil glands which when held up to the light appeared as translucent hole-like dots or perforations.
The stems are straight, two edged, woody and slender, branching at the Upper part only and growing to a height of one to two feet.
that fat comes from food and nowh e' else. This unpalatable statement is ech ol and repeated on page after page.
There is no easy way to slim.
Neither special diets nor pills n tablets nor vitamin supplements n, special starch free foods will reduce waist line. Exotic machine s, s auna bal t special exercises or health farms on reduce the owner's bank balance not I or her waist line
The unfortunate truth is th reduction in body weight can only
Those connected with the Order and its foundations will be familiar with the of the flower and leaf , as they are lI1corporated in the design of many badges and insignia. The Grand Prior's Badge, illustrated in the Cadet Record BOOk, which is handed to a cadet on enrol m ent, is a good example. The flower on the reverse side of the Life Saving Medal of the Order is perhaps more correct in detail; and there is the lesserknOwn B rigade service certificate emblem, to mention but three.
Manual.
An artist who specialises in painting flowers kindly prepared the illustration shown here of the wild variety of St. John's Wort.
If you refer to St. John 's Wort in a gardening encyclopaedia no doubt it will read 'See H ypericum', the name given to the St. John Wort family which occurs in most parts of the world. The name Hypericum is derived from Yperikon of Dioxorides, one of the earliest Greek botanists.
Although there is only one British genus it has several species , of which four are shrubs and eleven are herbs. On e which is very common in gardens is Hypericum Calcycinum, a trailing shrub. This has large terminal flowers an d is sometimes known as Aaron's Beard on account of its numerous long slender stamens.
The common St. John's Wort is called Hy p eric urn Perforatum because of apparent perforations on the leaves already described. It grows wild on downland, in woods and hedgerows in our countryside.
On the Continen t an d in Wales the plants of the St. John family were regarded as a charm against storms, and for this reason they were hung in windows on St. John's Day.
At one time the wort was thought to have medicinal properties, but not so today. It may be that St. John's Wort was so named because it came into flower about the time of the Feast of S t. John. There was an ancient tradition that it grew in St. John the Baptist 's hair.
News from Divisions/Centres
REVI EW CROSSWORD No 2 (74) Compiled by W. A. Potter
ACROSS:
1. Spectacular natural feature in a disease of the eye. (8). 5. Soothing powder produced by incorporating copper in malt mixture. (6). 9. No longer continuing conservative dental treatment. (8). 10. Absorbent surgical swab has current unit in large weight. (6). 12 Juice supplying Vitamin C to children of Ulster? (6). 14. Heavy tumour? (4). 15. Leader with ten steers the boat. (3). 17. Despondent due to cardiac hypertrophy? 5-7 21. Involuntary passage of urine and faeces. (12). 24 Doctor is returning shortly for fish. (3). 25. Those manning the ambulance. (4). 26. Unusual axe and appendages of an organ. (6).28. Re st or change the duty rota. (6). 29. Large gland secreting digestive ferments. (8). 31. Founder of modern surgery begins schedule with hesitation. (6). 32. Emotionally induced disturbance without organic cause. (8).
DOWN:
1. Squint or purgative oil. (6). 2. Chopped carrot within the cannula.(6). 3. Tear up the epitaph. (3). 4. Unable to lean. (4). 6. A mother's apple in the throat. (5). 7. Vital parameter of respiratory efficiency. (8). 8 Carbon compound gravely impairing oxygen-carrying ability of blood. (8) II. Dismiss the one taking the moriey. (7). 13. Looking sick with envy? (5) 16. A cavity editor kept-away from. (7). 18. Formed a luminous path between the conductors from Dacre. (5). 19. Six damaged sclera of abdominal organs. (8). 20. Metabolic disorder characterised by smell of new-mown hay in breath. (8). 22. Just a thin layer to give a good appearance. (6). 23. Sickly feeling when Anne gets in a bad way about us (6). 25. Bandage giving firm, even support when correctly applied. (5). 27. Suffering from giddiness after a visit to Hampton Court? (4). 30. Style for laceration. (3).
Rear - Admiral J. D. Try thall , Deputy Commissioner for SJA Somers et, presents Corpora l Arthur Pinder with the fifth bar to his 40 -year service medal Mr Pinder, a Westonian,
When
Nursing in Action
AO\
Often (-' I an elderly person just doesn't get enough to eat. Sometimes she's too depressed to face food or loses interest in cooking proper meals. Other times she's too tired to bother. Or perhaps she can't afford more than a limited range of convenience foods. And the result: undernourishment-Without " proper food she can't qe bothered to get things done. She can't sleep properly at night. She feels despondent and low. And before e knows it she's in the' Downward Spiral. You can hel by recommending :Complan. Complan is a milk balanced food tnat's just right for an elderly it's easy to makie, tasty and very gentle on delic'ate , digestions. It'contains all the vitamins , proteins and minerals t'o give her the nourishment sHe:needs. I ' I Complan is good value too - one cup;takes the place of a light meal of 250 caloriesyet costs only about 5p.
When you learn medicine with us you don't do it on your own.
In the Royal Navy medical training is organi s ed on an individual basis.
You work in a spaciou s , efficient , w ell-run naval training hospital. And your tea c her . and in s truct o r s ha ve the time and facilitie s to give yo u indi vidual tuition.
If you are a young man with at lea st fo ur ' 0' level s you could train with us to be a M edical T ec hnician. You would be given a co mprehen sive s peciali s t threeyear course that would, for example, make you a State Registered Nur se, a Regi s tered Mental Nur se, or a Radiographer.
Promotion can take you to Chief Petty Officer and a salary of over £2650 a year. And there are opp o rtunities for a commis sion.
Alternatively, you can join u s as a Medi cal As sis tant and train to be a naval doctor's right hand man. The money's good. You can earn £25.69 a week at 17i· And, if you wish, we will help you get the neces s ary '0' levels to become a Medical Technician. Medical Assistants are encouraged to become T e chnician s and many do. Why shouldn't you?
Find out what a avy medical career can offer you . Any experience you have could give yo u a leg up the ladder. And, if you're already qualified, yo u could co me straight in as a Medical Technician. 1-------------------1
CAN YOU GET THE REVIEW ]
No Doctor at Sea by Captain R A. Wilson p.2
Injuries to the Spinal Cord by R. A. Elson p.4
The laughing boys of Lynemouth by Bodydoktor p.7
Around and About by the Editor p.8
PR -Chat p.12
Rail crash p.12
Chest Injuries by Dennis Clark p. 1 4
Let's look to the future, part 2 p.16
Readers' Views p.18
News from Scotland - Wales p.20
N. Ireland p.2 1
News from Divisions/Centres p.22
Books p.24
s t c opies of the Revi e w from their r e tail er Retail newsagents and the wholesaler s from whom they ord er are I'm sure very bu s y people , and although they obtain th e usual trade discount on orders for the Review and hen ce we get only about 8p a c opy - not all of th e m are prepared to make mu c h effort for small order s. And of cour se, the Review offic e cann o t be re s ponsible for any order n ol placed dir e ctly with R e view Sal es I know it c o s t s a little more to order direct from us (£.1.70 a year against £.1.44 through a r e tailer) but b) ordering dire c you have a 24-hour phon e service (exc epl when I go away for a break s ome we e kends) ready to d eal with complaints. So for an extra 26p a y e ar, I am at th e end of a telephone contracted to deliver you 12 copies of the Review each year. Or get bulk orders to St. Joh n units in Britain at lOp a c opy in c luding p o sta ge And if that isn t a 26p bargain , I don't know what is Th e Edit or
ORDER FROM: Review Sales , St. John Am bulan c e HQ 1 Grosvenor Cres c en t London SW I X 7 EF
EDITORIAL
Edited and produced for the Order of St. John by Driscoll PrOductions 26 Pembroke Gardens London W86HU (01-6038512). Frank Driscoll.' ,
ADVERTISEMENTS
Dennis W Mayes Ltd.
F.
'All in a good cause,' thinks Area Superin endent R J. Martin, getting the 'treatment' from parents at Melton Mowbray Cadet Division's parent evening.
(Photo : G. Musson)
AT RANDOM
by Watkin W. Williams
TWO ST. JOHN MEMBERS from Glamorgan , Miss Christine Herbert (a member of the Treharris Nursing Division and a qualified teacher by profession) and Mr. Desmond Kitto (Divisional Superintendent of the Abercynon Ambulance Cadet Division) , found that whenever a group of officers of cadet divisions met at a training course and began to discuss their own particular problems , the arne two questions cropped up with unfailing regularity: (l) How can one keep cadet interested in the voluntary work of the Brigade when life is so full of other interests to distract them? (2) If one manages to retain cadets till they reach the age for promotion to the adult division, how does one persuade them to take this step? So they decided to conduct an 'opinion poll' of the cadets themselves, and with help and support from the Priory for Wale they distributed a questionnaire to a wide range of cadet divisions throughout the United Kingdom The volume of response was encouraging and the an wers showed that many cadets had given deep and careful thought to the questions asked.
I am extremely grateful to Miss Herbert and Mr. Kitto for allowing me to summarise and comment on the more important re ult of their survey, in the hope that it may be of help to us all: (a) 96 % definitely supported the view that as cadets they had an important part to play in the life of the community. Maybe this was to be expected, since the question was asked of chjldren who were already cadets; but it at lea t howed that they had a strong faith in the purpo e for which they belonged to st. John. (b) The majority considered that their chief role in the community was to do public duties: one cadet commented that 'by giving such service it show that youth really do care and are not a self-centred and
(continued on p.ll)
Deputy Comm issioner -in- Chief
No doclor alsea
Few merchant ships carry a doctor; what happens when a medical emergency develops 1000 miles from land?
by Captain R. A. Wilson.
SOME YEARS AGO Ri char d Gordon wrote a humorous novel called Doctor at Sea which in time became a comedy film. Since these two events took place I have discovered that most people who live away from the sea and seafarers have the idea that all sea captains look like James Robertson Justi ce and that every ship carries a doctor. This is not the case. Captains come in all shapes and sizes, and only about 15 % of the British merchant fleet carries a qualified doctor.
How then does the crew of a ship without a doctor, often a thousand or m ore miles from the nearest hospital, cope with medical emergencies and the everyday ills and accidents whi ch befall the human race?
The captain of a ship is responsible for the health of his crew, but in practice he often delegates his authority to one of his senior officers usually the First Offi cer or the Pur ser. All British ships are equipped with a well-stocked dispensary, and a hospital with one or two beds and its own bathroom. The only text-book carried is called 'The Ship Captain's Medical Guide published by HMSO.
The scale of drugs , medicines, medical supplies and equipment to be carried is worked out by a team of medical experts who advise the Department of Trade and Industry who in turn ensure that these are placed on board every Briti sh merchant ship. The Ship Captain's Medical Guide is much more than a first-aid manual. It gives detailed instructions for treatment of a wide range of disorder s, from a broken shoulder to typhoid fever, from smallpox to childbirth.
The instructions on making bandages, on nursing techniques and on the treatment of minor illnesses, are masterpieces of commonsense. The explanation given of more complicated disorders are clear and concise, and the Guide is extremely precise in indicating
The author, who commands a 27,000 -ton container ship, is at present thousands of miles from the shores of Britain. We wish him bon voyage - and a healthy crew - for he is the ship's medico
the seriousness of any particular condition and pointing out when it is absolutely necessary to seek professional medical aid.
Even with this excellent book the Captain cannot in all circumstances replace the doctor. The need still arises for expert medical advice when the ship is hundreds of miles from land. In an emergency the Captain can seek medical advice by radio. Several organisations stand ready to give such advice. Every ship carrying a doctor will give it, and any shore radio station monitoring the air ways will relay it to the nearest doctor or medical centre. One of the best known of the organised services is the Centro I nternazionale R adio-Medico in Rom e. This can be reached from any part of th e world on short-wave frequencies. R adio appeals for medical advice or assistance are if possi ble made on the radio telephone with the Captain talking directly to the doctor , but often distance and atmospheric conditions make it preferable to use the Morse Code. The medical section of th{t Int ernational Code of Signals enables the ship's Captain to give detailed information and request advice from any doctor regardles s of language barriers.
For example, a message might be sent from a Briti sh ship in the Pa cific to a Japane se doctor in Tokyo. [t reads MAA MAJ31 MGJ MGM MDL, and will be quickly decoded to read, I request urgent medical advice. I hav e a male aged 3 I years. P atient has swallowed corrosive (staining and burning of mouth and lips).
Emetic has been given without go o results Pain is se vere .' With sue information the doctor can make h diagnosis with so me precision and give h advice with a certain degree of assuran c, which the local radio s tation will before sending the reply to the ship.
All ships carry a variety ( medicaments and instruments and tl former are repleni s hed periodically " their potency wears off or as the degenerate. A special locker containing the dangerous drugs , such as morphin e. securely locked and the key held by t Captain. Medicine s range from salt tabl e for use in tropical climes and oil of clm practical demonstration in all aspects of as an anaesthetic in case of toothache medical treatment at sea. At t he end of tetracycline tablets , as a broad spectru the co urse, they mu st pa ss an antibiotic and Whitfields ointment examination before they arc allowed to treatment of ringworm. co mplete their own professional
In struments range from Spencer We' Certificate of Com pet ncy for promotion forceps to hypodermic needles, ar to higher rank. appliances from splints to sutures ar With an increasing num ber of wives suspensory bandages. Under the heading and children being carried on ships a general medical equipment are fou r Captain must a lso be well versed in items ranging from a sterilizer to safe' female disorder s including the pins and including microscopic slidl comp li cations of pregnancy and temperature charts and insectic paediatrics. (Although in my experience [ aerosols. have found the wives to be 100 % fitter
Normally at seat the Captain or than their husbands). deputy opens the dispensary aft Another aspect of the ea ptain 's breakfast each day and deals with I medical responsibilities is hygiene on everyday ailments of the ship's compan ?oard ship. He must make regular Cough mixture for the B osun, aspirin ar of all living spaces on board embrocation for aches and pains. Eal Including cabins, bathrooms crew member has his own medical rec o' galleys and storerooms.' He also card, and any comp laint or injury lI1spects all the food held on board carefully recorded together with I paYing particular attention to treatment prescribed and the pati en condition of perishable foods. Also he progress to recovery. First aid cabin! keeps an eye on food preparation in the are fitted in the galley and eng in e rO galley to ensure that working urfaces are to deal with minor cuts burns and sca li potles Iy clean and cooking utensils are which occur much often in (h clean and in good order. Yet another asp t' areas f ec IS to ensure tllat the galley staff are
All deck officers now have to unde r: fee from skin infections ancl infe c ted a week's course of medical training cuts on their hands, and that their various centres in the seaports of Brit a overa ll s, aprons, cooking cloths etc are This consists of highly intensive ;f cha nged each day "
The que tion of vermin con trol also is an aspect of hygi ene on ships, although nowadays with the sop histicated pest-control methods it is no longer a problem. Every ix month s the ship is inspected in port by a pest co ntrol officer who l ooks for evidence of rats, mice, cockroaches, a nd weevil If he finds any ign of s u ch und esirab le he will give order for the s hip to be fumigated. In the interv eni ng months between these in spect ion s, the Captain will keep a careful watch for any signs of vermin which may board the vessel in port or when ailing close to the lan d He ha s in his medical supplies ufficient in ecticides and poison to deal with any infestations before they become an estab li s hed community. Whil t in port, rat guards are fitted to all the ropes leading fro111 ship to shore, and all garbage bin s are ecurely co ve red.
At every port of call in the world, the Captain i required to produce to the Port Medical Officer a Bill of He a lth This is a form with a number of question on it regarding previous ports of call , the health of the crew during the voyage, and if he has any sickness on board at the presen t time. In some pons, the Medical Officer will in ist on in specti ng each member of the crew, but it is more c llstomary to accept the Captain's
statement that all his crew are healthy and that there have been no infectious di eases or serious illnesses during the voyage. If an infectious disease is present on board when a ship enters the port, the ship is taken to a q uaran tine anchorage, away from the main port, and is isolated with no contact with the shore until the outbreak is over and all infect;d persons cured, or removed to the isolation hospital ashore
In conclusion I would like to point 01..1 t that in the course of a normal voyage we encounter very few medical problems which we are not able to deal with ourselves. If we do, help is available by radio and if any ship with a doctor on board is in the vicinity they are always prepared to rendezvous with our ship and either transfer the patient to their own ship, or send their do c tor acros to our ship to advise the Captain on the best treatment for the patient until the ship reaches her next port of call. We do not need to remove an appendix with a blunt penknife nor amputate a limb with a butcher 's saw. Our aims are to give as much aid to the patient as possi ble and to get him to a doctor or hospital as quickly as circumstances permit.
( Reprint e d f r om CONTACT, SJA Croydon Centre)
Another ex ample where good first aid can p r event an already serious condition becom ing a disaster
Iquries to the spinal cord
by R A. Elson , MB, F R CS
SEVERE INJURIES in which the spinal column may have been damaged provide yet another example where good first aid tart prevent an already serious condition from becoming a complete disaster. In this article , I shall d"iscuss aspects of closed injury to the vertebral column, as opposed to open injuries such as are due to gunshot wounds.
U ndou btedly, one of the worst mishaps which can befall anyone involved in an accident is damage to his spinal cord, for reasons simple to understand; if the spinal cord is transected (which means completely divided) the part of the body which derives its nervous supply from below the level of the damage becomes completely cut off from the normal controlling influences above. For example, the lower lim bs will be isolated from the central nervous system and the person is unable to con trol them. Worse , the part of the spinal cord below the level of the damage may begin a new sort of isolated activity and cause the lower limbs to move independently of will; this may cause them to assume abnormal positions making lying in bed or sitting in a chair difficult.
Another result of the spinal cor d injury is loss of sensation. This is so serious because in the normal person pain is an important warning sign to the individual that some part of his body is in danger. If for example we expose ourselves to the warmth of an ordinary domestic fire , and get too close to it, the warmth sensation becomes painful and naturally we shift. If the person has been rob bed of his normal sensation he does not shift away from the danger and burns may ensue of which he is totally unaware until he sees the damage.
It is for this reason again that people with spinal cord injuries with consequent loss 0 f sensation quickly develo p bed sores when confined to bed. Normal
12 T HORACIC VE RTEBRAE
urine is stagnant sooner or later it becomes infected and then the kidne ys become involved as well. The usual cause of death is poorly treated patients with spina l cord injuries and infection of the kidneys.
In the complete spinal cord transection (division) there is no chance of recovery. The spinal cord make s efforts to join up again but it is such a complicated structure that the nerves never manage to collect together properly and such recovery tha t does occur is complete ly useless from a functional point of view. It is true that the majorit y of spinal cord injuries are incomplete and that in such cases some recovery ca n be expected, a very important fact for the patient to know.
Never discuss with a patient th e possibility of spinal cord damage, only reassure him.
5 WMBAR VER TEBRAE
SACRUM
Fig 1 The vertebral column
people move about when lying in bed, even during sleep, for lying in one position for any length of time becom es uncomfortable due to pressure.
Finally , very serio u s as far as life is concerned the lo ss of nervous control over bladder and bowel function results in these organs not properly emptying . The patient has no de sire to pa ss water and the bladder gradually di sten ds Whenever
Similarly, it is pointed out on severa l occasions in the manual, any person who might h ave damage to the vertebral co lumn which cou ld lead to damage of the spina l cord shou Id like wise be trea ted with extreme care and the means of transport of such patients should be practised assiduously by all first-aid groupS.
So m etimes, the circumstances in which the patient is found may make it very difficult to extricate him safely, Thus , for example, in a mining incident where heavy machinery is involved , or in a road traffic accident in which a subject may be trapped in a car, special techniques may be necessary and any groups of first-aiders who serve in such difficult circumstances should be quite clear what measures can be used to move injured people safely
When people speak of spinal injuries they usually think of the lower part of the pine the lum bar region but the cervical region is just as commonly involved, especially from road accidents. Another source of injury in the cervical region occurs in older people who because of frailty, tend to fall more frequently
For the purposes of understanding the best management of spinal injuries, a simple classification may be of use:
1. S pina l injury in the unconscious patient
Any unconscious patient must have received a blow to the head if trauma was the cause of his unconsciousness. I t follows that a blow to the head can be associated with an injury to the neck; if the patient is unconscious he will not have any pain or other protective symptom which would otherwise be apparent to the first-aider.
In Fig. 1, the spinal cord is seen from the side. If the injury occurs in the cervica region the whole of the patient's body is likely to be cut off from the controlling influence of the brain. Th IS con diti on is ca ll ed tetraplegia. If the damage is below the level of the first thoracic vertebrae on ly the lower limbs will be severely affected and this condition is calle d paraplegia.
Tetraplegia and paraplegia can be complete, in which case there is litt le cha n ce of recovery, or in com plete, in which case some recovery can occur Some incomplete transections present al first as if they were comp lete and in such cases there is a very good chance of some recovery which may be useful to the patient.
Clearly, any patient who presents with a spina l cor d injury shou ld be treated ex tremely carefu lly because of the possibility of some recovery. Rough treatment might be just sufficient to co mplete the transection of the cord
Accordingly , it follows that any head injury patient in whom un consciousness conti nu es must be treated a having an inj ury to the cervical spine. This treatment will continue until the patient is handed over to medical care and usually an X-ray of the cervical spine is routinely taken in the unconscious in order to rule out any fracture of the vertebrae which might lead to, or be already associated with an injury to the cervical spinal cord,
2. S pina inju ry in the consc io us patient
For first-aid purpo e any patient who comp lain s of pain in the neck or his back follow ing an acciden t hould be regarded as having a potential pinal cord injury. It IS remarkable that patients who have a comp lete spina l cord injury a r e often COn:p letely unaw are of the gravity of their sit uation.
Thi s unawarene ss extends even to their ans wering simple questions lik e 'Can you
Lumbar ve rtebrae seen from the front. A fracture has occu rred due to the patient being violently bent forwards and twiste d at the same time If the fracture displaces due to rough handling during first aid, it may slip as shown (right)
ROTATION .-- FOR CE
LINE OF - F RA CTURE
ROTATI O f':{ FORCE
F ig.4
The same as Fig_ 3 but seen from the side
move your leg?' in the affirmative, although in fact they cannot do so. Th ere have been cases, even in hospitals, where a patient's leg or hand is touched and the questioner ays 'Can you feel me?' The answer i 'Yes , I can feel you.' If, on the other hand, the patient is made to clo e his eyes and then you say t o him 'Tell me when I touch you' it will be quickly apparent that he ha no awareness of touch if his pinal cord has been divided
These unfortunate patients cannot believe that they cannot feel. There are instances where on being shown their own hand they refuse for a long time to believe that it is their limb They feel as if they can move the leg and believe that they are doing so.
lt is not for the first-aider to try to make the diagnosis of a spinal cord
inj ury. He must assume the worst until it has been proved. On the other hand, it is not his job to discuss with the patient the dangers or worries that he may be feeling about the condition. At all times the instruction Reassure ' should be adhered to. Any reassurance i valuable to the seriously injured person.
Another way of classifying is the following:
A ) S ta bl e vertebra l in j ur y
This means tha there has been some ort of damage to the vertebral column but provided it is not ubjected to undue further strain it is in a stable situation and the cor d is not seriously threatened, It is een in people who fall heavily from a height thereby compressing some of the bodies of the lumbar vertebrae, (Fig. 2).
Fig 2 An impacted fracture of the body of a lumbar vertebrae seen from the side. (a wedge fracture )
Fig, 3
FRAC T URED P ROCES SE S
Injuries to the spinal cord (contd.)
Here the vertebral body has been compressed and the little fragments so crea ted jammed firmly toge ther. It is a sort of impacted fracture and it will be s table. Because the vertebral body becomes wedge shaped instead of the normal rectangular shape, this fracture is called a wedge fracture. The diagno sis cannot be made without X-r ay examination - all that the first-aider can decide is that the patient ha s a vertebral injury (because he has pain in his back) and treat him appropriately, ca refully
Bl Unstable vertebral fracture
I n Fig. 3 so me lumbar vertebrae are seen from in front. The lumbar spine in this injury ha s been s ubjected to a twisting force as might occur t o a miner who was crouched and subjected to the severe force of a falling rock on one of his shou l ders. As well as being bent forward forcibly he would also be twi s ted and this combination of twi s ting and forward flexion is particularly dangerou s to th e lum bar vertebrae
Fig. 4 shows thi s fracture from the side and it ca n be seen that any rough handling of the s ubje ct co uld lead to the vertebral body sliding forwards, thereby damaging the spinal cord. It is this sort of situation which the first-aider s hould envisage and it is the reason for sayi ng that all cases of potential spinal injury must be treated as if having un s ta ble fractures.
Later , in hospital after an X-r ay, it may be possible to see that the situation is stable, ' in which case so me relax atio n in the care of movement will be permissible. A final classifica tion , of no importance a t the first-aid stage of the si tua tio n , bu of enormous importance to the future management of the patient is whether or not the transection of the cord i s complete. [ n an injury in which the cervical vertebrae are su bj ected to a very large applied force, which "may happen when somebody is involved in a car accident , is precipitated through the w indscreen, and lands vertically on the top of his head, one of the bodie s of the cervical vertebrae may literally explode. OUTLINE
Fig 5
The explosion o r bursting fra cture seen in vio ent comp re ssions of the cervical spine
The laughing boys of Lynemouth
BY BODYDOKTOR (an old rival)
Fig .6
Bending the neck backwards in an old person can produce the narrowing of the spinal canal shown here, and parti ally d amage the co rd COMPRESSED INTERSPINOUS LIG AM ENT
Fig.7
Rolling the patient with a suspected neck or back injury 'in one piece'
The force of this explosion of bone is suffi c ient to completely tran sect the s pinal co rd. This is sho wn in Fig. 5.
In co ntr ast, an injury which may be seen in an old person who falls forwards , s trike s hi s face so that the cervica s pine is acutely bent backwards ; the vertebral ca nal wherein the spina l cord runs , is sharply narrowed as a result of this bending of the neck and it is s uffi cie nt to cause a partial transection of th e s pinal cor d ( F i g. 6).
The golden rul e is: When ever a spinal cord injury is possible, always treat
acco rdingl y. In general, provided oth el injuries permit, it is safe t o move the patient provided he s kept in one piec e. This is mo st easily achieved by rolliIl1 h im, ensuring that the head , ned s hould e r s and trunk are a ll kept in linl (Fig. 7). At least two people af necessary, preferably three. By from side to si d e, s ling s or a tretch e' ca nvas can be put under him safel)
The reafter, ordinary lifting is sarI pr ovi ded the sa me care to keep hi s hea d n eck and trunk in their normal po sture I! taken
THE LYNEMOUTH COLLIERY Divi sion
first-aid t eam m ay not mean a lot to many of us, bu t in the orth -E ast they have become known 3S the mobile group of co medi ans who not only set high sights in co mpetition s but often get there too!
In early 1971, when this team started to travel around the competitions of Northumberland a nd Durham they were not too s u ccessf ul bu t they certa inly knew how to make everyone forget competition nerves! Team member
Tommy Manner s (the one with the slightly less hair) would stan d up immediately after the draw and annou n ce his ver sion of the final resul t. Everyone would laugh but th e funny thing wa s he wa s usually righ t!
Tommy Th o rnton the team captain who has a rolling Northumbri a n accent to li s e n to and re a lly puts feeling mto the test s.
At one time the te am u se d to finish third in competitions to the Great Den e & Chapter and the orthum berl an d Constabulary Divisions , but then they s tarted to take a leaf out o f th ei r victors' books and also to trav e l further afield for practice.
By 1972 these ambitious boys had become a team to wa ch and none wer e more proud of them than their old rivals. For they were a t ea m tha t w as n't to have a g o a nd to travel long distances (at their own expense) to competitions.
They even drew on their old rivals for Ideas. Everything's fair in love and war " On one occasion for instance th " ey arranged for a le c ture on Chapter 14, Procedure at Road Accidents. A a motor patrol officer, I gave this talk , and POured out all the hints , tips and trade s,ecre t s; nothing wa s pared. Seven days later I was in a team whi c h competed against Lynemouth and the test wa s a road accident. We coppers were a dead cert.ainty for that test bread and butter s tuff for us. So we confidently sat back and watched Lynemouth start
performing. Soon wished I hadn't wa tched, for those s relived Chapter 14 to the letter. Of co ur se they won and we 10 t; but sti ll, they're a grand bunch of lad s.
But 1972 was also a tragi c year for the Lynem outh team when their trainer s uddenl y died But sti ll they rose to the occasion by starti ng a memorial competition in honour of their late trainer. The entry for thi competition in the first year was limited , but in 1973 _6 team s entered from as far afield as Dalkeith in Scotland , to Sheffield and Nottingham in the sou th
The Lynemouth team had a very good 1973 too, taking the cou nty a nd regional s hield s and many other trophies from other areas. They even g ot to the ational Finals , finishing 5th_
But fame has not turned these lads' h e ad s. They re sti ll a happy group who do competition first aid w it h a se n e of humour and comradeship regardle s of wh o win s. The best of luck to em!
(A bove Laughing all the way to pr ize -giving, with their present trainer Sister Anne Dodd the team (I to r) Ralph Smart, Jimmy King Tommy Thornton John Hindaugh and Tommy Manners ( Below) The two Tommys Manners and Thornton, with the 1973 booty
Mr. F. W. Murkin, awarded the MBE, is SJA Somerset's County Staff Officer (Training)
Congratulations to the following, whose names (in addition to those recorded in AT RANDOM last month) appeared in the New Year Honours :
KCVO: Sir Ivison Macadam (member of St. John Council and formerly Foundation President , Norfolk).
MBE: Lt.-Col. H. Essex Lewis (formerly Commissioner , County of Bristol) , for pu blic services in Bristol. Mr. C. N. P acke tt (Corps President, Bradford, Yorks, and a generous donor to the library of the Order) for services to National Savings in Br a dford district.
BEM: Messrs Albert and H arry Hom ewood, who are brothers and ambulance members of Eastbourne Am bulance Division, for their services as joint head porters at St. Mary's H ospital, Eastbourne.
WELFARE CUP
We weren't inundated with essays for the
AROUND and ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST, JOHN
BY THE EDITOR
Welfare Cup co mpetition which closed for entries on J anuary 31, but those re ceive d proved very u seful and of an excellent standard. The prize winners are: 1st prize: Dr. E. Perkin s, County Superintendent (N), Su ssex' 2nd prize : Mrs. J Lorenz, of Newport, Pembrokeshire.
Highly commended : Mr. D Downs, Corporal, of Hull N.W. Combined Divi sion, ER Yorks ; and Mrs 1. R ickleton, Divi sio nal Superintendent , Newcastle-upon- Tyne, UNUSUAL
The Central Synagogue in London 's Great Portland Street was the setting of an unusual service on Janu a ry 2 0 , I hear.
It was the service of re dedication held to mark the 75 th anniversary of the formation of SJA 's East London' s No. 30 Division. Some two hundred people , including uniformed Brigade memb ers with relatives and friends to support them, were present. Lt. Col. Robert
TRIER, JOAN
APPOINTMENTS
Headquarters: owing to pressure of other commitments Colone Clowes has had to r esig n his membership of the F.I.C.
Ards: Prof essor H. W, Rodg ers
OBE , FRCS resigned as Commandery Surgeon N. Birnie to be Commissioner Belfast Area.
Dr. G. W. D onaldson resigned as Commissioner Down Area.
Cornwall : R. J. Bray to Comm. Eastern Area. Vice T. Fox to County Staff.
Dor set : A. Hud son and F H H ouse to Area Commissioners.
Gloucester: Lt Col. H. G. Beard to be Commissioner Forest of Dean Area
North Riding : Dr. H. G Bowes has resigned as County Surgeon from 31 March.
Surrey, Hersham Division's Mrs Joan Ogde n didn't give up when she dropped her bat at an SJA riotous rounders match during 1973, (left) and now (below) in 1974 she re ceives her NCO stripes from County Superintenden Mrs C Tremlett with Area Comm D Hender son
Pay n e JP Depu ty Commissioner, represented the Commissioner of London Di str ict. Also p resen t were Eastern Area's Commissioner, Bob Bax , Eric M. Stitcher, Vi ce- Pr esi d e nt and the superintendent of No. 3 0 , Sidney Cane.
[n a moving address, R a bbi C. Shine said it wa s the third time he had officiated at such a service, and he consi d ered it very appropriate to have a service of rededication because the concept of consecration and rededication was particularly appropria te for St. J ohn Ambulan ce. He sai d that while a synagog u e or a church wac; the same as any o th er building, what defined it is the fact that it is dedicated and consecrated to a n ideal. So it is with St. J ohn Ambulance, an organisation which has a great imp act on society.
He r e m ind ed the assembly that J osep h sai d ' 1 a m seeking my brethren' which has been translated a 'through my fellow man I find God'; one can find God on l y through service to ones fellow-man and the very act of serving, irrespective of colo ur or creed is a form of worship. Th ese ideals in accord with J ewish
UNUSUAL
tradition - to love God and to love our fellow man - the service given by the members of St. John is in acco rd with the highest Jewish tradition as it is also with ideals of St. John Ambulance.
'The Hebrew word 'NA T AN' is spelt the same ','-, hether it is read backwards or forwards to show that whatever we giveie in terms of effort, charity, ideals, etccomes back to u s in the betterment of life both to our neighbour an d society as a whole '.
Rabbi Shine conclu ded by hoping that St. John Ambulance in general, and the East London District in particular, would continue to grow, to bring benefits to the Jewi s h community, to S t J ohn Ambulance , and to all mankind
KEEPING WARM
I hear that Holborn (Combined) Divi sion
WIGAN'S BEST
cadet is 1 5-years-old Teresa Barton, a cadet for two years, who won the rene Redford cup recently. (Photo: The Wigan Observer)
has raise d funds to buy dressing gowns, and a Hoover spinarinse to launder them, for the 12 elderly ladies in the small geriatric ward of the Gt. Ormond Street Hom oeopathic Hospital.
At an informal ceremony held at the hospital during D ecember (see photo), the Mayor of Camden , Cllr. Richard Collins, who is joint president of the divi sion, handed over the gifts to Miss Maria Phillip s, Senior Nursing Officer, and Mr. A. C. Young, the Group secretary.
MO COME HOME
Kingston Ambulance Division has brought back Mo a Morris ambulance registration number MHO 738, which it first owned new in 1954. (See photo)
A/M Tom Seakins, who is interested in vehicle preservation, heard that Mo was
Mo ( eft) is back at Kingston Divi sion again. See story MO COMES HOME
selfish as they are sometimes labelled'. Whil e it's encouraging that they should be really doing these duties and aware of their importance , one would have liked to have seen greater stress laid on various forms of welfare work (among the elderly and the very young for example) and on the value of cadet training in equipping them in all sorts of ways as better citizens (at school at work, in all their relationships and not least, in their homes).
(c) 72 % felt that there were more 'duties to be performed in their local community than they could cover with their present numbers, and that from this point of view alone they needed more recruits
AT RANDOM
(Cont. from page 1)
due to be replaced by a neighbouring division, so permis s ion was given by London District to purchase the vehicl e for preservation and to restore it to former livery and lettering.
Gradually, equipment is being found to bring the vehicle back to 1954 emergency vehicle standards , and although it is used mainly at veteran vehicles rallies , Mo is still occasionall y used as a first-aid post when it carries th e necessary modern equipment.
Within a month of this private purchase, and a new coat of paint hardly dry, Mo was entered in the rally at the New Addington carnival procession in addition to being No. 3 first-aid po st.
Two months later, and still with a great deal of work to be done Mo was made ready for the Trans-Pennine rally from Manchester to Harrogate, a round trip of 500 miles But a few day s before the rall y it was found that the engine core plugs were leaking water, and a frantic sear ch was made for the almost obsolete plugs But they were found, so with a fully stocked tool box, and enough am bulance equipment borrowed to bring it up to a higher standard, the round trip was successfully made.
Mo is once more 'stationed' at Kingston along with 215 Division ' s [our duty vehicles, a clear reminder of just how much am bulance designs and size have changed in the 19 years that Mo ha s been in use. Her speedometer reads over 66,000 miles, but - as with some other elderly ladies - she doesn't admit to how many times she's been round the clock
YOUR REVIEW
With production and postal delay s affecting the whole country at present , I'm sorry if the Review doesn t reach yOU as soon as you expect. We are doing all we can to ensure prompt delivery.
(d) 64 % considered that their c ad e programme was attract ive enough to encourage increased membership , while 36 % did not. Of those who did not quite a number in widely dispersed divisions held that St John work was essentially vocational and that its attraction w as therefore bound to be limited. Others said that they wanted the opportunity to carry out more practical work in the community (i.e. to be gOing out and DOING, not just listening, watching and rehearsing and oh how important it is to remember this!)
Others again comparing their cadet training programmes with the teaching facilities available in their schools, pleaded for a greater u s e of visual aids and films , and for more guest speakers (important points, these, and I don't want to undervalue them so long as we remem ber that they are of secondary importance to 'going ou t and doing')
(e) There was a general view that cadet work , even when presented in an attractive and interesting way , received too little publicity. The community know s too little about what St. John members do: so completely are we accepted as part of the background of life that we would only become 'news if we suddenly ceased to be there! Cadets evidently feel the need to tell other members of the community of the types of work they perform and of how they are ab l e to help. And several of those who wanted to encourage more publicity made it clear that they thought this depended largely on the quality of their l eaders
(f) A particularly widespread comment was on the need for a greater social life among cadets - not with a view to reducing their efficiency or the amount of time spent on training and duties, but as an additional means of becoming more fully involved in what I have so often described a s the St. John family, not least at the time When they are due to be promoted to adu lt membership.
despising or undervaluing the splendid devotion to the service of mankind shown by divisions that for years have struggled on , week in, week out, using as their HQ a hired or borrowed hall or room (sometimes even an attic or cellar) which is available to them only for one or two hours a week, often cramped for training purposes, with no adequate place to store their equipment, restricted by caretakers' regulations and the need to put everything away during the last few minutes of each meeting, and with no facilities for so cial activities or for having their own furniture, pictures, charts and other little bits and pieces that would make the place feel like home. For a start, that's better than not having anywhere to meet at all. But for a permanence, St. John deserves something better than that ; our members deserve something better than that; the community expects of us something better than that, and will help us to get it if we go the right way to enlist their support.
The
question
The two organisers of this survey end their rcport by expressing the hope that it may help adult mem bers to become fully aware - if they are not alreadyl - of the two problem-questions mentioned at the outset, and to induce them to take steps to solve them. And , most important of all, they hope that it may help officers and mem bers of adult divisions to extend the hand of friendship to cadets earlier, so that when the moment comes for their promotion it will seem less of an ordeal. And they end by quoting some advice from Mr. J. P Harries (Chief Training Officer for Wales) in his introduction to the Welsh Handbook for District/County and Divisional Officers (Cadets):
' As grown-ups we must always remem ber that this organisation is only ours in so far as we identify ourselves with the cadets in helping th e m to run their own show. It is possible to get so busy and keen about it all, going to conferences and training courses, that we may get the thing in the wrong perspective. This may be particularly s o when problems crop up, as they surely will, and at such times it will be well to ask ourselves the question "How will this affect the cadets?" and in that light should the decision be made.'
A home
At the risk of tressing the obvious , may [ say that I felt that the results of this interesting urvey came as a logically appropriate follow-up to my remark last month about combined and quadrilateral divisions - including the reminder that the spirit of mutual involvement and co-operation is far important than the letr e r of any parti c ular variety of offi c ial registration
And this brings me to a further point. I hope I han't be thought guilty of
Of course this isn t easy - maybe impossible - for a single small division. But for a combined or quadrilateral division (or four separately registered divisions in the same place), supported by the active help of presidents, auxiliaries and parents' committees, it's not on ly possible but essential.
I should personally like to see every St. John division that hasn't already got its own HQ make 'A Place Of Our O wn' its target for attainment by our centenary in 1977 - a 'home that's used not just once a week , but every day (often including weekends) four nights a week for training the various sections, and on other nights for social activities, special training courses, dramatics, or whatever else the members of the 'family' decide that they want to do from time to time.
And its use needn t be restricted to evenings only, for by day it can be a godsend to the welfare of the local community, providing opportunities for creches , children's play-groups an d 'over sixty cl ub s', all of them sponsored by St. John Ambulance in the service of mankind.
One last practical suggestion. When the building is being planned , make sure that the plans are vetted by someone with the experience and imagination to know what is really needed Besides the main hall , at least one or two small rooms for groups to practise in (one of them fitted as a bedroom for nursing training); a committee room ; a well-fitted store room ; a kitchen with serving-hatch and a sink for kitchen use 0111.1' ; loos for both sexes , with a wash-basin in each; and a separate sink, right J.way from the kitchen , for washing sotled and infected ma terials Too many olherwise good S t. John HQ that I've cen have only one ink in the whole building, and that's in the kitchen: unhygienic , to say the leJ. t!
The Mayor and Mayoress of Camden (right) hand over gifts to Miss Ph illips, with Mr. Alfred Saltiel, Div/Supt Holborn Division See story KEEPING WARM
SJ 0'1 TV
Mrs. P. Minshull, Area Staff Officer, of Clacton-on -Sea Essex, writes: 1 have just been watching a programme on TV with my children entitled 'On Tour with the Osmonds'.
Apart from the good publicity for the Brigade in Manche ter, my family roared with laughter at one sequence. Ambulance men were carrying limp, fainting girls to the first-aid station, on the door of which in enormous letters was 0 PASS-OUTS!
At our own ga me! London District SE Area's monthly Gazette, says: The Review has had a contribution from South Eastern Area nearly every month over the past year, and we are trying to keep up this excellent record. An article entitled An Area Publicity Machine has gone out from the Area publicity committee and has been pu blished in the January Review under the names of two of its mem bers, Messrs. Taylor and Pallett. It describes how this Area has been organising its publicity during the last three years, with the object of giving a few tips to those who haven't got an organisation going yet, and don't quite know where to start. You may feel this is rather a dangerous thing to do - once you start telling other
people how to do things, they soon turn round and beat you at your own game
So we'll have to be doubly enthusiastic about publicity from now on! An article by Mrs. N E. Phillips about Cablevision publicity also appeared in that issue to make a double-page spread.
New posters
These eight new 3-colour posters are now available from the Supplies Department, St. John's Gate. They depict the Brigade in action, photographs of actual recent incidents.
Their aim and general concept is to aid fund raising, recruitment and the general promotion of all St. John activities. Two of them (far right) are blank, to use your own photographs or overprint local activities and events of the Association and Brigade.
The posters are available in two sizes, 22Y2 inch by 6'l'2 inch, 5p each , and ll -Y.! inch by 8 inch, 2p each, plus packing and postage. When ordering , quote order num bers shown against posters.
Let's use these new posters throughout every town and village in the country. From time to time the series will be revised, so send your photographs to the Review for publication and maybe one of them will be featured in the next poster campaign.
Rail Crash!
What do we do? asked the voice on the phone
The 'phone rang at 6.l0pm on Wednesday, December 19 1973, while I was waiting for my dinner. It was Jack Seath, a member of my Division, 85 (Ealing) Ambulance Division, and he told me he had just heard that there had been a train crash at West Ealing. What should he do?
My immediate reaction was that it was probab ly a small incident that wou l d be q uick l y cleared, so I told ] ack to do nothing until he heard from me. I had to
get facts, so 'phoned Ealing Police Station. The Duty Sergeant told me the situation seemed serious so we agreed I would bring mem bers of my Division to a state of readiness at Ealing Headquarters, Priory Hall. At first, I was confused. There was so much to think about uniform, members, equipment, inform a senior officer. I told my mother to phone all members and tell them to report to Priory Hall fast! I grabbed my tunic
and cap and drove the 14-mile to Priory Hall, where I spoke to the caretaker , Mrs Clarke, who is Divisional Officer of the Nursing Cadet Division.
She t a d met hat the A rea Commissioner, Dr. C. J. P. Seccombe , wanted someone to go to the scene and find out wha t help was required I decided the best action would be to take the mobile unit and a small force. We quickly put extra tretchers and blanke:s on the unit and made re:.Jdy
Arrangements were made for the .,ursing cadets to be sent home when tr..:y arrived for their meeting, and of us departed for the scene c.:raven Avenue W.13.
The scene of the c lash was only Y2-mile from Priory Hall and we arrived at 6.ISpm (half-ar,-hour after the accident)
I reported the London Am bulance Service control centre (Blue Major) and had a quick discussion.
The situation was confused and it wa s
not known how many people were still in the train. It was agreed that the three nursing personnel with us, who included Nursing Officer Sheila Fenton SR should go and assist at the nearby Edward Hospital, while the rest of us should be ready to assist where necessary.
I for a message to be ent to Pnory Hall for mem bers to be directed to the scene as they reported and for the Area Commissioner to be kept informed.
The first request came: blankets were urgently needed by the Fire Brigade on the track. We quickly sent thirty blankets to them. We were then summoned to 3 I Craven Avenue, where we treated some of the passengers with minor injuries As they arrived, other Brigade members sent to deal with ca ualties until the arrival of the medical teams.
Once the medical team were set up and working we withdrew from the actual scene to await further instructions. The One thing we had to ensure was that we
were not in the way - yet at hand if required. Some members were sent back to P riory Hall via the hospital where a few stayed to assist with non-medical problems of tea and equipment. Those left on the scene helped fetch and carry equipment. We all left the area at 10.30pm.
Some 25 Brigade members were directly involved in the incident, while others were held in reserve. Those at the scene came from Ealing and neigh bouring D vis ion s, and inc Iud e d De pu ty Commissioner Derek Fenton MBE, who was passing near the scene at the time of the crash.
About 20 cases were treated at the cene by Brigade mem bers, a well a assisting medical and nursing teams at King Edward Ho pita!. Most of the cases had head and facial injuries re ulting from glass and debris.
This incident at Ealing was relatively
small, with most casualties cleared within an hour. At this type of incident the role played by Brigade members is relative ly minor as the Statutory Services are able to cope. If, however, the incident produces more · casualties then the importance of the trained first-aider has greater significance, although to be effective he needs to be on the scene quickly. Effective communications between the incident, the hospital and an assem bly point are also important, because one must be ab l e to direct assistance to where it is needed and also to stop it when no longer required. I dentification is be t achieved by wearing fluorescent jackets with the white St. John cross.
It is interesting to note that the majority of members involved were in the 20 to 25 years age group.
Leonard W. Sheen Divisional Officer
(Large)
(Large) S.15360, (Small) S.15460
(Large) S. 15320, (Small) S.15420
(Large) 5.15330, (Small) S.15430
(Large) S.15310, (Small) S.15410
Chest Injuries
What recent first-aid books have to say on the subject
by DENNIS CLARK,MBE, FRCS
UNITL five or six years ago first-aiders of St. John had been brought up to consider chest injuries in terms of simple or complicated fractured rib s and possibly a sucking wound of the chest.
The terms were easy. A simple fracture was one with local pain caused by direct or indirect violence to the chest and a complicated fracture was one with lung injury (when blood was being coughed up) or with liver or spLeen injury, when the signs of internal haemorrhage would be found. Even a sucking wound of the chest was simply managed in the nineteenth impression of the first edition of 'First Aid'.
At that time the arguments went to and fro on the merits of the order of the application of the two broad bandages across the chest in an uncomplicated ri b fracture. In the eighteenth impression of 'First Aid' the upper bandage was advised to be applied first and in the nineteenth the lower. Little did one expect that within two years all text books wouLd accept the comment of the Canadian 'Fundamentals of First Aid ' that 'There is no effective means of First Aid splinting for this injury '. Supportive treatment became the order of the day. The second edition of ' First Aid ' and 'The Essentials of First Aid ' favoured an arm sling, this was followed by 'The Anatomy of Firs t Aid' and 'The A.B .C. Television Hand book'. 'Fundamentals' suggests a stretcher and the 'New Essential First Aid (Gardner and Roylance , Pan Book No. X646) was concerned with posturaL support. The two Laller books included complicated fractures , penetrating wounds and crush injuries in their consideration of treatment though neither explained the special severity of crush injuries. The third edition of 'First Aid' Manual does so under the headings of 'Chest Injuries and 'Stove in Chest'.
Complicated
first aid diagnosis of lung complications rest is only mentioned in the third edition and Like other text books in connection with penetrating wounds of the chest. The lung co mplic ations of a fractured rib due to dir ect injury not amounting to a stove-in chest nor associated with a penetrating wound are not made clear, even though in these cases air and blood ca n escape into the pleural space. All text books emphasise the danger of penetrating wounds a nd the urgent need to seal the hole particularly in the case where air can be heard to suck in and out of the wound. They vary in the means used to do it, but the subject is well covered both in 'The Essentials of First Aid' and in the third edition of the
'First Aid Manual'.
Consideration of stove-in chest wa s an introduction into the second edition of 'First Aid' and 'The Essentials of First Aid' and is well described in the 'Third Edition'. These books all recognise the importance of damage to the chest wall which is the support and airtight container for the lungs This most important point was ignored altogether by the Canadian 'Fundamenta ls of Fir st Aid', yet Pro ctor and L ondon in thei r book Prin cip l es of First Aid' (written for doctors but a first class reference book for first-aiders) state, 'Among outstanding effects of injury are severe externa l bleeding and embarrassment of respiration by obstruction of the a irw ay
NORMAL SIDE
AIRWAY - Patent
INJURED SIDE
AI RWAY - Obstructed by Blood and Secretions
Pain Paradox Ical movement
or DAMAGE TO THE CHEST (our cap it als) Both can kill rapidly and both are usually re s ponsive to first aid'. If we can agree then the attempt must be made to understand what is enta il ed in the l oss of Lhe supporL and rigidity of the c h es t wall. Luckily thi is not difficult for firsL-aiders who know that the lungs are elastic and will collapse if removed from the chest an d who realise that the so-ca ll ed pleural space does not normally ex ist as a space but that the pleural surfaces of lung and chest sLide on each other like two polished and matching pieces of metal with a drop of oil between them.
If air or blood or both are introduced between the pleural s urfaces through a wound or from an injured lung; or if the ribs of the chest wall are broken in several places so that parts of them become loose , then the lungs will partially co ll apse regardless of whether they are punctu red or not.
In the latter case the chest wall will sink like a dent on an egg that has been tapped with a spoon and the rigidity which allows expansion on taking a breath, will have been lost. In fact the effort of respiration will depend on the diaphragm moving downwards as breath is taken in and thus the injured part of the chest wall will be sucked in and not expanded as in normal breathing. This is the 'paradoxical breathing' of the stove-in chest.
Both our text book s recognise that this
form of chest injury is becoming more frequent and point out that the steering wheel is a common cause. Both books list the di stress and difficulty in breathing , blueness and chest damage , but Pro ctor and London enlarge on these symptoms Obstructed breathing is put first and distinction made bet ween this and 'respiratory distress' a struggle to breathe , not necessarily due to obstruction. They add the important signs of coughing up blood and also explain cyanosis. The lo cal chest wall signs are included under the heading of 'asymmetry of the chest wall', the result of penetrating wounds and paradoxical movement. Parad oxical breathing mu st be looked for in all drivers of crashed vehicles. It can be seen or felt through thin clothing and clothes should not be removed to discover it.
The first measure of treatment suggested by Pro ctor and London is the immediate relief of obstructed breathing but at times this is difficult to recognise or treat because the obstruction is not in the throat but usually in the lungs, the lower end of the breathing tract. Free bleeding from the lungs is likely and may continue. The unconscious patient must be put in the three-quarter prone position on his injured side to allow blood to flow from the mou tho The conscious patient may be so distressed that his anxiousness and restlessness may reach the point of aggression In such cases a recumbent position will not be tolerated and the most comfortable position will have to be
TRAINING GET-TOGETHER
ado pted. Oft en this is semi-sitting positi on well supporte d. Wh enever possible the patient should be helped to co ugh and clear the lung s but this depend s on the control of the paradoxical breathing.
Pro ctor and London point out that paradoxical movement can be stopped very simply by hand pressure on the broken part of the chest. Only sufficient pressure mu st be made to stop the movement even though the chest see m s to sink in a long way, an alarming subsi denc e of the chest wall. The sign of success is the relief of the patient's breathing. Then a pad can be fixed with bandages to maintain the pressure or the patient's own forearm may be used, as suggeste d in the Association text books, though there may be such distre ss that this is impossible. Then rapid transport is required to the hospital with unrelating vigilance and assistance from the am bulance a ttendan t.
If a patient with a stove -in chest or penetrating wound of the chest arrives under hospital care with no increase of shock or greater distress then his life may well be saved. Those first-aiders who have given attention to such a case may be happy in the knowledge that they have not only helped to control one of those injuries most dangerous to life but also most dependent for success on the quality of first aid administered.
PLEURA Layers In contact
Expanded Aerated
PLEURA Separated by Blood and Air LUNG Collapsed Airles5
The results of injury (right) compared with the normal (left)
Let's look to the Future! PART T WO
IF THESE MED ITATIONS on our present tribulations are to be profitable we must find solutions and, since the ( R eview is our own pub l ication with a \ circulation large l y limited to ourselves, we ca n consider - and I hope comment
< upon - the following proposals offered ) un d er the headings used in Part One:
A) Public Duties ) " AA'
APPE.AL
1. V!e must not let o.ur status ) /-! be mterpreted as mdIcatmg that we are eager novIces, delighted to be asked to / "I I give our services and prepared to subsidIse / I J qJ'h / the event by bringing our ambu lances, 1 II If/!f stretchers, etc, free gratis This is not to /J J/1Z.)',---I arg u e that we should undertake pUbllc - 1l' JOHN 51NJIN Wl4HT -BANN, St:cr",r<lr':l, I t'\ .J.-tlC r"l', ro<lu) "I)()II)() 1-'1>'
d utIes on a contract basis, but where we '/ ,a r e being taken advantage of in a blatant disregard for the dignity we are entitled to assume, we should make a note that n ext year we can be 'otherwise engaged'.
2. When divisional mem bers give se rvice at such events as football matches it sho u ld be clearly estab lished in a dvance whether we are there solely to take charge of 'audience casualties' or how we stan d with r espect to the trainer, team m ates or referee should a player be hurt.
If we, fro m our training and knowledge, a dvise that a 'head injury' should retire fro m the p r esent game, we shou ld not be overru l e d an d , if we are, we should wi t hd ra w fro m that an d su bsequent m atches of that club.
3. We m ust achieve a universally u nd e r stoo d sta t us. (see also i n P art O ne und er (c) First Aid I nstruction and Traini ng).
B) Transport Duties and Welfare Services
I Where other organisations - such as, for exa m p le, the D irector of Socia l Services d epartment exert their se lf-ass u med direction of the voluntary orga n isations' activities, they shoul d find t h e m oney to cover cost of running the a m bu la n ce, etc, and not leave us in the e m ba rr assing situation that we either have to go cap-in-han d to the han dicapped person (an d so cloud our voluntary i m age), o r accept the situation and l et it go wi th t h e sa m e' as we so often do. To fac il itate proce d ure it wou l d be co n venie n t if the St. J oh n contact person
could say 'The Brigade has a standard charge of lOp per mile , which must be paid for the person (ie doctor, representative of professional ambulance service, British Legion, etc,) arranging for us to do this transport. We do NOT collect from the transferee
2. D octors' secretaries and all other professional workers should make requests for welfare services through the proper authorities and not leave it for handicapped people to make private arrangements with individual Brigade members. This does not mean that a neighbour must ask County Authority in order to get treatment of a child's grazed knee, but is meant to apply to the long-continuing chores such as those the District Nursing organisation gladly un b u r d ens itself of so as to be free to deal with ac u te cases and the instantaneous emergencies, ego regular bathing, treatment of bed-sores , renewal of dressings, simple exercising, even wheel-chair pushing.
3. As private citizens we should take every opportunity to proclaim that professional welfare workers must make the contribution to voluntary service that they are always exhorting others to make; they cannot be allowed to make a 9amSpm desk-job out of the needs of the elderly and handicapped. (I know better
meet this point ; the general public knew nothing of them or their significance , and anyway they could have been obtained for purely academic knowledge).
D) First Aid Competit ions
It shoul d be possi ble to arra nge a handicapping systems under which teams that train in firm's time, or as part of their professional service, would be given due 'weighting' ; teams training wholly in their own time and without any subsidising from employers would lose no penalty points. [ n this way a fairer 'race' wo u ld be achieved. It is recognised that there wou ld be some problems to solve ego many collieries and large have their own closed divisions and are entitled to think of themselves as St. John men, but once the purpose was understood the 'points' system should appea l even to those somewhat disadvantage d thereby - un less we are to assume that first aid competitions attract only pot-hunters!
E) First Aid Incidents
than most that some of th e fi eld work e rs (not the exe cutive type!) give mu ch extra-mural service as an extension of their paid job).
4 In all contacts with profe ss ion al services we must a void every attempt to label us as ancillary workers , auxiliaries, nursing aids, etc. (See also in Part One under (c) First Aid rnstru c tion and Training).
C) Fir st A id Inst r uction an d Trai n ing
We cannot change many of the factor s of first aid courses , as outlined above, but we can change the situation as at present where the person who enrolled in the class achieves, if successful , the same 'paper qualifications' as the person wh o helped to teach him. (In fact, nowaday s he is entitled to wear the sam e buttonhole badge in 'civies ). Amongst ourselves , when we meet in uniform, we know the significance of Service Chevrons, Service Medal, Nursing Badge , etc, but there is no generally-accepted status in the eyes of the man in the street. Supposing after say five efficient years of Brigade membership , we were rated State Registered (or Enrolled, Chartered Certified ) First Aider? (N.B. The Higher and Advanced First Aid Certificates - now dropped, anyway , in the Third Manual procedures did not
How the general public will still regard us - even when we are state certified _
If the proposal above, (to achieve recognition and a universally-understood qualification after five years efficient Brigade service), were adopted, such entitled persons could carry at all times an armlet (not the present one which any successful mem ber of the last first aid course is entitled to sport!) announcing that the holder is a state registered (recognised) First-Aider, St. John or B R CS. O ne would then acquire, automatically, the authority to act until such time as higher authority, ego doctor or professional ambulancer, arrived. It would be the duty of every divisional superintendent, in forwarding his annual return BFl, to ensure that the recognition was properly continued year by year and withdrawn, along with the arm let , when the holder lost his entitlement.
In Conclusion
We m u st accept the changing factors in our present-day set-up and be more than ever reso lved to continue helping our less-fortunate or handicapped fellow-citizens in all the ways still open to us. We must not resent the taking over of OUf erstwhile services to mankind by peop le who are gainfully employed in doing what we used to do voluntarily; we must all we l come a very efficient amb Ulance service since we are not imm u ne from the misfortunes of life any more than the other scores of thousands per day injured on our overcrowded roads - it may be our turn next! We must do Our very utmost to improve our image in the eyes of the pu blic and eize every oPPortunity to bring in new and enth USiastic members. P articularly at every occasion when we ru b shoulders with mem bers of the new army of professiona l we lfare workers, we must let
them see that 'he who would command must first command himself' and that it is not logical for them to try to make a Civil Service career out of other people's distress and go home from the office leaving other people to give up their evenings and weekends in the amelioration of the distress they have unearthed.
Clearly" all such dedicated and intelligent welfare workers must see that they must get inside the voluntary organisations themselves and become the leaders of the welfare efforts. We ourselves must be resillient and adaptable, willing to be directed to aspects of welfare, home
nursing and care of the sick and aged far removed from the dramatic and exciting succour to those with broken bones or split heads.
And, above all, let us keep our sense of proportion, the invaluable 'clubmanship' that welds the Brigade together and the tolerance and humour that will ena ble us to accept that our motives and purposes will still continue to be misunderstood by the general public - which will still regard each one of us, even when we are state certified - as Don Quixote or Sancho Panza, and each nursing member as Dulcinea.
BUCK'S TRAINING
DON QU(XOTE SANC140 PANZA DULCINEA
LARGE LONDON DUTIES
from D erek R. Fenton, D eputy Commissioner
In reply to the letter Large London Duties from N / M K. Taylor of Farnborough (January Review) , while I can appreciate the writer's feelings I think it is appropriate to state some facts which will show not only how considerate we of London District are to our colleagues in the counties, but also how difficult it is to u se the services of our own nursing members who volunteer for large duties such as the recent royal wedding
On this particular occasion we could not even have pres e nt a representative from each of the 169 nusing and combined divisions in London , as those required for normal first-aid station duty was much below this figure. We did , however , fully agree that if divisions from the counties sent mobile units they could include nursing members as part of the crew. It mu s t be remem bered that in London we have nearly 2000 nursing members, a large percentage of whom volunteered for he wedding duty.
On reflection , I ' m sure Miss Taylor will appreciate that we must give prime consideration to London mem bers , p a rti c ularly as they contribute substantially to the 500 , 000 duty hours performed annually in the metropoli s
As mentioned in the article on the wedding , we invited a token number of men from every distri c t and county, in many cases with mobile units and ambulances. 33 w e re r e pre se nt e d. It gave us great pleasure to have them with u s. London Der ek F e nt o n
HYPOTHERMIA
fro m D Li tt l e, A mbul ance Mem b er
The article on hypothermia (January Review) s how s cle a rly th e variation in de sc riptions used for thi s co ndition It ha s b ee n my experience at lectures that we are told hypothermia s ca u se d by prolonged exposure or immersion , how to recogni se it and th e appropriate treatment , but very rarely is a d e a iled de sc ription of the effects of body temperature redu c ti o n given and at what temperatures the effects occur. Whil e doing so me r esea r c h on this subject for lectures I found that th e r e du c t io n s of body temperature involved were s urpri si ngly s m a ll. Man is a homoiothermic animal that is he maintain s a constant body temperature which is u s ually higher and independent of the environment, and will happi l y remain in thi s condition until he abuses the temperatur e regulating sys tem by subjecting it to extremes. My diagram d e pi c t s the temper a ture regulating mechanism of the body
The normal body temperature is 98.4 degree s F , but this will , if permitted by unwi se exposure, fall until it reache s that of its surrounding environment. When the temperature difference IS large in the early s tages the temperature drop is mo st rapid , as shown in the graph therefore the early stages are crucial for the survival of the casual ty.
The downward path of the body e mp e rature can be recognised a s fOIJows ° (I) Between 98 and 90 F the body regi s ter s cold and vaflOU S
READERS VIEWS
R ea d e r s' views and Op l nlons, which should be sent to the Ed itor a lthou g h publishe d are not necessarily endorsed by the Ed itor or the O rder of St. John and its Foundations. Although rea d ers may si g n published letters with a pen -name, writers mus t s u pply thei r name and address to the editor.
defense me c hani s m s are trigg e r e d ofr, viz, the s tamping o f feet and the clapping of hands (voluntary) and s hiv e ri ng (unconscious) to ge ner a te h eat by mu scu ar actio n An other uncon scio u s response at this s t a g e i th e sp hin cte rs on th e skin arterioles co ntra cti ng to r es tri ct the blood s upply to the skin.
whose boundaries will coinc id e with the London borough s.
About the time of the coming in to bcing of the then n ew
o u te r Lon d o n boroughs I approached the then Area Assistant Com mi ss ioner <.I nd verbally s u ggeste d as the local author ty re-organisLltion presented a fine opportunity to furthe r Brigade act ivities, would n ot the formation of corps within the boro u gh be worth considering.
I was told corps were n ot perm itt ed in the L ondon Di strict. Certa inl y one existed in th e past, for during the General Strike in 1926 I wa on du ty at the same station (Regents P ark, L ondon) as the Corps Supt, a D iv. Supt., and anum ber of rank and fi le of the Post O ffice Corp, London D istrict.
Th e wheel appe<lrs to be turnin gl O f cour e, teething troubles will a ri se and be dealt wi th as neces 3ry. Be s t wishes to those S-E Area Divi sions involved in the re-organisation.
Bromley II. 1. Codfrey
COMP ETITIONS
from M. Stewart , Ambulance Member
With reference to ASO Smi th , letter ( D ecem ber R eview) , as the questioner at the Nottingham conference [ wou ld like to restate my arguments abo ut co mp etitions.
Th e Bri ga d e competition is the on l y qualifying route to the Grand P rior's Trophy for teams outside of industry and the pub li c services and yet teams from the po ice, fire brigade, etc, who are unsuccessful in their own service's national competition are ab le to have a second attempt via the Brigade competition. (In one Briga d e regional competition la t year the same po li ce force represented two counties).
Despite denials from some quarters that these teams don't get paid time-off for training, my questioning of some policemen and others sho w s that there are teams with this advantage. If competitions are to succeed, it is sure l y necessary that a ll tea m s have the same advantages and disadvantages? The average divi s ion has not on ly competition training but also public duties, first-ai d courses, fund-raising, etc, to worry about. While some close d di visions Clre also involved in these, I would suggest that the r e are some who aren't, but merely keep the division going for com p etit ion purposes.
Naturally, or d inary Bri gade teams aren't afraid of industrial or service t eams: if t hey were you'd never see a B riga d e team in an ope n Ass oc iat io n or Casua lt y Union competition. My co nt ention is that the Bri gade national competition shou ld be for teams from
(2) From 90° to 75° the p e rson no o ng e r co mplain s o f co ld blood pre ss ure dr o p s and at 86° F th e brain becomes c loud ed which probably accounts for case o f hypothermia being mist a k e n for in eb riati o n (3) Below 75 ° F th e t e mp e ratur e r e gulating ce ntr e of th e ce nt ral nervous system, the hypothalmus in the brain , fails (4) At approximately 70 ° F th e c irculatory sys tem fail s. It will be noted that a cas ualty wh ose t e mperatur e is 90°F or below requir es urg e nt treatment. Hypothermia ca n b e re co gni sed by the s ign s and sy mptom s de sc ribed in the manual , but the degre e is hard t o es t a bli s h ] find that a c la ss will u s ually s ugg est taking a temp e ratur e rea ding , but this is easie r sa id than don e as th e lowe s t register on the c linical th e rmom e ters normally available to u s is 95°F and the casually's t e mperatur e may be well be low this There are, however , low register thermometers whi ch read down to 75 ° F for hypoth e rmia cases, but th ese do not appear to be generally available To u s as first-aiders the arr est and reversa l of heat lo ss in the cas ually are th e prime objectives, but I find that so me b<l ck ground knowledg e of the s u bject mak es a ssess ment of a s ituation easier.
D. Litt le
Haljled
CORPS
f r o m H J G o d frey, S B S tJ I was much interested to read in the article An Area PubliCit y Machine (January R e view) that S-E Area Lo ndon Di s trict, und er re-organi se d Brigade formations, will be s ub-divided into corps
the average Brigade background. The Grand Pr ior, the open Association and the Casualty Un ion competitions are the places where we in the B rigade do battle with the police, miners, firemen, etc.
If the Bri gade competiLiJn is open on ly to the average working divisions, then perhaps greater interest and participation will be forthcoming from those smaller divisions which at present see themse lv es in an unequal si tu ation. Naturally I 'm not suggesting a lowering of the standard. Competitions should be seen as a fo rm of training not as' a source of silver 'pots', and it is the new competitors who benefit most. So l ong as these divisions can see that they can improve. and perhaps one day win, they will go o n competing and beco m e m ore efficient first-aiders. On ce the winners position appears unattainable, d ue to unfair co mp etitio n teams tend to drop out, and ove r all efficiency falls off.
Wantage
A SPUR ?
from R. Man sey, Ambulance Member (PRO)
M. Stewart
Ou r Di vision has been giving serious consideration to the ever-increasing problem of obtaining r ecruits and k eeping the interest of existing mem bers. After severa discussions, the idea of a scheme similar to the cadets' Grand Prior B adge was evo lv e d The subjects could include for example:
Traffic Control Mountain R escue P olice Work Map R eading Camping Welfare and H ygiene
Midwifery Advanced Dr iving Vehicle Main tenance History of the O rder Fire Fighting Life Saving (swimmi ng ) R adio O perator Signalling
This would give additional interest to mem bers and a ll ow them to widen their personal knowledge. Th e exam would be of a fairly high standard, ie : life saving to gold medal stan d ard. It was suggested that a small badge could be worn on the left shou ld er, under the existing badge , and on it would be a number to indicate the number of subjects passed, similar to the cadets. Wh en six subjects have been obtained a major badge cou ld then be worn on the right breast pocket. It was felt that no more than two subjects should be taken in anyone year. We would be interested in co mm ents from readers o n this idea for stimu lating d ivisional interest.
Farnham
R Mansey
FIRST AID for
'Even
NEWS from SCOTLAND
LORD TORPHICHEN died on July 1 1973, a day on which many members of the Priory of Scotland were attending a service in the choir of the old preceptory of Torphi chen. John Gordon Sandilands, 13th Lord Torphichen, was the scion of an old Scottish family which has played a prominent part in history.
Qu een Mary 's charter of 1564 stated that the first Lord Torphichen, Sir Jame s Sandiland s, who was Ho spita ller Pr eceptor of Torphi chen, resigned the entire property of the Order of St. John into the hands of the crown and it was then granted back to him upon payment of 10,000 crowns of the sun and a n annual feu duty of 500 merks. The charter stated that it was given because of long service to the queen's father and mother and to herself; and it mentioned the great expenses borne by Sir James on foreign employment for the queen. He had entered as a young man into service at the court of King James V and was Master Usher of the hou seho ld of Qu een Mary the regent , the mother of Mary Queen of Scots.
General Porter in his History of the Knights of SL John (published in 1858 but quoted here from the 1883 edition) stated that the first Lord Torphichen's 'title and the possessions which he had p lund ered from the Order dev o lved on hi s death on hi s grand-nephew and have remained in that line ever since' This view has been taken up by succeeding historians but it is not correct, for of the eight baronies owned by the Order and covered by Queen Mary's c harter seven were sold to pay the queen the 10 ,000 crowns which would now be wo rth about £70,000 ster li ng. The charter itself w as issued in the queen's name but was signed on her behalf by J ames H amilton (Archbishop of St. Andrews), the Earl of Morton (Chancellor), the Earl Mari scha l , Maitland of Lethington J ames McGill (Clerk R egister) and Sir John Bellend en (Lord Ju stice Clerk).
The Earl of Morton was one of the conspirators who murdered -Ri zzio; Maitlan d McGill and Bellenden were all strong protestants.
The transaction is really like Henry VIII' s suppression of the mona steries, which were sold by him. Payments were made by Lord Torphichen to persons a u thorised by the queen and there is a receipt by the Trea su rer of Scotland under the P rivy Seal. A very great part of the money wa s borrowed from Timothy Curneoli an ltalian banker, and Lor d Torphichen and his successor were burdened with a heavy debt.
Far from the Lords Torphichen holding the possessions of the Order 'ever since' 1564, as P orter alleged, the seven baronies wer e sold to pay the queen or Timothy CurneoJi within relatively few years of the granting of the royal chart er which provid e d good title de e d.
The royal charter was first printed in Spottiswood Miscellany in 1845 and there is an introduction by James Maidment , who co lle cte d much material on the Ord ers of St. John and the Temple and published it in 1828. He was obviously interest ed in the history of the properties because another James Maidm ent had once owned that portion of them which the Earl of H a dd ington had created into the Barony of Dr em by Act of P arliament, 1614.
In 1845 Maidment state d that 'the family of Sandilands had for more than two centuries cease d to have right to any portion , except T o rphi c hen , of the original barony created by Qu een Mary'. Even the greater part of the barony of Torphi che n was so ld and the Lord s
WALES
The day in N. Wales
We were det ermine d to have a festival and investiture in Flintshire before the inevitable amalgamation of the co unti es on April 1 1974. Amalgamation in North Wal es means that the cou ntie s of
Torphichen now own only the Pr eceptory itself a nd an adjacent farm
Th e fir t Lord was a younger son who marricd after 1564 but l eft n o family, and hi s title de sce nd ed to the grandson of his elder brother who succeede d to the family estates of Calder.
Ever since 157 9 the L ords Torphichen have had Ca ld er Hou se, Midlothian , as their seat a property never owned by the Ord er of St. J ohn and in a different county to Torphiehen.
Later Lords Torphichen held imp 0 r tan t posi lion s. The 7 th was Li eutena nt Colonel of the 7th regiment of Dr agoons and took a seat in P arliamenl in 1704; the 8th was an advocate and Sheriff-depute for the County of Edinburgh; the 9th was a li eutenant colone l of th e Co ld stream Guards and served in Parliament as one of the sixteen represent..ltive peers of Scotland; his co u sin the 10th was the captain of an East lndi aman; the 1 I th was a captain in the Scots Guards and the 12th a captain in the Rifle Brigad e and a representativ e peer from 1894 to 1915 The 13th , who died la st Jul y, was educated at Eton and Bi rmingham University and succeeded to the title in 1915, while the new Lord T o rphi chen wa ed u cate d at Eton and Ba lli o l Co ll ege, O xfor d , and is a professor at Harv ar d University. Hi s heir is his only so n , n ow Ma ster of Torphichen.
J C. MacLeod
in advance for such an event because the necessary support is sad ly not forthcoming in any immediate sense. It i forthcoming in the long term, and everyone is genuinely interested but there are many interested parties who require to be geared-up well in a dv a n ce.
A festival in Mold involved the County Council, local town cou n ci ls, band and who arranges it Lords Li eutenant of a ll co unti es of North Wa les, and which guests to invite. Ha s anyo n e been forgotten? Even m o r e important, who is to co ndu ct the inspection, a nd how many personne l will be on parade m en, women , boys, girls, doctors, SRNs , co unty staff, and whatever-else was needed to show us to the best advantage to the pu blie? The church, the service and all those who will take part. The Ord er of Sl. John flag for the church.
All this involved severa l visits from HQ staff, Cardiff, an essentia l parl of planning The day was set - O ctober 13 1973.
It was a magnificent success. The band - the I st Battalion R oya l Welch Fusiliers - were well-worth every moment of music. A bus took the Knights of St. John and members of Chaptcr after the investiture from the Shire H all to Earl Road, from where they processed to the Mold Parish Church of St. Mary in the High Street. When they entered the ch urch there was an impressive fanfare of trumpets. Personnel, who had marched to church, and guests were already seated.
The Inv estiture, conducted by Col.
Anglesey, Caernarvon and Merioneth become Gwynedd, and Denbigh shire and Flintshire become Clw yd.
[n 197 2 it was agreed that a festival w 0 u 1d beheld in Flin tshire. So preparations began. In retrospect, we learne d that it is essential to prepare well
MIre/and
Ceynedd Trahearne in the absence of Lord Aberdare who was away on government business , was performed with great dignity. Several people from North Wales were invested. The Lord Bishop of St. Asaph and his predecessor took part in the service. After the ceremony, the Knights of St J ohn, the Chapter and in vestees with special guests, were entertained to lunch at the hire Hall by the Flintshire County Council.
After the church service and led by the
Royal Welch Fusiliers personnel marched to the Bryn Coch Lane School, where Sir Anthony Meyer , MP, took the salute early 400 personnel and radio-equipped vehicles were inspected.
A colour film taken of the whole event will undoubtedly be very useful for fund raising and attracting new recruits.
The day, which turned out to be col d but very sunny - ideal for filming in colour - involved six months of planning. But it was worth every second of it.
Led by the band of the Roval W e ch Fusiliers SJA North Wal es mar c h to Mold church. (Photo: L ynton Barton' Chester)
Knights of St. John arriving at the church during the N Wales SJA festival. ( Photo Lynton Barton, Chester)
News from Divisions/Centres
COR NWAL L -On page January Review, we said Mrs. Elsie Thomas was a founder member of St. Columb Division but this should have read Penzance, also her gift was from elll Penzance SJA Divisions and the stafr of the West Cornwall Hospi tal, Penzance.
LEICS -More than 100 ambulance and nursing members treated and evacuated a large number of 'ca e ualties when a factory disaster was simulated at Fison's chemical works at Loughborough on February 3.
LONDON -Over 160 people, including Dist/Comm. and Mrs. H. A. Lewi attended a dinner to celebrate No. 30 (East London) Division' 75th anniversary on January 13. Among the guests were former members H. Lush, now 83 and celebrating his 45th wedding anniversary that day, and E. Kinn, on holiday from New Zealand.
NORTHANTS -AII Wellingborough divisions, adult and cadet, will be figuring in broadca ts from the new Wellingborough Broadcasting Station, the fifth to be licensed in the country by the Minister of Posts and Communications. Those taking part will be demonstrating
the first aid treatment of injuries sustained in accidents in the home as part of a women's magazine program'mc.
Mrs. M. I. (Pat) Howford has retired from Wellingborough Headquarters Nursing D ivision after 50 years service making her one of the longest serving nursing division members. For over twenty years Mrs. Howford has been Divisional Superintendent and to mark her leaving the members of the division presented her with a gold bracelet watch.
STAF FS -Best wishes to Burton·on-Trent members CpI. Malcolm Dunham and N/M Joan Roulstone who married last autumn complete with SJ A guard of honour.
OBITUARY
ABBOTT, Thomas Henry, County Superintendent, Cumberland and Westmoreland. Founder mem ber Penrith Division. Commander of the Order. Miss HUTCHINSON, J. Hill, 67, Area Superintendent Nursing, East Durham. Officer Sister.
Kelly, of Cyt ingan N/C Division, Kettering, won the Corps' general knowledge quiz. (Photo: Ed. Lessey)
REVI EW CROSSWORD No.3 (74 ) Compiled by W. Potter
ACROSS:
1. Gives protection against dental caries initiated by virus i n fection. (8) 5. He make a record of the game. (6) 10. State in which response to stimuli is absent. (15) 1 I. Structures containing the tarsal plates. (7) 12. Food from fruit inside insect. (7) 13 Kill by causing a fracture-dislocation of the cervical spine. (4) 15. D eceive in a recumbent posture. (3) 16. Nourishment for an invalid. (S) 19. Lessens pain and discomfort. (5) 21. Trap an aboriginal woman for spirit. (3) 22. Post Office poles in the brain stem. (4) 24. Little brother is between thousands in chronic poisoning by hypnotic (7) 26. Shy, but brimming over with aggression, one hears. (7) 28. Muscle contraction elicited by stroking the skin around the umbilicus. (9.6) 29 Shakespeare ma d e a comedy of them. (6) 30. Torn duster or muscle of bladder wall. 8.
DOWN:
1. O pening between the mouth and pharynx. (6) 2. Relative frequently attacked by Thrush. (5) 3. Discharging nose and ears in succession. (7) 4. Weeds reputed to alleviate the discomfort of nett le stings. (5) 6. His syn d rome is due to excessive production of hormones by the adrenal cortex. (7) 7. Pass rope through ring fro m ever changing direction. (S) 8. Make the patient comforta ble after a restless period. (8) 9. A sane boy make protein-rich seed used in manufacture of margarine. (4.4) 14 A half beast of bur d en. (3) 15. Game in old dressing material binding together the bones at a joint (8) 17. R un amok in tea container. (3) 18 Thin, elastic tissue produced by amber men. (8) 20. D escribes girl on a reducing diet. (7) 22. Use part for founder of the science of bacteriology. (7) 23. I nsulated wire or ml}scles bending a part. (6) 25 Command tidiness of St. J ohn. (S) 26. Become protuberant. (5) 27. M eta l removers for holding the records. (5).
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD No.2 (74)
ACROSS:
1. Cataract; 5. Ta l. cu.m; 9. Stopping; 10. T.amp.on ; 12. Orange; 14 Mass; 1 S Co.x; 17. Heavy-hearted; 21. Incontinence; 24. Cod; 25. Crew; 26. Adnexa; 28 . R oster; 29. Pancreas 31. List.er; 32. H ysteria.
DOWN: 1. Cast.or; 2. Trocar; 3. R .i.p; 4. Cant ; 6. A.dams; 7. Capacity; 8. M onoxi d e; II. Cashier; 13. Green; 16. A .void.ed; 18. Arced; 19. V i.sceral; 20. Acidosis; 22. Veneer; 23. Na.us.ea ; 25. Crepe; 27. Mazy; 30. Cut.
BOOKS
THE ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
B y R e dm o nd Mc L a u ghli n, intr o du c t ion b y L t. G en. Sir Br ian H o rro c k s . F a m o u s R eg i ments S er ies. Leo Cooper, L o nd on, 1972. £2. 10
TO W R ITE the history of a corps or regiment in 120 pages is a formidable task. It must be said right away that Redmond McLaughlin has done a very good job and that the Corps owes him its gratitude. This series of small histories is rapidly making a name for itself , greatly helped by the expertise of its general editor Lt. Gen. Sir Brian Horrocks, whose television personality and ability to make the complex simple is known to many thousands of viewers. Indeed, the editor has a closer contact with this volume than with any save perhaps his own regimen t, for he was the senior officer who fell into the old trap of thinking that senior officers are bullet-proof and who fetched up in hospital in Bizerta with a biliary fistula. He didn't know it, but as th e second-in-command of a field ambulance in the invasion force he was to have commanded, I was pro ba bly one of the last to see him before we embarked for Salerno - and very ill he was. He pays handsome tribute to the Corps in his introduction And certainly the name Horrocks will ring a bell with any old RAMC man , for it was the General's father who invented the little box used until recently for water analysis in the field.
A review should not become a catalogue - and indeed everyone in S t. John should read this book for himself - but there is a repetitive cycle in this history of great men doing great things under stress, and then at the end of the campaign the whole thing going back on ice until the next one, when a lot of it had to be learned all over again.
Peacetime, and especially a long period of peace without mu ch chance to travel overseas, does not attract to military service and inevita bly there are shortages, even where these are not due t o Treasury limitations. And in the Volunteers, too, service in the Corps can be a bit of a bus man 's holiday - the young doctor and medical technician would like to get away and drive a truck or fire a gun - the part of field soldiering which is attractive but which is, to those who must organise the medical services on a shoe-string, an expensive irrelevance.
Yet the most exciting parts of this history are to do with field soldiering rather than with high-powered specialism in hospitals, which we tend to take for granted and which are easier to staff from civilian sources on mobilization. An out s tanding example of this is the story of Major Geoffrey Parker , DSO, FRCS, with several French decorations and his French wings, with whom [ had the privilege of serving in the same unit in Italy, and who was later parachuted in to the Maquis , where he was known as 'Parsifal'. His exploits became lengendary , and are one more reason for reading this book.
Yet another type of heroism was found in the prison camps, especially in the Far East. Colonel Ju ian Taylor, who obtained his FRCS when a Territoria l Lance-Corporal and thus is probabl y unique in the Corps, carrying out gastrectomies under impossibl e conditions in Changi, was acting in the true tradition
No man who has served in the Corps , and there must be thousands in St.] ohn today, should fail to buy and read thi s inspiring little book , and to see that it is read and marked by the younger members, one of whose jobs is defined by statute as providing a reserve for the Armed Forces in the event of war. On e hopes that they may never have to do it , but if they do they should at least know the score.
Robert Ollerensha W Surgeon-in-Chief.
FETES BAZAARS ALL FUND RAISERS
Fully guara n teed ba ll pens and penci ls die-stamped In go ld with your name or slogan (maximum 3 0 letters) £2.50 per gross. Cash with order p.p. 40p up to £3; 50p over £3. ALSO
Extensive range of TOYS STATIONERY NOVELTIES - JEWELLERY - and PRE·SELECTED PARCELS all at wholesale prices. Catalogue from:BAKER ROSS
sworth Road , London N17
-808 6948
IDEAL FUND RAISERS FOR YOUR BRIGADE
We supply Ball Pens, Combs, Pencils, Key Fobs, Rainhoods, P.V.C. Goods, Diaries, Letterettes, etc., All are excellent Fund Raisers - Good Quality - We give full guarantee All orders are completed within 5 days of receipt. Send now for our 1974 Price List.
Tomorrow's Hospital Today's career
On the campus of Surrey University a new building is taking shape - Guildford District Hospital, which will be one of the most modern the country.
We are now training young men and women ready to move into the new hospital and turn this concept of concrete and steel into an advanced medical centre.
Student nurses undergo a three year training leading to State Registration. Pupil nurses take a two year course leading to State Enrolment. Yourtraining will provide the fou ndation for a "'"" ,.,--....career in a profession with unlimited scope for personal development and fulfilment.
Train today for tomorrow's rewards.
For further details contact: The Principal Nursing Officer (Education). Guildford and Godalming School of Nursing, St. Luke's Hospital , Guildford, Surrey. Tel: Guildford 71122 . ilf
'Its
quicker by tube'
REVIEW'
AT RANDOM
by Watkin W. Will iams
Deputy Comm iss ioner -in -Chief
- a film demonstrating the application of all types of tubular bandages FREE to you - on loan.
Made with the co-operation of fou r ma jor London hospitals , Seton 's new instructional film justifies its name.
Valuable hints show how easy it is to apply tubular bandages to all parts of the bod y, saving precious time , effort and mone y.
An important feature of the film is that it clearl y 'ndicates the conditions for which the Tubular Bandage , Elastic Tubula r Bandage or Elast ic Net Banda g e may be chosen.
The 16 mm film is available free on loan
Just fill in the coupon and s end it , but plea s e give at least three weeks notice so that your request can be met on time.
Around a nd About by th e Ed itor p .8
To the re sc ue . . . p. 12
Ca det s Aho y! by A W. Osborne p. 14
Major dis a st e rs by M L. Ke nnedy p. 16
Re ader s Vi e w s p. 18
News from S c otland - Wales p. 20
Overse a s p .21
New s from D ivi s ons/ C e nt r e s p. 22
Vi s ual Aid s p.24
EDITORIAL : Ed ited and p r o
ADVERTISEMENTS :
TRAFALGAR SQUARE was a bleak spot to be hanging around on election night in a biting wind and a drizzle that was trying to become sleet. The Metropolitan Police had estimated that, given milder weather and a fine night) the mammoth-sized TV screen might have attracted a crowd of at least 10,000 lookers and listeners , and St. John Ambulance had to be prepared for that possibility and for any accidents and emergencies that might arise. As it happened, the remarkably cheerful and (almost with-out exception) orderly gathering of less than 3,000 'promenaders' fell very short of straining the resource of the 47 Brigade personnel (including two surgeons and two nursing officers) from London District and Surrey who , with two mobile first-aid units and seven ambulances, nobly turned out for duty from 9.30pm till 3am. During that time there were five ca es taken to hospital by ambulance and 16 minor casualties treated. But it might well have been otherwise , and those who served by standing and waiting (or more probably sitting on their am bulances and mobile units) had the consolation of knowing that a non-event from the first-aider's point of view i a far happier and more fortunate outcome than if there had been many ca ualties.
The Chief Commander and the Commis ioner-in-Chief have each attended a comparable public duty in London on each of the last two New Year's Eves, and I was delighted when my turn came on election night to hare the experience of the Brigade member on duty. I was particularly grateful to be invited to join an ambulance crew taking a ca uaIty to St. George' Hospital , which brought back nostalgic memorie of the days when I u ed to do over 100 hours' duty a year as a voluntary ambulance attendant helping out at we kends at the Bucks County Ambulance Station in Slough.
(Continued on page 11)
The Order of St John
It s Ambulance f ound ati ons wi ll soo n be cel eb rati ng 1 00 ye ars of public service
by LORD PORR IT T
IN 1977 - three years hence - the St. John Ambulance celebrates its first hun d red years of volunt ary humane work for the people of this country and those of countries overseas, particularly in the Commonwealth. The main objective of this work, as exemplified in the motto of the order - Pro utilitate hominum - for the service of mankind, lies in the relief of human pain and suffering. The close parallel to the aims of the medical profession is therefore obvious, and over the years doctors and trained first-aiders have become increasingly interdependent and mutually supportive.
The O rder of St. John, dating as it does from the Middle Ages, is rightly called in its R oyal Charter - granted by its Sovereign Head Queen Victoria - 'The Most Venerable Order'. But it differs from other historic orders of chivalry in that it is still today a working order. In the Middle Ages it provided many of the medical services then available, but was suppressed by Henry VIII at the Reformation. The Order became active again in the 1830's and was responsible for the setting up of a society in 1870 for giving "aid to the sick and wounded" in the Franco-Prussian War, which ultimately became the British Red Cross Society. A few years later the Order set up its own ambulance association to deal with the accidents and injuries that came in a flood as a result of the Industrial R evolution.
After the publication of the first ambulance text book in 1878, there rapidly emerge d a body of disciplined and uniformed, trained first-aiders which became known as the St. John Am bulance Brigade. The Brigade's membership of 8,000 at the end of the nineteenth century provided a pool of medical auxiliaries from which 2,000 were drawn to help in the South African War. In the First World War 20,000 members out of a total of 36,500 served as medical auxiliaries, and in the Second Worl d War this number was greatly exceeded as Brigade members fulfilled the nee d s, not only of the three Services but also of Civil Defence, the Home Guard, and the hospitals.
Lord Porritt, GCMG, FRCS, is a member of the Order's Chapter General and on the Hospital Committee; as Governor-General of New Zealand, he was Prior of the Priory in New Zealand. This article appeared in the British Medical Journal, December 22, 1973.
St Joh n Amb ulance
Today the S1. John Ambulance combines the functions of the original Association and the field force of the Brigade. In an era of so-called peace its functions have become focused on the treatment and prevention of accidentsin industry, on the roads, in homes, and at the many venues of sport ana recreational activities. The extent of this voluntary work and its value will be better appreciated when one realize s that accidents in Great Britain produce 20,000 deaths, 300 ,000 serious injuries , and some 5 , 000 000 people hurt annually. The estimated cost of this to the nation is £500m.
To help in coping with this ghastly toll St. John now musters just under 100 , 000 uniformed member s (there are half as many again serving overseas) who, it is reckoned , treat some 400 , 000 cases a year involving 4,000 ,0 00 hours of voluntary public duty. These uniformed members are the trained first-aiders, the genuine medical auxiliaries to be seen wherever c rowds collect and cas ualtie s can be expected. Today , about 15% of the medical profession in the count rysome 7 , 000 doctors - give up part of their spare time to train and examine this force. The results , though often not obvious and certainly not adequately appreciated, are that thousands of minor casualties receive early treatmen t (saving pressure on hospital s and do c tors surgeries), that lives are saved in the vital post-accident, premedical period, and that definitive treatment later is mad e easier and more s ucce ssfu l by adequate preliminary mea sures . A s well as training the Brigade , doctor s are responsible for issuing some 175 , 000 first-aid certificates annually to properly instructed and fully
examined candidates, and there are now well over half a million holders of these certificates, who provide a relatively small but invaluable contribution to the accident prevention ca mp aign.
An eq u ally important contribution co mes from the publication of first-aid textbooks - again the work of the profession. It is estimated that these have a circ ul ation second only to the Bible. Some 30,000,000 copies have been sold and these have been translated into 54 different languages and into Braille Add to all this the fact that some half the county directors of the Association - in charge of the basic units of the teaching organisation - and many of the divisional surgeons of the Brigade are doctors and it will readily be appreciated how close are the ties between S 1. John and the medical profession.
St. John Ophthal mic Hospital
Th e re is another foundation of the Order of St. John which deserves to be mu ch more widely known and acclaimed than it is. This is the S1. John Ophthalmi c Ho spita l in Jeru salem ophtha lmi c because of the prevalence of serious eye disease in the Middle Eastern countriesand in Jeru sa l em because it was in this ancient city that the Ord er was first founded. Established in the early 1880's, the hospital, in accordance with the age-old principles of the Ord er, offers free treatment to all who co m e to its d oor irrespective of race, class, or cree d
For 65 years after it was esta blished it provided badly needed and eagerly accepted eye treatment for the local population until disaster struck in 1948, when it was irreparably d amaged in the hostilities that followed the end of the British Mand ate. Set up again in temporary and very inadequate quarters in the City of J erusa lem the hospital soon found that, d espite the limitations imposed upon its clientele by the 'a rmi stice line,' the rapid improvement in m o d ern co mmuni cations made expansion essential.
In 1960 a fine new modern ho spital was opened, this time east of the dividing line but, and this despite the intervention
of the Six Day War,' which fortunately produced no structural damage, the hospital more and more embodies its international principles so that the vo lume of its work and the standards of its treat men t rise steadily as each year passes. La st year 67,000 patients attende d its clinics and 7,500 major operations were performed . Thanks to its eye bank , opened by King Hussein in 1962 (when he spontaneously bequeathed his own eyes), corneal grafting is frequently carried out. The hospital runs its own nurses training school and takes an active part in the programme of trachoma research, sponsored jointly by the Institute of Ophthalmology the M.R.C., and the Order. It is staffed by a British chief surgeon and an able and devoted international group of doctors and nurses.
The Future
Looking ahead to the next hundred years the Order recognises that, though there are still infinite p ossi bilities of development in the activities of its two major foundations the St. John Am bulance and the St. John Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem - there is an increasing challenge from the growing emphasis on health in the public consciousness.
Already the Order has quietly but efficiently geared its administration to meet this challenge, and two new ventures are perhapss worthy of mention.
S1. John Ambulance is moving towards the ability to rescue as well as to treat its patients. In Guernsey a first-aid motor launch is in service, in Scotland a mountain rescue service is sponsored by S1. John and on Welsh beaches last year
S1. J ohn Lifeguards saved 25 lives. Their recently established Air Wing (some 100 pilots and 40 privately ow n ed planes) has already done yeoman service in trar.sporting patients, organs for blood, and apparatus in times of emergency. A newly formed 'F irst-Aid Community Training' (F.A.C.T.) scheme has been floated to teach the general pu blic correct a tti tu des towards safety in daily life. This scheme should reduce the num ber of accidents and save the country millions of pounds : It is surely an intriguing paradox that 111 an expanding environment of state medical services a private army of trained unpaid volunteers should be flourishing
The medical profession is the invalua ble catalyst between the two systems - both w?rking in the interests of mankind. The stiffing story of the oldest active Order of in Christendom , an organisation famed by doctors to implement the Work of doctors, contains many glorious pages; one hopes that with the continuing mUch appreciated support of the medical profession and of many people in many lan.ds , yet more glorious pages will be Wntten in the future
A familiar role of
Here, when Colchester
a
The St. John Air Wing, established in Britain two years ago, recently flew its 100th mission from London to Hanover with a kidney
A patient having her eyes tested at the St John Ophthalmic Hosp ital in Jerusalem
Brigade members.
United's skipper Stuart Morgan was injured in
match with Exeter early this season. ( Photo Essex County Newspapers)
EVERY
DAY FIRST AID - a new, easy-to-understand series of advice
FA LLS
by Dennis Clark, MBE, FRCS
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN in the best regulated families. What m atters are the resulting injuries and the first aid given.
Take falls, for instance, the commonest accidental cause of injury and death. They are usually harmless an d can even be enjoyable, when we fall onto mattresses or into water off a diving board. These falls cause no injury becau se they are controlled , or lucky, with soft landings. But when people fall unexpectedly at speed or from a height , or when they land on sharp points or hard surfaces, then injury occurs.
Toddlers are always falling; it is part of learning to walk. But when our little sister falls with a spoon in her mouth there is a piercing yell, the spoon is thrown out and blood appears like magic round teeth , between lips, and soon covers hands as well. Panic reigns until someone is calm enough, and who knows enough , takes charge. That someone might be you. So get down to learning the best way to help , to stop things getting worse and to gain the confidence needed in such an emergency. In two words - First Aid.
The most important results of injury to recognise and treat immediately are: Breathing failure, excessive Bleeding and loss of Consciousness (let's call them BBC). We refer to them as the 'priorities' because they must receive attention first. Once remembered, they are usually quickly recognised, as our little sister demonstrates Toddler is yelling her head off - so she is breathing. The blood, spat out, is not filling the mouth or causing choking - so it is not immediately dangerous. With the row she is making she is not unconscious. So the correct first aid is a little petting and holding the child forward to allow blood to drain out of the mouth while arrangements are
made to get to hospital quickly (taking the spoo n too)
You m ay reply But that is only common sense'. First ai d is trained common sense.
Supposing the fall had been worse , say from a high pram on to the roadway outside a shop You would immediately pick the child up in spite of the dangers of cars moving close by. In that split second instinctively you would have 'assessed the situation'. You would have judged the danger s from which the child had to be removed and the risk to yourself. Further, you will have noticed that the toddler had made no movement after falling. Her limpness in your arms, with no response, will co nfirm your suspicion of unconsciousness and you then look for breathing. For a second or two you may think she is not breathing and you vow to l earn how to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Then, to your relief, s h e takes a breath and the ashy blueness of the lips changes to pink. You watch the breathing all the time to see if it becomes noisy or snoring, if blueness of the lips returns or fine froth appears at the lips, when the breathing is obstructed in the airway (the passage of breath through the mouth, throat , voice box and lower air pa ssages). The obstruction is most likely due to the back of the tongue blocking the throat. Then all you have to do is lie the chil d on her side, face tilted down with the head back. This is the 'recovery position' us ed in all unconscious people except those with a broken spine. It provides a free airway. Luckily, even though toddler landed on her head and knocked herself out, she was wearing a bonnet and you can see at once that there is no bleeding. As you have remem bered all the priorities, the next step is to obtain medical help. Ask
person, then the details of the fall, and finally the surroundings. Then attend to the priorities at once.
Falls
Some things that decide the effects of falls PERSON: AGE
Babies cannot save themselves.
Active people are venturesome and often court danger.
Elderly often live alone , become slow, senses decline an d they develop brittle bones.
ILL-HEALTH
Epilepti c fits strokes and heart attacks cause falls.
Faulty se n ses, poor eyesight, hearing and balance, and loss of mu scle control also ca use falls.
Rare di seases, brittle bones, bleeding dis eases cause co mplicate fails.
FALL: HEJGHT (Conditions which d e termine type of injury)
Failing from standing to floor , in running , slipping, tripping, from furniture level, from chairs, tables, b e ds, cots, prams, etc.
Stairs , ladders roofs , trees.
Hor se back.
Cliffs, mountain s, pits , caves.
MANNER
Forward , back ward, sideways, twisted.
Headfir st, feetfirst.
Impeded by ropes, treetops , bushes.
LANDING
Soft cushions, mattresses, trampolines, water.
Hard ground, floor , paving, gravel.
Irregular blunt stones, rails, furniture. Sharp or pointed objects. Hot stoves, fires, irons.
Hazards mentioned above. Poor housing conditions. And several others. Make their own lists.
someone to get the am bulance or for a lift in a car to hospital quickly. All the time you keep toddler in the recovery p osition, watching for evidence of obstructed breathing or the return of movement and awakening.
When you get to hospital tell the sister or doctor exactly what happened: how toddler fell suddenly over the edge of the pram onto her head; how she lay without moving for that second in the gutter ; how limp she was in your arms; how you thought at first she was not breathing ; then how she made noises like snoring until you put her in the recovery position and how she began to move as you travelled to hospital.
Already you have begun to learn first aid.
1. You have calmly taken charge.
2. You have assessed the situation.
Noting: the Surrounding Dangers - in this case mechanical but in oth e rs they might have been fire, electrici ty , or water ; the Patient - you have remembered the Priorities (BBC ), you have recognised unconsciousness , you have learned some signs of obstructed breathing, noisy breathing, blueness and froth at the lips.
3. You have made a diagnosis: Unconsciousness due to head injury.
4. You have treated your patient for you placed her in the recovery position.
S. You have helped transport her to hospital.
You have made a good start, but in life things are seldom simple. There are so many ways of falling that no-one can remember all the difference s (see below)
Make no attempt to do so. When you are called to an InJ ury due to falling , remember to observe first the fallen
After 50 years ...
68-YEAR-OLD Mr. 'Charlie' Joy ce, who joined the Stores Depar tment at St. John 's Gate i n 1924 com plet ed 50 years of working for th e Ord e r of St. John on January 29 1974 - and during that time he has not had aile day off for illness or other reaso ns , other than his normal holiday s. What a record' South London e r Charlie, who was in the RASC durin g World War Two, is an Offi ce r Brother of th e Ord e r. Hi s present
work include d espatching order of first-aid eq uipm e nt , and of the future he says: I 'd be bored t o death if I r eti red J'm happy at work'
On the day of his 50th anniversary, th e Order 's Chancellor Sir Gilb e rt Englefield pres e n e d Charlie wi th an engraved si lver plat e, he hoped h e' d be at Supplies for another 50 years.
'If r am,' quipped Charlie, I hop e [ get a go ld plate.'
(Above) Charlie after receiving his sil ver plate and (Left) with colleagues from the Supplies D epartment outside The Gate
If you want to getahead get aquad division
SOON AFTER SJA Workington division s became a quadrilateral division last summer, Mrs Carol Carruthers wa s seconded as sergeant-in-charge to the nursing cadets, who comprised one sergeant and 24 cadets. Their divisional officer had resigned As all the cad e ts were under 15, Mrs. Carruthers could not promote a leader but three cadets were promoted to corporal.
All the cadets had obtained their Essentials of First Aid certificates , so Mrs Carruthers first organised a preliminary home nursing course. By December, 19 cadets had passed the examination
Also by December - three months after Mrs. Carruthers took over - the nursing cadet strength was up to 53 ( doubled) , having los t 6 , gained 28 probationary cadets and 5 juniors.
Mrs. Carruthers does not in tend to continue increasing the cadet strength at this pace, and already has had to refuse several girls who wanted to join. She proposes to take new members only at the end or beginning of each year , and so make Workington cadets a stable ,
efficient unit of the division. Last year the par e nts' c ommitt e e provided the nur sing cadets with ne a rly £400-worth of new uniforms and duffel coats and £40-w o rth of bo o k s Th e a dult section allocated them a store room , and they now have ampl e equipment. A local factory gave them 5 dozen berets
On the duty front , the nursing cadets are now working closely with the adult s, and with them cover theatr e and arts club duties , a nd helped with the house-to-house collections. In 1973 (Sept . to Dec .) they did 201 Y2 duty hours , and their target f or 1974 is t o double thi s 4-monthly figure.
Mrs. Carruthers, i n her impress ive annual report , thanked Divi sional Offi c ers Miss K. D. Wils on and Mr. D. Taylor , and county staff for their support.
W .A. RYAN MBE, CStJ,
The many friends of Mr. W. A. Ryan Direc tor A ssocia tion, Northern Ireland will be deeply shocked to learn of his sudden death on February 9, shortly after having welcomed the Lord Prior on a vi sit to th e Commandery.
Although Mr. Ryan had been Director only since April 1973 , hi s remarkable personal i ty had already made it self felt at conference s of County Directors and at meetings o f the Association Committee where hi s wise counsel warm humanity and abundant Irish charm made him a
During
We
Dr. P. A. B. Rafflelectures extensively on occupational health
With Professor H. C. Stewart's a p poi n t men t a s d e put Y to the Director-General, Mr. N. F. Marsh, the Association Branch's new Chief Medical Officer is Dr. P. A B. Raffle, MD, M R CP, DPH, DIH, who is Chief Medica-I Officer, London Transport Executive He is a member of the Industrial Health Advisory Commi ttee of the Department of Employment, Chairman of the Transport Committee of the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention , Deputy Chairman of the Occupational Health Committee of the British Medical Association , and Past-President of the Society of Occupational Medicine and of the Occupational Medicine Section of the Royal Society of Medicine . Dr. Raffle qualified in 1942, served in the RAMC as a Major and entered occupational medicine in 1948. He lectures extensively on occupational health matters.
RETIRED
Surrey county staff met recently to say farewell to Sir George Scott , CBE, KPM, on his retirement as their County Commander.
AROUND and ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST, JOHN
BY THE EDITOR
After a distinguished career of 51 years in the police (33 years as chief consta ble in 5 different forces), Sir George became Surrey's SJ County Director nearly 5 years ago. He revitalised the Association branch and strengthened ind us trial first-aid training schemes throughout the county. He was appointed Commander in 1972 , and brought to Surrey a wealth of SJ experience having been County Director of Yorkshire for 10 years. He was made a Knight of St. John in 1966. After retirement Sir George will continue as a member of the Surrey St. John Council. The new County Commander is Colonel R B. Readhead DS O , MA, a serving staff officer.
NOT STORES
The Stores Department at St. John's Gate is now called the S t. John Supplies Department, and its manager Mr. J ohn Webb becomes Director of Supplies.
FLOWE RS - LUNCH
On Tuesday, May 7, at the Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly , London WI, there will be an Ikebana flower display and charity
APPOINTMENTS
Bed fo rd : Dr. Clark resigned as County Surgeon ; succeeded by Dr. J R. Hassard.
Be r ks: Brigadier Kelly h as resigned as C. StJ A for reasons of health.
Kent: Mr. H. E Chaplin relinquishes the appointment of Area Commissioner on becoming AssL County Director.
Surrey: Mr. H. C. Hygate to Dep. Com.
W. R id in g : Lt. Col. W. R. Everatt resigned as Commissioner S W Area; succeeded by Dr. V. Altman.
luncheon in aid of the Order of St. John
The occasion is being organised by Princess Helena Moutafian in conjunction wi th Mrs. Joan Lu twyche, who is a master of the Ichiyo school of Ikebana (say icky as in Mickey).
The charity luncheon will cost £5 , and the exhibition will be open to the public from 3pm at a charge of SOp per programme. Tickets to the luncheon can be obtained on application to the Order
of St. John , Gro svenor Crescent , London, SW I 7 EF
OURS
Th e Ho spi taller of the Ord er Mr. Keith Lyle tell s me that the 'eye hospital in J eru sa lem' rep o rted in the national pre ss during Fe bruary a s having been bequeathed the eyes of King Hu ssein of Jordan is, in fa c t , our own St. John Ophth almic Ho spital.
NEW HOME
J hear that SJ A Harwich , Essex, loses it s rent-free meeting place at the town hall in April , but gains its own h ea dqu art ers after 42 years sharing with other organisations
When the chief technical officers of the n e w distri ct co un ci l move to H arwich Town Hall in April the two rooms the Brigad e has been using will be ne eded. But members are already preparing for thi s and are busy working on a building in
30m em be rs from Caterham recentl y visited St John HQ Malta (L to R) Mr C Saliba, Mr E. Borg, Commissioner for Malta, a nd Caterh a m Division's, Supt S Latham and P resident K. Sandiford
Barrack Field , Dover cou rt , lea se d to them by Harwi ch Co mmunity Association.
Me mb ers are working on the building , a former sergeants' mess , in their spare time and hope to have it re-designed and in use by September.
FIRST TRIP
Wa ntag e Combined Division' s new am bulance , delivered early February , was given a commissioning run of a joint SJ A/Red Cross ou ting to Weymouth for 5 e lderly Wantage people
The £3,000 ambulance , which can carry 8 si tting pa tien ts, 2 stretcher cases,
TEA-AND IKEBANA
or one stretcher and 4 sitting cases, was driven by Div. Sec. George Stewart, and carrie d a S1 A nursing c rew of three.
Arrangement s for the elderly passengers at Wantage a nd Weymouth were made by the local Red Cross.
DEAF HELP
The Royal ational Institute for the D eaf has recently produced a most attractive and informative leafl e t expressly designed to bring about a better understanding of deafne ss, an d how the young can best help in their d eali ng s with deaf and hard of hearing people.
Entitled 'Deaf and Hard of Hearing People', it is available free for distribution to children of upper primary and lower secondary age who are interested in the subject or engaged in project wQrk, from the R NID, 105 Gower St., London , WCIE 6AH.
ORDER HISTORY
London HQ's visual aids committee is working on a proposed film-strip on the history of the Order of st. John. If rea ders have any photographs , transparencies or other historical material which could be used in the project, they should contact Mr. P L. Adams , Secretary Visual Aids , St. John Ambulance HQ , 1 Grosvernor Crescent, London, SW1X 7EF.
CANCER
The Marie Curie Memorial Foundation , 124 Sloane St, London SW 1 X 9BP has organised a symposium 'Cancer - the patient and the family' to take place at London's Royal College of Surgeons of England on May 14. Details from the Foundation.
NEW SURVEY
Muriel Skeet, SRN , BRS Chief Nursing
O fficer and well-known for her 1967 'Home from Hospital' report and other studies, is organising a new survey to look in t 0 the role and preparation of volunteers working within the National Health Service.
Financed by a grant of £17,000 from the Leverhulme Trust Fund, the study seeks to discover how patients , their families, doctors, nurses and social workers regard the use of volunteers in meeting patients ' needs, as well as to
define the rol e and preparation of such volunteers.
'There are two main pro blems with volunteers facing doctors a nd nurses today', says Muriel Skeet. 'Firs t , those with specific training and sk ills ; secondly, the untrained , who are nonetheless willing to do jobs normally undert aken by professionals. It is part of our task to ensure that doctors and nurses are satisfied that volunteers are properly prepared for such roles, exactly what these tasks should be and how much training is required .'
The survey will probably take two years to complete and the pilot stu dy in the London area will be followed by investigations in rural and urban areas.
BOOKLET
A new 24-page booklet 'Peop le in Wheelchairs Hint s for Help ers', which contains sections on stan d ar d and special features on differ ent types of wheelchairs the best method of transferring and lifting the occupant, negotiating wheelchairs up and down different levels a list of Do 's an d Don ts and hints on maintenance, and a list of further sources of information for the disabled or their relatives, is available, 13p plus postage from Red Cross County Branches or The Stores Dep artment, BRCS 4 Grosvenor Crescent, London , SWIX 7EQ.
'I
My strongest impressions during the 3 Y2 hours that r spent with our first-aid parties in Trafalgar Square wer e of the efficiency of the Brigad e orga ni sation and th e high sta ndard of our vehicles and equ ipment , the cheerfulness and cameraderie of all those on duty , and the perfect co-operation on equa l terms of efficient service and mutual respect be tween the Brigade, the London Am bulance Service and the Metropolitan p olice. These three bodies - two of them professional an d statutory, and the third voluntary and non- statutory - worked together in perfect harmony as a completely integrated service to the community; which all goes to show that there are still (and I believe always will be) occasions when the trained volunteer can u sefully and acceptably serve side by side with the professional worker in the welfare state , provided that all concerned genuinely desire to establish an atmosphere of mutual confidence and respect.
Look - and you find In this connection I read with great interest, and a very large measure of agreement, Part 1 of the most stimulating and entertaining article Let's Look to the Future! in the February Revi. ew But I feel bound to join issue with the author when, writing of the attitude of the police, he says: 'You see they are professional take-chargers and we are on ly amateur do -gooders with no way of esta blishing our (pro ba bly I) considera bly greater -capa bility.'
I challenge that state m ent on two grounds: first , because it is co mpl etely at variance wi th my 0 wn personal experience during 35 years in the Brig ade; and secondly, because it reveals a hubristic attitude which it ill becomes us to adopt. Of course one meets rare individual examp l es of snooty policemen, just as one meets rare individual examples of s nooty Brigad e members. Many years ago I recollect a policeman taking his re-exam in an Association course, and the examiner asked him wh3t he would do for an infant who had inhaled steam from a boiling kettle. I can't remember what he replied but the somewhat testy examiner remarked 'That's a bloody silly answer', and received the retort 'Well, it was a bloody si lly question'. Th e policeman did not receive a re-examination certificate! And then there's the old story of the first-aider (an apocryphal story, may be, but I'm afraid one has met others like him) who rushed up to a casualty, sweeping a ll helpers asi.de and loudly proclaiming that he was a first-aider and everything would be all right. Pre sently, a meek littl e man among the bystanders tapped him on the shoulder and said 'When you come to the bit in the book where it says "Send for a doctor ", d on't
AT RANDOM
(Cont. from page 1)
worry, because I'm already here.'
But serious ly , I have helped to train and examine scores of policemen on Association courses; I have known many policemen as Brigade members and officers of divisions; and I have worked with policemen who were total strangers to me, on numerous road accidents and other emergencies; and I cannot remember ever finding them adopt the attitude of 'p rofessional take-chargers versus amateur do-gooders', but always an attitu d e of co-operation and mutual respect. There are many occasions in life when, if we look for what we expect to find , we shall almost certainly find what we are looking for.
Found
While writing on relationships, I'm reminded that what we have for years known as the 'Stores Department ' has now become the 'Supplies Department' , and the 'Genera l Manager' has become the Dir ector of Supplies'. What' s in a name?
Well , a name can very often affect, even su bconsciously, the attitude of both parties in a relationship ; and the name 'Stores' can all too easily conjure up in many people's minds (on both sides of the counter) some of the less attractive attributes of the traditional quartermaster dishing out what he's got, whether it's what you want or not. And this can affect the relationship between Priory Hous e and its wholesale suppliers no less than it affects the relationship between Priory Hou se and its customers.
Supplie s', we hope, conjures up the idea of service to a customer who is alw ays right (even on occasions when we secretly know he's wrong), and may not only help the customer to be more often right than he was before, but also help the Supplies Department to offer the best service. I've been dipping into John Webb's post-bag lately , and with his permis ion I quote the following examples to encourage you as much as they have encouraged him From an Area Commissioner: Pleas e
accept my appreciation for the efficient service that I have been getting from the stores over the past few months. As an arch-critic a couple of years ago it is only right that I say thank-you for the se rvice that you are now able to give. Several of my divisions have commented to me how quickly they are getting supp lies through!'
From a Divisional Superintendent: 'With reference to my phone call on Friday re first-aid equipment, we collected the parcel on Saturday morning from the passenger station, sent Red Star as promised. We wish to thank you and your staff for the spee dy action to ensure we received these items in time for our competition held on Sunday Payment will be made prompt as soon as we receive the invoice.
From a 10-year-old girl: ' Thank you for your kind letter, also for the calendar, first-aid book and for the leaflets. When I sent off my last letter I only expected a letter and a list of books that I could buy. Anyway to the point, Mum wa s saying that she and Dad would like to learn first aid also. So I was wondering if you could write and tell me were any adult courses going If so please write and tell me. Yours hopefully Once again, if we look for what we expect to find, we are much more likely to find what we are looking for.
Expect - and you get I've just been reading the monthly divisional bulletin of a combined division that has recently held its annual Association first-aid course for the public, and in the final paragraph it welcomes seven new members , including two married coup l es. This seems to me not only to prove the value of the St. John family spirit' in com bined divisions, but to give the lie to the oft-repeated moan tha t Brigade-sponsored courses are unproductive of recruits.
It all d epen ds on how the course is presented and on getting the right relationship. If you run a course for the public , expecting to get no recruits it'll probably be a rotten course and you won't be disappointed; but if you run a course with the expectation of success in recru itment, it's much more likely to be a really good course and you won't be disappointed either!
Tour As I writ e, the is just off on a tour of S t. John Ambulance in Jamaica , Antigua and Bermuda , from which he is due to have returned by the time that you read this. He has kindly promised to give us news of his tour for publication in the R eview, though he may not be back in time for this to appear in next month's issue.
(Left) 'Got you!' says 13- year - old Sheila Kitchen, clutching the efficiency cup, which makes her Fleetwood 's Nursing Cadet of the year. (Photo: Jean E. Lomas)
(Right) And 13- year - old Angela Allen, of Leeds, says 'Got it!', when she became the fist member of Hunslet and Holbeck Nursing Cadet Division to be awarded the Grand Prior badge for 10 years Leeds United footba lIer Eddie Gray presented it to her Angela's mother Mrs Maureen Allen is the division's acting 0/0 and sister Susan is also a member. (Photo: Yorkshire Evening Post)
L AU G H WITH DAN, THE FIRST AID MAN
Got you Safe at last!
A MAN struggles for survival in the icy-cold choppy sea off Penarth, South Wales. But help isn't far away.
For speeding across the water (above) in their inshore rescue boat are the men of the Cardiff mobile division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.
Soon the waiting man is grabbed (left) by Gerald Smi th and Doug Hartley as coxswain Dave Roberts keeps the craft steady.
But the rescue wasn't real - the man who braved the freezing water is Wyndham Wheeler, another member of the Brigade.
Three-man teams from the division use an inshore rescue boat to keep an eye on bathers and yachtsmen off Penarth and Lavernock d.uring the summer.
The high-speed, inflatable craft takes only minutes to reach swimmers or small boats in difficulties in the channel's notorious curren t.
But the little rubber craft that served them well during the summer is coming to the end of its days and the Brigade is appealing for funds for a new one.
Mr. Douglas Hartley, Deputy Commissioner for East Glamorgan and
The crew staged the mock drama in a rescue exercise for a new service to cut the growing number of drownings and boating incidents in the Bristol Channel.
leader of the rescue team, said: 'Our present boat is old and the engine won't last much longer. A replacement will cost about £1,200 and so far we have raised about £450.
'Thi part of the coast is very popular for water sports and the strong tides can play havoc with inexprienced yachtsmen.'
The rescue team included Mr. Hartley, Police-inspector Gerald Smith, of Roath; their trainer Dave Roberts, aged 34, and Wyndham Wheeler, aged 28.
(Reprinted and photos from Western Mail & Echo, Cardiff)
IF ANYO E THINKS a cidet officer's life is an easy one, they should think again. For cadet activities cover many subjects, all of which the officer has to be knowledgeable. And youngsters today are very demanding in finding out about new things - a healthy sign, but again the officer is expected to have all the answers at hand.
O ur Division (Herts Hoddesdon Combined Cadets) is in the Lea Valley , which is to become one of London's largest regional parks specialising in water sports, so I thought the next generation of l ocal St. J ohn members shou l d have a goo d knowledge of water activities.
First I decided on canoeing, which should appeal to the cadets as an extra subject. I contacted our local Young Mariners basin to see if they could organise a novice canoe course for us They were most helpful and agreed, so I carefully se lected three boys and three girls (average age 14) from the elder ca d ets for this experiment in divisiona canoeing.
Cadets Ahoy!
The boating bug has bitten this division, says A. W.
The six cadets had never set foot in a canoe before, so we were starting from scratch. The course was to be on a Sunday: the morning from 10 o'clock was allocated to instruction, with an hour's break for lunch, and the afternoon was to include practise and a test, finishing at 5 o'clock.
A t the basin on the day we collected our canoes and lifejackets from the boathouse and off we went into a new world of water and delicate craft that reacted to our slightest movement.
The instruction went like clockwork, the cadets taking to this sport literally like ducks to water. Lunch could not be eaten fast enough, and the six of them were soon badgering the instructor with 'can we start again? ' But he insisted that everyone had a full hour's rest. So the cadets started plying him with questions about the senior course, when could he arrange one, and what would they have to do? They were really bitten by the canoeing bug.
All six cadets passed the test with
another cadet bought their son one too.
So noW we could muster our own fleet of three boats, and with a donation of £ IS we are going to buy a mould and s tart building further gla ss -fibre ca noes
The big problem now is find ing qualified instructors , bu t we hope soo n to have one of our divisional members trained as an in s tructor.
Having established our canoeing activities , the next obvious c hoice in water activities wa s general boat-work, which is of course a proficiency subject.
A young man who works with me is a sailing enthusiast and holds certificates acceptable by the Young Mariner s basin
He agreed to instruct us , so we wer e se t fair for a series of weekend courses which I hoped the cadets would enjoy as much as they had canoeing.
The first thing they learned about sailing was that it req uires team work and concentration. We have, as with most divisions, a 'noddy-know-all' among our cadets. When afloat he wa s so busy yakety-yaking that , as the boat approached the bank and the other crew-members prepared to 'go-about', he forgot his role in the manoeuvre and the
Hands across the sea
boat ran straight into the bank. And when he was allowed to be helm sman , he tacked without warning anyone and the boom swung o ver nearly clobbering the crew. At such times our cadets are very proficient at nauti ca l language
Light-weight centreboard sailing boats, if not skilfully handled , are always liable to capsize; so capsize drill is essential for the beginner in sailing. Such boats are fitted with extra buoyancy so that in the event of a capsize they float on their side, high out of the water. The crew, who are by then probably in the water hanging onto the boat (and they must not panic) pull the boat upright again and clamber in, to continue sa iling. Apart from getting wet - which is part of the boating scene, anyway capsizing, although be st avoided of course, should become routine for the dinghy sailor.
Our cadets soon got the hang of the manoeuvre and capsizing ceased to worry them from then on.
Coming back to our chatter-box, he did no better at rowing than at sailing. He went out in a boat with a senior girl who rowed while he steered, chatting as usual. And steering, of course, 111 the wrong
direction Then it was his turn to row, hers to steer. She headed the boat straight for the bank, jumped out, and shoved him off. He then tried to change seats, lost an oar, and drifted out into the middle of the lake But he managed to learn to row with one oar so as to get back to shore in time for tea.
Our cadets have now completed eight weekends of general boat-work on inland water s, and we are now hoping to co ntinue our training on salt water at the Bradwell Sailing Centre in Essex . In June we have another weekend at our Mariners basin with canoeing instruction for younger cadets 3nd boat-work for the seniors. A.nd in August we hope to hold a senior canoeing course at our county camp at Ross-on-Wye. Water activities, as in Britain generally, are very popular with cadets, and I've often wondered whether St. J ohn couldn't organise its own national outward-bound school, with leadership courses covering boa ting, rock-climbing, cliff rescue, and of course camping. Senior cadets who attend the school would then be qualified instructors for exciting local divisional activities.
Editor: Let's hear, with photographs, about you r divisional outdoo r activitie s
The 5th international first-aid competition, in which cadet teams in Hamilton (Canada) Southwick and Wallasey (England) take the same test under the same conditions on the same day, was won by Wallasey's Bebington Nursing Cadets (their third win) in 1973. Second was Canada's Hamilton ursing Cadets, and third Southwick A & N Cadets.
flying colours and then moved ont o practising turning a canoe over and righting it again without falling out of the driving seat.
At 6 o'clock the instructor and I were vainly trying to get them back onto dry land, but it wasn't until an hour and a half la ter that we even tually succeeded.
After that first course I wa s continually badgered by the cadets with 'can we take the senior course, can we save for a canoe of our own and do first -aid patrols along the river during the summer?'
So a further canoe course was arranged that summer, the ages of the cadets taking part get ting younger and youngh And there was always a waiting list for the course. An extra subject that would appeal had certainly been found.
The news that we were canoeing without our own canoes got around the neighbourhood and we were presented with a boat which we soon overhauled and had in working order. I bought mY son a fibre-glass canoe and the parents of
H oddesdon cadets getting afloat on
Osborne, D ivis onal Officer
Winners again - Bebington's team
Hamilton's team were tops in Canada, 2nd overall
( Photo: Sussex P hoto Agency)
Maior disasters
Divisional training should cover a wide variety of realistic incidents
by M L. KENN EDY, D iv. Su p t. Wh i tby Ambulance D ivision
NO DOUBT every divisional superintendent will have received some instruction on how to cope with major disasters and will have found it interesting and informative. And divisions which have attended actual disasters will have found that this instruction, passed on to them by their superintendents, was extremely useful; yet they will admit that everything did not go as planned, and some very worth while self-criticism will no doubt follow their efforts. But in training, no one can plan for every eventuality, and the circumstances of every incident will differ; so the more we can practise coping with a wide variety of realistic incidents, the more effective our training will be.
I n Whitby, we have held four exercises during the past year. The first, with only five casualties, was a small farm accident, attended by the Ambulance Division on y. It was laid on for us by the officers of the Nursing Cadet Division, under the guidance of the County Am bulance Officer who actually gave us the w atched the exercise and summed up afterwar d s with comments and advice.
For the following three exercises members of all our four divisions have turned out. Number two was an accident between a lorry and a car, the car then running into a theatre queue. I n this we were assisted by ambulance members from the Eston Division. Number three was another farm accident. A motor cyclist at speed had failed to negotiate a ben d an d had run in to the farmyard, causing (among several other casualties) a man working a circular saw to sever his ar m above the elbow. O n this exercise we had the co-operation of the Marske Division and also of the police who directe d us to the scene.
Number four was the worst incident we have been gjven to date. The scene was set by our meeting at our HQ, and I was to ld that there had been an accident at t h e football ground: no other details were given. Ten adults and sixteen cadets arrive d by car and ambulance at the
ground. Sound effccts indicated a crowd in a riot. Use was made of the loud speaker system. At first sight there seemed to be bodies all over the stands.
Casualties A to G were seen at first glance, although F was partly hidden under the stands, and treatment was started immediately , the first case being one of severe arterial bleeding. Everything now seemed to be well under control, until I happened to look through a small gap at the bottom of the stands and saw a leg. This led me to find casualties Hand K. Whilst one of our nursing members was looking for material to make a cervical collar, casualty J was found. These discoveries caused us to make a wider search of the area, but thank goodness there were no more.
Casualty K proved on examination to be a case for urgent evacuation, in view of the alarming condition of her stertorous breathing. She was in fact D r. Lesley Cooper, leader and trainer of our Casualties Union. We were forgiven for not having found her fractured femur , which had been 'made up' in too great haste to be realistic. But half way to the ambulance she stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated: thank goodness our minute-man was handy!
By this time we had completed the essential first aid on the spot and evacuation was well under way. But although - thanks to the cadets - no casualty had been left unattended, either through excitement or lack of practical experience we had got our priori ties wrong and casualty E, whose arterial bleeding had been very effective ly controlled, was giving such a good exhibition of the effects of excessive blood loss that spectators and one nursing member were starting to yawn with him.
Casualty A, one of the last to be evacuated, gave us our biggest problem. She was on the sloping roof of the St. J ohn Ambulance hut about ten feet from the ground. Fortunately the roof was in good order and we were able, without causing any further casualty, to remove
year I would recommend every division to have a go at this type of training. Most of us woul d admi t that all the 'book work' in the world is utterly inadequate if we don't fo ll ow it up by actually practising the real thing; and an exercise of this na ture is as near a we can get to reality. It was very satisfying to learn that in the event of our exercise having been the real thing we would certainly not have disgraced ourselves.
I am very grateful to all the personnel
who gave up a precious Sunday afternoon to take part in this exercise. I'm sure that they enjoyed it and felt it to be well worth while. The afternoon finished, as usual , with baked potatoes and sausage rolls for all participants, and while we ate them we had a very useful discussion with members of the Casualties Union about our experiences of the day.
Summary of casualties:
A. Fractured tibia and fibula.
B. Abdominal stab wound with intestinal protu berance.
C. Arterial bleeding (arm).
D. Fractured spine (lumbar).
E. Burst varicose vein.
F. Fractured neck of femur.
G. Compound fracture of femur.
H. Fractured spine (cervical).
J. Stab wound in hand.
K. Fratures of femur, tibia and fibula; unconscious.
her on a stretcher through the side of the stands through which she had been thrown.
All these experiences can, I think , come under the heading of the Sl. John 'fun' that the Deputy Commissioner-in-Chief referred to in the Review's At Random for May 1973.
We now came to the most important part of the exercise, the 'post mortem' (if that isn't too unsuitable a phrase!) given by Dr. Cooper and our Divisional Surgeon, Dr. Loxstone. The story behind this accident was that Sunderland was awarded a penalty when Whitby Town were leading 1-0 in the closing minutes of the game. A riot broke out and among other things a knife was used. A, D, H and K had been thrown out of the stands; C had injured Band J and himself; E, F and G had been injured by crowd movement, F being pushed through the stand onto the ground below.
Had we diagnosed each casualty correctly? Had they been correctly and effectively treated? Had they been evacuated in the right order of priority? Had they been subjected to minimum discomfort? On the last count we were highly commended; on the other three there was still room for improvement although we had improved considerably during our series of exercises and did not have the humiliating experience of being told that a casualty would probably be dead from lack of care or treatment. We were told that it took 14 minutes to find casualties Hand K and a further 4 minutes to find J, and our doctors were perhaps kind to us in not declaring K to be a corpse.
It was evident that the senior person presen should only ini tially concern himself with the preservation of life and should as soon as possible adopt an a dministrative role to organise the treatment of the more serious casualties, the search for hidden casualties or any who had wandered away, and the correct priority for evacuation.
From our experience over the past
A car ahead crashes could you help?
YOU ARE motoring along when the car in front swerves violently and runs off the road. What would you do?
This was the question posed by an SJA exercise held at Holyhead, Anglesey, recently. O rganised by CISlO J. O. Williams, and involving the local SJ A Division, police and fire service, the 'accident' which involved 6 cars (one on fire) and 6 casualties was watched by a large crowd of people.
The following procedure was produced:
What to do fi rst
Avoid becoming a casualty yourself know the life-saving procedures.
Pull up at the front of the accident.
Park your car a way from the scene.
If you have passengers warn them not to leave the car.
The exact place of the accident. How many casualties.
How m any cars involve d POlice, ambulance, doctor, fire service.
First-aider should make good use of responsible bystanders.
Use every bit of help you can get.
People will follow a lead, if you ask.
Look for -
First aid equipment.
Blankets, rugs, coats
Fire ex tinguishers.
Look for improvisation.
Do not take for granted there is only one casualty in the car.
Search and listen for more casualties.
What about fire ?
Do not let this panic you.
Fire extinguisher, blanket or earth.
What a bout lift i ng ca r ?
Be sure you are not pushing the other side down onto someone.
If people are pinn ed
Trapped
Held by a foot.
Twisted under a seat etc.
Crawl in (if you can).
Make sure the car will not roll.
Blood lost
First-aider should try to assess the amount of blood lost.
Spilt inside the car or on the road.
Soaking in to clothing, etc.
Casualties
Panic handling helps nobody.
The
Do not remove the injured immediately (unless in danger).
Do not drag them out.
Do not twist.
Do not turn.
Do not worry about abrasions, bruises etc., the important thing is to SAVE LIFE.
First-aider
Tend to go for the wound first (blood)
PRIORITIES: I. Breathing; 2. Bleeding; 3. Unconsciousness.
Scene of accident
Thrown through the windscreen. Trapped.
Chest inj uries.
Shocked, frightened. Fractures.
Heart attack.
Blood and wounds.
Unconsciousness.
We often see people die who could have been saved if they had not been moved by inexperienced people.
Ac ti on NO PANIC - BE CALM Take charge at the scene of the accident.
Check
Safety of casualties, yourself and bystanders.
Instil confidence to casualty and all. Talk, listen and reassure.
ST. JOHN'S WORT
from Lew Got ch, PRO
The article on St. John 's Wort in the February R eView reVIved some delightful memories of what perhaps today is consi dered a very little flower.
When I joined the Brigade many years ago the veterans of the time all had the plant growing in their gardens , propagated from a 'master' plant in the garden of Dr. W. E. Audland, who introduced the movement into Wellingborough and went on to in the higher spheres of the Brigad e, inclu ding the Ambulance Committee at Headqu arters. These men wore the flower in their buttonholes on St. John 's Day , and to see wearing it on any other occasion meant that they w ere observ111g a personal even t or an niversary.
A bowl of the flowers wa s always the cent r e-piece of the top table at the Division's a nnual dinner, while others made their own in div idual contributions with vases on other tables.
Also the tables on which the trophies an d prizes were d isp l aye d at the annual competitions were not co mplete without a di splay of the emblem.
I recall too that at the funeral of a prominent officer, when there was an of St. John personnel from a wide area, each dropp ed a sprig of St. John's Wort on to the coffin as they filed by the open grave.
It was it was said, vested with magi ca l and medIcal powers but the only 'way I ever heard of it being used this direction was as an application to a brui se and that I should was more as a cold app li cation than for any medicinal propertIes It possessed.
Reveren ce for what I have he ar d described as 'not a very pretty flower' may seem st range to many day Brig a de m embers but it was on such st range foundatIOns that. the movement grew - and some sort of return to these old tradItions would not be out of place in today's materialistic world.
Wellingborough L ew Gotch
SENs from Miss K. D Wilson , SEN , SRN , Division a l Officer
On re-reading some back num bers of The R eview, I came across a lett er I meant to comment on at the time.
In July 1973 Re x Ingrams stated that SEN.s well to th e standard of the bone fide Brigade member. (I th111k It was 111 answer to a comment from Lilian R iley when she wrote about competitions.)
I wonder if he bases his view on expenence or Just on th e fact that first aid is included in the SEN 's official syllabus of traIning?
In my experience this i s not the case as far as ? ut sl d e F.-A. IS concerned. I am a SEN and SRN and irr both tra111111g penods I received only a smattering of first aid, not in my up St J ohn standards and certainly not enough to be efficIent 111 road-side first aid or up to competition sta ndards. Every SRN ?r SEN I know or have spoke n to agrees with me and says they dld not get much F.A. training. In fact, we had two SENs at o ur public class last year because they wanted to lea rn some .a ld. I was lucky. I was in St. John Ambulance before mto nursing. Neverthele ss SENs and SRNs are very useful to us 111 the nursing side of our training and we need them. Workington Kathl yn D Wilson
TO MALTA
from B W. J. Cutcliffe , County Staff Officer
I wonder if any of your readers have ever co nsidered orgams111g a visit to Malta for fellow mem bers? A party of SO mem bers an d f r iends of the Brigade in Bri stol and Somerset have recently returned from such a holiday and our unamimous de CISIOn IS that it was an unforgettable experience so mu ch so that a number of us want to repeat the visit again next year.
During our stay in Malta we were the guests of Corps Staff Offi cer E. Tortell, at Malta Di strict H ea dqu ar ters, where. we renewed our acquaintance with D r. R. L. Cheverton,. one tIme Deputy Commissioner of Bristol County and still an ?fflCer of the Briga d e in Malta. The various tours to places of 111teres t were
READERS VIEWS
Readers' views and opiniOnS, which should be sent to the Editor, a lthough published are not necessarily by the Editor or the Order of St. John and its Foundations. Alth ough readers may sign published letters with a pen-name, writers must supply their name and address to the editor.
organise d by Divi sional Offi cer V Bug eja. Our thanks are due to these two officers for making our visit such a success I know we are not the only party from this co un try to VISIt Malta recently and I am sure that members of the other partie) would agree with us that it is the holiday of a li feti me If anyone would like further d etai l s I sha ll be on ly too pleased to help them.
62 Charnwood R oad, Whitchurch , Bris tol BS14 DiY B W. i Cu tcl1[!e
COMPETITIONS
from Alan J. Sharkey ot I am pleased to read (February R eview) that Co lm Gale d oes n allow the 'p rofessional' teams to dampen his enthusiasm for competitions. As Colin probably knows , the police teams are not always successful. Several year ago a scratch team from Hav ant l ' Divi sion which had not even practised together beat a po Ice d in the county competition and when the marks were anoun ce
the team lead er was h ea rd to say to his fellow police officers that they would probably all get the sack when they reported back! However professionalism is just one of the criticisms lev elle d at co mp etitions today I can under stan d that for people suc h as fulJ-time ambulance crews competitions maybe unnecessary (although even the ambulance ser vice s run their own competitions) but for the vast majority of S1. John members I should have thought that competitions were in di spensab le as a mean s of maintaining an acceptable eve l of expertise. I would be the first to agree that competition con d itions hardly ever equate with the real thing No competition will ever simu late the conditions so often met in real life, s u ch as having to treat a cas ualty in th e middl e of the night in pouring rain with ones clothes covere d in vomit and blood. N eve rthele ss I feel that competitions provide a real incentive for improving the level of first-aid knowledge. If the police teams make that standar d a high one, then so much the better. ] feel personally that if my first-ai d knowledge is not good enough to mak e a reasonable showing in a competition , then it is unlikely to be of a higher standard at a real incident no matter how different that incident might be from co mpetiti on con dition s. I am quite sure that those first-ai ders who get beyond county level really are very good first-aiders an d are not simply well versed in co mpetition 'technique'. I know that I should be co nfident in the first-aid treatment I would receive if I w ere ever to suffer an accident in Bol sover Colliery! It may well be that there is a case for changing the shape an d form of competitions, which have been virtually unchanged for more than 60 years Mean while, I feel that it is particularly disappointing that so me area competitions are now entirely cadet competitions with no a dult teams taking part, and I consider myself fortunate to be a member of a more enlightened division. Havant Alan 1. Sharkey
PARLEZ DU LA LINGUA?
from John Webb, Dir ect or , Supplies Department Rea ders Views expresses much of great interest and I would raise a topic - foreign language s - which sho uld now concern all those connected with the Ord er of St. John. Accidents occur in countries such as Spain, Germ any Yug oslavia, France, Italy and Holland at a greater rate than at home. So I am suggesting group learning of languages to enable us to deal with the foreigner involved in an accident in Britain and
Bed-making -1292 times
Twelve nursing ca dets of SJA Bl etchley have made 1,292 beds in 24 hours - a marathon that may go into the Guinness Book of R ecords. Working in teams of two , with each bed made counted only as a half - hence the real tot al was 2 584 - the girls did 2 hours bedmaking, with 4 hours rest in between.
Organised by Div. Supt. Mrs. Gladys Walpole the girls were sponsored to raise funds for a trophy for regional competitio ns.
Our photo shows Julia Fuzzens, 17 , an d D iane Clarke, 16, hard at work.
(Photo : Luton Evening Post).
to give correct first aid while on holiday at some sun-soaked resort ab road This could only spread knowledge of the work of SJ A where such organisations do not exist.
Britain is making great effort for closer liaison with EEC countries. Last year a party from Germany's J ohanniter took part in a combined camp at Mitchett. A party of London Di strict members was entertaine d in Germany. And at Easter time many St. John members accompany pilgrims to Lourdes in France. For these reasons I feel we should try to be international in the spoken word too A first-aider can comfort and reassure only if what is being said is understood.
Language teaching tapes and discs could be used at training evenings of divisions where new ideas are needed to stimulate interest and widen knowledge.
St. John's Gate J ohn Webb
BED-MAKERS
THEY from Andrew R. Lock , PRO NO.4 (Ley ton & Leytonstone) Division feels proud of two of its youngest ambulance members, Adrian Hughe s and Dene Brimmicomb e-Wood
With little more than one year's adult service each - they are both ex-cadets of No. C 123 Divi sion, which undoubtedly helpsthey entered for the bed-making competition held at Oldchurch Ho spital, Romford , recently. So ab ly were they trained by D /N/ O Chris Stanndard, SRN., that despite, or maybe because of, their youth and the fact that of the 7 competing teams they were the only male entry, they achieved second place with 76 marks out of a possible 100.
Servi ce medal ribbons and officers' 'pips' figured prominently among the opposition, but undaunted by these the young men acquitted themselves with cre dit It is true they did not ask the young lady patient for her name (though they did give their own) and this regrctably cost them 4 points. Would such an omission really affect their work to that value, we ask rhetorically? Well , the judge evidently thought so, and we would not wish to quarrel with her experienced opinion. When competition standa rds are high , some manner of penalty has to be devised. Verb sap. We are happy to have taken part in so well organised and conducted a competition, an d would like to say 'thank you' to all concerned.
Leytonstone Andrew R. Lock
West Country SJA party in Malta
NEWS from SCOTLAND
READERS may be interested in a quick survey of the activities of mem bers of the Order in Scotland It bears out, I think, what I have been saying so often in tlus column: that Scotland is an exciting Priory to belong to.
Besides running their homes, the members of the Edinburgh Committee are pursuing their scheme for shel tered housing at Lennox Row on a larger scale than originally planned , for they have the chance of acquiring adjacent property.
The Glasgow Committee's interests, apart from the supervision an d financing of the Langside Home , are centred around the development of sheltered housing at Partickhill Road The latest information is that the building has now reached first-floor level bu there is some delay because of la ck of supplies.
The A berde en Committee, of course, runs the nursing home where the additional building is now being fully
used. A particular feature here is the demand for X-ray facilities , largely a result of the numbers involved in North Sea oil exploration.
The Stirlingshire Committee is extreme ly active and its fund-raising efforts are quite exceptional.
The Perth Committee is waiting until further advance i made with the Glenshee proj ect , bu t there is a proposal to extend the region covered by it.
The Hast Kilbride Committee devoted its interests first to the preparation of plans for the Glenshee project and secondly to the recr u itment of a substantial life membership. East Kilbride 's area has been extended to incorporate Stonehouse and this has naturally added to the work of the co mmitt ee l ea d ers, but many of the plans they have outlined will certainly rna terialise in the course of this year.
The Torphichen Committee are
WALES
A good j ob
A Newport (Mon.) member , Mr. Stephen Hoare of St. Julian 's Division , was praised re ce ntly for his prompt first aid to a man injured in a road accident. Motor-cyclist Paul Murphy, 18, suffere d jeg injuries when his machine and a car were in collision at Newport. Mr. Hoare administered first aid until the ambulance arrived, which took Mr. Murphy to hospital with a fractured femur. Divisional Superintendent of St. Julian's Division , Mr. L. D. Watkin s, said: 'Mr. Hoare, who's only been with u s for about a year, did a very good job o n the injured man' s leg.'
To the sun
A hundred member s of the Hospitallers Club of Wales whi ch comprises past and present members of St. John Am bulance , - visited St John Am bulance HQ in Ma lta recently while on a short holiday to the island for so m e winter sun.
Dr. J E Lloyd, County Surgeon for Gwent and chairman of the Hospitallers Club, led the party, which was organised by Mr. C. 1. Parry.
considering the extension of its region to take in the new town of Livingston , where there are already members. The committee holds over £2,000 which it hopes to use for the development of a home for adolescents. Negotiations are nt the moment taking place both with the County Council and the Secretary of State.
The Mountain Rescue Association is exceptionally active and has now at its disposal a specially equipped vehicle , the buying of which was made possible because of the generous gift of £5,000 by Mr. Elhs Lucas in memory of his mother Mrs. Lily Sophia Lucas.
The original scheme for the Gl e nshe e Project - the St. J ohn village was not approved by the County Council because of the inadequate roadway to the site
But agreement on another access has been reached with Major Farquharson of Invercauld and the new plans are with the Cou 'nty Council. Meanwhile the committee charged with so lvin g practical prob l ems has met and is consulting experts on the question of costing and other matters.
As said exciting projects.
OVERSEAS
10- year -
News from Divisions/Centres
DORSET -and inter-divisional first aid competition held at Parkstone St. John HQ on February 7 resulted in Brank so me
Combined Division teams taking the first four places: 1st Boy s team, 96 marks; 2nd Girls A team 94 marks; 3rd Mixed novice team, 71 marks ; 4th Girls B team, 63 marks ; 5th Parkst o ne Nursing Cadets, 62 marks; and 6th Turlin Moor mixed team, 46 marks.
An individual trophy test wa s won by Cadet Corporal Kenneth Davies, who also won the Tom Sherrin trophy as the Best Am bulance Cadet of the Year.
Cadet Su sa n Higgins , who won the Best Nursing Cadet trophy, last summer gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a young' boy pulled from the sea at Branksome Chine. A doctor and a nurse arrived on the sce ne and took over the patient.
JOHN REVI EW
First Grand Prior badges for Feltham nursing cadets (L to R) Sgt Rosemary Turle, Cpl. Elaine Turner and Cadet H. Turle
More than 100 guests were at Northumberland's Friends of St John Ambulance
Ashford)
REVI EW CROSSWORD No.4 (74) Compiled by W A P otte r
ACROSS:
3 S h o r test of the bones articulating with the manubrium. (5 3) 7 V essel s e m ptying into the righ t atrium. (4.4) 9. A s cene change
wh ere s p i r its m ay be hear d (6) 1 0 Cut a strange one before u s in
th e skin. (9) 1 1. M any sick an d R o m an fina ll y produces nutritiv e
m ea l. (6) 1 2. Abso l ute l y tire d -o u t from quite uneventful foot
pa tr o l ? ( 4-4 ) 1 6 Cerea l fro m poor yeast. (3) 1 8 Li mb with a lumin i um extremity is within th e l aw. (5) 20. Courage to remove
th e f eat h e r s. (5) 2 1 V eno m o u s snake gi ving early stage of as ph y x iatio n (3) 23. Fo ll owi n g a fluid-containing tumour it i s a ur n ary tract infection. (8) 27. Con c erning t e mperature in a part of th e e y e. (6 ) 29. Co rd res ult i n g from sept i c c h ange around fr ac tur e d a rm. (9) 3 0 M ain va r iat o n on a foe t a l m e m b r a n e. (6) 3 1. Ti ss u e to rn o r sp r aine d in m a ny i n ur ies to joints (8) 32. P s y c h o n e ur osis un us u a l this yea r. (8).
DOWN:
1 Meta l co n ta in er over a roa d i s a hoax (6) 2. R epro d uctive ce ll
co nt a in i ng ha pl oi d n um b er of chromosome s. (6) 3 A power of th e mind i n univ e r s i ty department. (7) 4. By arrange m ent , I tie sca lp s for t h e consultant. (10) 5. F ailur e le a ding to ura e mia. (5) 6
Un a bl e t o p ro v i d e spe c i m en for drunkenness t e st d u e to
r es p ira t o ry dif fic ul ty? ( 10 ) 8. O oze o u like swea t. (5) 1 2. A fu ll
in sp i ra ti on o f ocea n air? ( 4 .6) 13. D octo r in go ld bag for artificia l
r es p i r at i o n . ( 4 ) 14 A s m ashe d b ri d ge, perhaps? (6.4) 1 5. R egio n al p ro d uc t of e n gt h a nd brea d t h (4) 17. Ca tch sight of secret agent from th e east. (4) 19. A fter genera l anaesthetic it is t h e manner of
w a l k ing . ( 4 ) 22. B o n e w it h acro m io n an d coracoi d processes (7)
2 4 Dr a w s u p the sho uld ers to ex p ress doub or i nd ifference (6)
2 5 L i k e a ba b e at w ar? (2.4) 26. Exte rn al o c cipita l prot u bera n ce is in c h a r ge d a t o m. (5) 28. Ca r es for d etective sergea nt af t er ten. (5)
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD 1\10 3 (74)
ACROSS:
1 Flu .o rid e; 5. Sco r er; 1 0 . U n con s ciousnes s; 11 . Eyeli d s; 1 2 . A.l i m e.n t ; 1 3 . H ang ; 1 5. L ie 16. G rue l ; 19. Ease s ; 21. Gin ; 22. P o. n s; 2 4 Br o .m .is. m 26. B ash f uI ; 28. A bdo m ina l reflex 29 Err ors; 30 D et ru s.or.
1. F a u ces; 2 Un cle; 3. Ru nning
VISUAL AIDS
The S t. J ohn A mbuLance Multi -Media Appraisal Panel, which m ee ts fo rt n ightly at HQ and compris e s do c tors, nurses , first-alders and visual aid experts , is o n e of th e o fficia lly appoint e d panels of th e B ritish Medi cal Association , its re views b eing publish e d in the B MA 'I nfor m ation
I n 1 972, th e Guide to Films and First Aid was publish e d (available fr o m the Stor es, 35p plus p o stage ). I n mid-1974 it is hoped t o pUblish, with the kind assistance of the B ritish Life Assuranc e Trust, a compr e h e nsiv e multi-m e dia guide to mat e rial on first aid, nursing and alli e d topics
T h e Vi s u a l Ai d s Section at HQ has revised its b r oa d s h eet T he U se O f P rojecte d Materia l T o Suppo rt First A i d T rain in g', w
ich giv es information abo u t types of equip m e nts l ibraries of film materi a a nd source s of s upp l y of f ilm strip s, tape / s li de s programme s, et c. T h e broad s heet is free from V is ua l A i ds Section at HQ (Mr P L. Adams).
ROADSMASH R ESCU E Tape/Slide, 71 Transparencies (33 mins .) Hire.
M e di ca l Re c ording S e rvice Found a ti o n Kitt s Croft Writtl e, Chelm sford CM 1 3EH
This presentation ( 1974) sho w s a motorway smash and detail s poli c e, a mb ul an c e a nd fire pro c ed u res at the sc e ne of that c ras h T he pa n e l con s i d ere d this a goo d pre s entat on that covers it s subject we ll ; manifes tl y d esigne d as a teaching aid for the thr ee professio n a l services it wi ll be of great va lue to them It pr ese nt s the pr in ci pl es of first ai d i n a l uci d manner.
A ud ience: This p r ese nt ation is d irecte d at a specia li sed au di e n ce a nd is of g r eat va lu e to the m ; w i t h in the fie ld of St.
J o hn it mi ght be sc r eene d to a d va n ce d first-ai d e r s or m em be rs undertaki n g am bu l ance w ork.
IT'S QUICKER BY TUBE (16mm film, Col. 30 minsJ Free loan Guild Sound & Vi s ion Ltd. , Wood s ton Hou se , Oundle Road , P e t e rborough , PE 2 9PZ . A s al e s pro m ot o n film p ro d uced by the Seton G r oup to pub licise its pro du c t 'Tu be Gauze '.
T h is is a m oderate l y we ll produced fi l m that co v er s the fie ld of poss i bi lity for the tube gauze pro du ct. Some of the d ia l ogue is a l itt l e too te c h nica l fo r pr o p ose d a udi enc e A ud ience: N ur se s an d s t ud e n t n ur se s Tub e ga u ze is m entioned in the J oi n t F irst Ai d Manua l so t h e fi l m wi ll
TOP QUALITY BALL PENS Dles am pe d With 3 0 go ld lette rs an d spaces £1 10p per 100 pen s, V A T pa id S t a nd a rd c ha rg e for pos t & pa c kin g, 40p Ord e rs des pa tc h ed same d ay Al so ava la ble fi b re tip and re t rac tabl e Sa le o
Anatomical Teaching Models
Often an f{ elderly person \' ___ just doesn't get enough to eat. Sometimes he's too depressed to face food. Often there's no-one to cook proper meals for him. Or perhaps he can't afford more than a limited range of convenience foods. And the result: undernourishment.Without proper food he can't be bothered to get things done. He can't sleep properly at night. He feels / despondent and low. And before he knows it he's in the Downward Spiral.You can help by recommending Complan. Compl /an is a milkfbased balanced food that's just right fbr an elderly it's easy to make, tasty and very gentle on1ddlicate
digestions. It contains all the vitamins
proteins and
minerals to give him the nourishmerit he needs
Complan is good too-one the place of a
Sand your NEWS to the REVIEW
REVIEW
CARIBBEAN SPRING
A far-flung organisation such as St. John must have a communication network for stimulating growth through the exchange of ideas. The Review is a major part of that network.
Everyone of the 18,000 Brigade officers in the UK and those overseas (at least) should read the magazine and make a point of contributing something to its pages once a year.
Articles (any length), letters, news items, jokes, cartoons, and of course photographs (glossy black and white prints, any size) are always needed for your magazine.
Of course we prefer your material to be typed (treble spacing)' but if it is in longhand please print in CAPITALS names of people and places - and so help avoid errors.
Tell us - tell every one - what your division is up to. Be hearing from yousoon.
The Hospital Saturday Fund by Helen McCarr ick p.6
Around and About by the Editor p.8
At Random by Watkin W. Williams p.11
Accidents to the Elderly by R A. Elson p.12
5t. John stories p 14
Readers Views p.1 6
Order
(01-6038512). Editor Frank Driscoll
ADVERTISEMENTS
IN MARCH I undertook my first overseas tour as Commissioner -in-Chief when, accompanied by my wife, I visited Jamaica , Antigua and Bermuda. It was early spring when we arrived in Kingston, so we experienced spells of sunshine and rain (torrential at times) at a temperature around 75 - 80°F. My flrst duty was to call on H. E. the Governor-General (the Most Hon. Florizel Glasspole) and his wife, and hand respectively to Their Excellencies the Insignia of Knight of Grace and Commander (Sister) of the Order. We were received with great kindness by Their Excellencies , who showed us round King ' s House, the official residence, and its lovely garden which is famous in particular for its variety of trees, some of which are hundreds of years old while others have been planted in comparatively recent years by famous visitors including HM The Queen , HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Sir Winston Churchill.
Our hosts in Kingston were Dr. Roy Levy (Commander St. John Ambulance) and his wife, and to them we owe much for the immense amount of trouble that was taken to make our visit both lllteresting and enjoyable. I took the salute at a parade of some 100 members of the Brigade which was held outside the Headquarters, and after the inspection I had much pleasure in presenting the Service Medal of the Order to six of those on parade. There followed a social evening in the Headquarters, at which two mms that I had brought out with me (the Order film and a firstaid film called 'Give Him Air') were very much enjoyed by the large audience which filled the hall.
(Continued on p.l 5)
The Cruel Sea
A 5-day SJA rescue bid in the raging seas off the coast of Guernsey
by R. J. Herve, StaHOHic er(T)
THE W ORS T DISASTER in Guernsey waters since the war occurred recently when on the night of January 16 all eighteen crew members of the 2,085 ton Greek ship Prosperity were drowned when they encountered terrific seas and Force 11-12 winds whilst on passage from Finland to Greece with a cargo of timber. The following chronological account of the events which took place during the ensuing days illustrate once again the service to mankind rendered in the name of St. John.
Wednesday, 16
The first distress call was put out by the Pro sperity at 4.50pm and a tug requested. At this time the ship was estimated to be some 15 to 20 miles from the south-west point of Guernsey. Within a few minutes of the call, it had been ascertained by the harbour authorities that the RNLI lifeboat Sir William Arnold was also required and its crew was quickly assembled.
Shortly after the lifeboat's depar ture from the harbour of St. Peter Port, a message was received from the Prosperity to the efTect that if nothing further was heard from them it could be presumed that the crew had abandoned the vessel.
B y late evening it had proved impossible to pinpoint the exact position of the stricken s hip Airport radar had been unable to pick it up and searching aircraft met with no success. One pilot reported flying at 400ft. over the sea and spray had covered his windscreen!
The lifeboat, encountering 25ft waves, was operating in pitch darkness. Visibility was nil. So the search was rec\uctantly called ofT until daybreak.
Thursday, 17
At 6.30am the lifeboat was again at sea to await daylight and the arrival of helicopters. By 7.45am the wrecked ship could be seen
stranded on the Conchee Reef on the west coast of the island.
Soon a message was received that a passing ship had picked up four bodies from the sea. (These were later transferred to the lifeboat for return to Guernsey).
At 8.20am the S1. John Ambulance Station at Rohais received an emergency call to the effect that bodies or persons had been seen in the water at Port Grat (a bay on the north -west coast).
A full turn -out was immediately ordered, A control car an ambulance, and a Land Rover with an inshore lifeboat and crew were immediately despatched under the direction of their chief officer , Area Commissioner R. H. Blanchford. A team of SJA divers prepared for rescue work in the area.
The inshore lifeboat was launched and assisted the RNLI Sir William Arnold, which had been diverted to search the area.
But this search proved negative - a 'false alarm with good intent ' as it turned out - so boats and rescue team s turned their attention further south.
St. John personnel on foot and from the inshore lifeboat assisted other island services in the search for survivors along the coast until midday, when the operation in this area was called ofT.
Meanwhile the SJA Land Rover control car and personnel had been called to Pleinmont Point to assist the RNLI lifeboat, which was now searching the raging seas where he four bodie s had been picked up earlier.
Using the VHF ship -to - shore radio transmitter / receiver with which the Land Rover is equipped , the SJ A personnel were able to direct the lifeboat to suspicious objects in the water visible from the clifT top. Meanwhile, aircraft and a helicopter from the French re scue centre at Granville (France) had also joined the search.
The search was finally abandoned after 16 bodies had been recovered and brought into the harbour, from where they were taken by SJA ambulances to an improvised mortuary .
But work for SJ A Rohais Transport Department wa s not yet over, as it was felt that the two mis s ing crew members could still be on board the wreck.
At 4.30pm of this fateful Thursday , T/ Cpl. Keith Fothergill , a member of the station's diving team , wa s taken by helicopter over the stranded Prosperity with a view to boarding and searching her. But condition s proved too dangerous for a boarding due to heavy seas breaking over the stranded vessel so the helicopter returned to base.
Friday, 18
The St. John in s hore lifeboat was launched in the morning with the object of putting a
team on board the vessel to conduct a search. Sea conditions around the Prosperity, however, made it impossible to board so the personnel returned to base and arrangement s were made to take two divers to the wreck by helicopter later in the day
At 2.30pm SJA 's T / Sgt. J. Marshall and T / C pI. K Fothergill were flown to the vessel and succe s sfully lowered onto her deck.
Despite the very bad sea conditions they managed to s earch all the accessible areas of the vessel , which included the bridge , chart and radio rooms , cabins , etc. but they found
sign of the
Documents ship' s and personal crew papers were however retrieved and handed to the police.
During this operation the SJA inshore lifeboat wa s launched on stand - by duty at the scene.
Saturday, 19
Parts of the stranded vessel had still not been examined and the authorities were still very concerned regarding the whereabouts of the two missing crew members. Area Com
THE SEARCH GOES ON
The Prosperity came to grief on Guernsey's Conchee Reef and her bow section was torn away and swept astern (Photo Guernsey Press)
The Cruel Sea (contd.)
missioner Blanchford was again requested to provide St. John assistance and on Saturday morning, with the weather somewhat abated, another attempt was made to get personnel on board the wreck.
The inshore lifeboat was launched and the coxswain, TIM. Colin Bartie, was soon successful in putting three of the diving team aboard (T/Sgt. J. Marshall, T/Sgt. B. Taylor and TICpl. K. Forthergill). The coxswain was attempting to put the remaining team member (TIM. M. Peters) on board, when a freak wave hit the small rescue craft.
Simultaneously the outboard engine (three months old) failed and the coxswain and the diver were thrown into the raging surf. Luckily they both managed to scramble onto the rocks, from where they were picked up by a helicopter which was working nearby on another wreck.
After making a further search of the Prosperity, the three SJ A divers were also picked up by the helicopter.
The St. John staff were none-the-worse for their experiences on this Saturday, but much equipment from the inshore lifeboat was lost. The boat itself was salvaged and was back in service within three days. The outboard motor, however, was a write-off, as well as many items of diving gear carried in the boat.
Sunday, 20
SJA's diving boat (a 13ft fibre glass dory) assisted by a 9ft inflatable dinghy from the department were launched during the morning at the scene of the stranded vessel.
But personnel found that the sea conditions made it impossible to board the wreck, so a search was made for gear lost from the inshore lifeboat the previous day and of the reef near the Prosperity for items washed from the ship. Little of any value was found.
Friday, 25
Owing to weather and tidal conditions it was not until the following Friday, the 25, that a fmal search of the ill-fated Prosperity could be made. The inshore lifeboat was launched and St. John divers, this time accompanied by a police constable, again made a thorough search. Official papers were recovered but no trace of the two crew members was found. Their bodies have still not been recovered.
EVERY DAY FIRST AID
-a new, easy -to-understand series of advice that will help YOU to cope with FAMIL Y ACCIDENTS
FALLS
part two
by Dennis Clark, MBE FRCS
LAST MONTH we discussed the priorities (BBC - Breathing failure, excessive Bleeding and loss of Consciousness) and the five requirements of first aid: to take charge, to assess the situation, to make a diagnosis, to treat and to dispose of the casualty. Now we have to think of the various injuries. Let's take falls again.
Active people are always falling and, as often as not, put out their hands to cushion the impact. Although they nearly always save themselves from harm, injury can occur. In this type of accident common injuries are abrasions, cuts and gashes of the hands and knees (more often in children because these parts are uncovered), and broken bones of the arm or collarbone. Abrasions are minor injuries. In trivial injuries the surface of the skin is grazed, blood
oozes out in several places and if untouched will clot and form scabs (nature's own dressing) and no more need be done. Deeper abrasions - gashes, cuts trom stones, glass, tin cans or iron rails - and others from hard falls on irregular shaped objects are much more serious and will be discussed when we talk about bleeding.
People who put out their hands to save themselves in a fall often break a bone quite distant from the point of impact ; when landing on the hand the force travelling up the arm can break the collarbone. The broken bones from falls that we have to consider occur in the hand and wrist, the elbow, the arm and the collarbone. If the arm is held or forced high in the fall, the shoulder can be put out of joint (a dislocation). If someone falls on the point of the elbow, it might not only
ARM INJURY
be put out of joint but the nearby bones can be fractured as well. In nearly all these injuries the sufferer will show obvious distress from pain, having also lost the use of the affected limb. You, as firstaiders, will notice these signs at once. You may also be able to see, if the arm is exposed, swelling and deformity, such as an unusual shape of the injured part, or an abnormal twist or angie , or shortening. If you touch the part the patient will soon tell you it hurts. So within a few seconds you have observed the important signs of fracture: pain, loss of use, swelling deformity, tenderness. You will have made your diagnosis and can begin your treatment.
The patient , though, will race you to it. He will instinctively use his own good hand to support his injury. The broken hand , wrist, or forearm will be cradled in his hand; a dislocated and broken elbow will be grasped close to the body; other broken bones will be supported by the unaffected hand cupping the elbow, with the good forearm supporting the forearm and hand on the affected side (the good -arm sling) . So natural is 'the goodarm sling that you ought to be able to spot someone s broken collarbone as he walks toward you; the shoulder on the affected side drops and ' the good - arm sling is automatically used.
Try all these actions yourself, just to see how much gentle support and natural self-
help you can get. As a first -aider you do not want to interfere unnecessarily, but you can suggest improvements.
In all fractures you want to stop the broken bones moving , in order to ease pain and prevent further damage, until you hand over to a doctor. Using the chest as a sort of splint for an arm fracture is sensible. So persuade the casualty to lift his injured arm with his good hand and place it flat on his chest close to the opposite shoulder. Then you can provide firmer and more comfortable support with a sling.
The flap of his jacket (first emptying the pockets) folded up in front of the arm and pinned at shoulder level makes quite a good sling. A better sling for travelling is a triangular bandage arm sling reinforced by a broad bandage round arm and body. If there is any pain on bending the elbow , support it in its most comfortable position and because of the danger of cutting off the blood supply to the forearm by kinking or compressing the main artery, fix the arm nearly straight alongside the body by three broad bandages round body and hand, forearm, and upper arm. Make sure that there is a comfortable padding of clothing or other soft material between the arm and the body. A casualty with this injury, unlike with upper limb injuries , must be kept lying down.
Then there is the man with the dislocated
shoulder, who cannot bring his elbow to his side. You will have to support the arm in the position you find it by an arm sling with a cushion, rolled up blanket or coat in the armpit until you can get a doctor. These injuries do not prevent a casualty from walking off a field to a seat in a car.
Arrange your transport to hospital accordingly, remembering that a casualty with a straight broken elbow is best transported on a stretcher. In all cases remember the danger of cutting off the blood supply at the elbow, so make sure you can feel the pulse. I have mentioned triangular bandages. You already know how to fold the bandage; a narrow border along the base to provide a clean edge, the point to base fold, another in the same direction to make a broad bandage, and a third for a narrow bandage. Thenends to middle, folding in a second time, and then in half for storage. I want you to do a little more. Wash your old triangular bandages, iron them , fold them for storage, ironing in each fold. Then get a clean long envelope (quarter-foolscap size), put your bandage in, seal, and mark on the outsided Triangular Bandage - Clean ' You will need four bandages , which you can make (one metre or one yard square, cut diagonally) from an old sheet or calico, if they are too expensive to buy They can be easily kept in your first-aid kit and so will be readily available.
AWARDS
January 1 to March 31 1974
ORDER AWARDS
Life Saving Medal in Silver
Ambulance Member B. R. Lathwell, Vauxhall No. I Ambulance Division , Luton, Bedfordshire.
In recognition of first aid rendered under conditions of grave personal danger when several of hi s fellow - passengers were wounded during a terrorist attack at Athens Airport on August 5 1973.
Nur s ing Member Mrs. M. Saunders, Christ Church Ambulance and Nursing Division, Cheshire.
I n recognition of her very gallant action when, despite being deaf and not a strong swimmer, she rescued a boy from drowning in ver y dangerous waters in the river Mersey on Augu s I 1973.
Certificate of Honour
Ambulance Member N. Howard,
Chri stchurch, New Zealand
In recognition of his prompt action in removing fr o m a car , which suddenly caught fire, a girl who had been trapped in a road accident o n May 26 1973.
BRIGADE AWARDS
Meritorious Service Certificate
Division a l Superintendent A. I. Durman, Lynton and Lynmouth Ambulance and Nursing Divi s ion, County of Devon
Ambulance Member P. Batchelor, High Wycombe Ambulance Division , County of Buckingham.
Nursing Cadet Susan Blewett, Holtspur Nursing Cad e Division, County of Buckingham.
Divisional Officer Miss J. Parkinson, Great Barr Ambulance and Nursing Cadet Divi s ion , County of Birmingham.
Divisional Superintendent S. Ackers, Swan -
scombe and Greenhithe Ambulance Division, County of Kent.
Ambulance Member W. Nicholl, Stotfo d Ambulance and Nursing Division , County of Hertford
Ambulance Member D. Betts, Lynton and Lynmouth Ambulance and Nursing Division , County of Devon.
Nursing Cadet Carol Fothergill, St. Columb Minor and Newquay Cadet Division , County o f Cornwall.
Ambulance Member Frank Craven, Clifton Ambulance and Nursing Division, West Riding of Yorkshire.
Nursing Cadet Sergeant Patricia Webster, Liscard Nursing Cadet Division, County of Cheshire.
Letter of Commendation
The Hospital Saturday Fund
100 years of helping the sick
ONE (OLD) PENNY a week wouldn't go far today in sickness insurance. A 100 years ago, however , as a humble forerunner of modern health insurance , it was the sum paid by employees out of their wages as a contribution to the Hospital Saturday Fund , which celebrated its centenary last year.
In 1873, when the Hospital Saturday Fund was first started, there were fewer than 30 general hospitals in all London and only about one hospital bed for every thousand beds that are available today. Poverty and sickness were almost synonymous, and social inequalities and material destitution existed on a proportionately greater scale. There were something like 200,000 people living in workhouses, and a widespread need existed for hospital and medical facilities for the sick and needy poor.
The idea behind the Hospital Saturday Fund was one of self-help. To launch the Fund, a public meeting was held in what seems today, for a venture of this kind, a strange venue - Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, London.
Captain Charles Mercier, who became the Fund's first chairman, made the initial appeal, supported by the 12th Earl of Meath It was suggested that small but regular contributions should be collected from employed people, both for the purpose of helping to finance the existing voluntary hospitals and to help members of the scheme when they themselves needed help Workers were paid on Saturdays - hence the fund was named the Hospital Saturday Fund. Arrangements were made with employers for weekly deductions of a penny to be made from the wages of workers in factories , offices and shops - one of the earliest forms of health insurance to be introduced in this country and one which helped to pave the way towards introduction of later schemes, such as Lloyd George's scheme in 1911 and our own National Health Service of today .
In 1874 the first Hospital Saturday collections wece held in London. Working closely with the Friendly Societies, the Fund grew. It helped to establish provident dispensaries for dispensing much -needed medicines, and also founded the first open-air sanatorium for
tuberculosis in Britain, at Benenden in Kent, which is still in existence and is now maintained by a civil service association.
Tuberculosis was then very much a killer, and was treated mainly by rest and, winter and summer heroic doses of open air.
Wealthy victims took their open air treatment at expensive sanatoria in Switzerland , but the Benenden sanatorium was the first attempt to provide open air facilities for treating patients in this country.
Leading medical men became associated with the Fund from its inception , and there are two traditions that have continued to this day - the patronage of the reigning monarch, which started when the Prince of Wales, patron since 1896, in 1901 became King Edward VII and remained the Fund s patron, a tradition still maintained by Queen Elizabeth II, and the tradition that the office of president is held year by year by the lard Mayor of London.
It might be thought that the introduction, first of Mr. Lloyd George s on the panel scheme for 9d a week in 1911 and finally the National Health Service in 1948 would ob -
by Helen McCarrick
viate the need for voluntary contributory schemes such as the Hospital Saturday Fund. Not so ; state schemes do not , and perhaps never will provide total protection against all the hardship s that can occur through illne s s , and the Fund , with half a million contributors , help s to bridge man y a gap , providing additional benefits for families whose resources in illnes s , especiall y when it is the illness of the breadwinner, are sometimes severely strained
In 1963, Mr. Fenner ( now Lord )
Brockway , s peaking at the Hospita l Saturday Fund s annual general meeting held at the Mansion House , said an investigation b y a Ministry of Labour committee had re vealed that 59 % of unskilled worker s were not covered b y sick pay schemes and , when ill were therefore without wage s. Even among workers who were co ve red , less than half were actually receiving mone y because their illness had extended b eyo nd the maximum period for payments
Today , 10 y ears later , th e proportion of those not covered by sick pa y schemes is even higher those wor s t otT in this respect
Mrs Grylls collecting outside Clarence H ouse being workers in private industry.
The Fund operates two schemes , A and B. The A scheme at 5p a week cover s a member , wife , and children up to 16 years providing weekl y benefit of £6.30 for a member while ho s pitali sed up to a maximum of £63 for 10 weeks
Maximum contribution s to the B scheme are lOp a week for a member with dependants, and the scheme provides benefit to the member of £12 60 a week (up to a maximum of £ 163 80 at 13 weeks ), £6.30 weekly for the wife and £3 15 for a child. Ancillary benefit s help to cover optical , dental , physiotherap y and other services , or the co s t of a local authorit y home help the cover ranging between 25 % and 50 % of the co st.
Under the B s cheme there are also maternity grant s
Member s joining either s cheme can sign a pa y roll declaration fo r their contribution s to be deducted from wage s b y their employer , or can contribute independentl y themsel ves through their n eare s t branch office There are nine o f these a ltogether , including branche s in Glasgow , Dublin and also in the Channel Isle s.
Payments of benefit , welfare grants and donations t o hospital s by the Fund for the year ended March 31 , 1973 totalled £298,652 , benefit s distributed from branches under both A and B schemes accounting for £117 , 152 of this t o tal. There was says the Fund 's annual report , a noticeable trend for contributor s to adopt the B rather than the A scheme and sometimes to transfer from one to the other, reflecting the need for higher rates of benefit to cope with today's inflation .
Despite the provisions of a welfare state, the need for extra financial provision in times of illness seems to remain as great as ever and to quote again from Lord Brockway, 'The extension of governmental responsibility does not decrease the necessity for personal responsibility '.
The Hospital Saturday Fund is a democratically constituted body governed by an Association composed of elected members from contributing groups. It also depends to a considerable extent on the voluntary service of over 3 000 helpers who act as repre sentatives in contributing firms and government departments. Organisations such as the Fund have obviously played no small part in preparing the way for the introduction of statutory health insurance schemes but instead of declining now that there is a fully -fledged state health service in operation, the Hospital Saturday Fund, with a century behind it, continues to thr ive, demonstrating a continuing need for the valuable service it otTers.
(Reprinted from Nursing Times)
In
THEY KNEW
Three Bletchley ambulance cadets (photo above L to R) Rudi Teal, 13, Ken Welsh , 13, and Fritz Teal , 14 , were praised recently for their quick action when Ken Welsh's twin brother Tim fell from a building scaffolding.
But for their quick action Tim - himself a cadet - might have died, said the Teal boys' father, Mr. Bob Teal, chairman of the local SJA's parents' association.
'It was very serious. But the boys did as they had been trained and did not panic .' Tim ' s father said: 'It s certainly a good job they were trained. They put him in the right Jlosition to stop him choking.'
AROUND and ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST. JOHN
BY THE EDITOR
HIGH FLYERS
Tim s mother said that her son was concussed but on her last visit to hospital had been able to talk to her. X -rays did not show any fracture.
SILENT WORDS
On Monday , July 30 1973, Britain and the whole world was shocked by the news of the Markham pit disaster when 18 men died in a runaway pit -cage containing 28 miners.
North Derbyshire SJ A cadets rallied to the call for a disaster fund by setting about raising £350 for a ambulift chair for use by survivors of the accident. In fact , by the time their efTorts were completed the cadets had raised £700, so as well as the ambulift they contributed a TV set and Belmedical bed for the injured.
The faces of our cadets in the accompanying photograph (below) speak more
The report of the incident, the lead story in the local newspaper, continued: When Tim tried to get up the boys held him down and wrapped him up to keep warm. They tried to stop him bleeding and then called an ambulance.
APPOINTMENTS
HQ: Miss Woolrich has resigned and Col. Benyon is the new StafT Officer, Overseas
Somerset: Gp. Capt. R. S Perry
DFC to Commissioner Western Area
vice Capt. J. S. B White
volubly than any words I can find to expres s their thoughts
REGATTA HELP
A £200 cheque was presented to the Brigade at the Moot Hall , Aldeburgh Suffolk , recently, by the Mayor of Aldeburgh who is also chairman of the Aldeburgh Regatta and Carnival Committee.
The money, which is the proceeds from the 1973 regatta and carnival , will be used to purchase resuscitation equipment.
CHEPSTOW RACES
Some of Britain s top jockeys and horses I hear , have entered for Chepstow Races on Bank Holiday Monday , May 27 - which is in aid of the Brigade in Wales - to compete for prize money of more than £10 000
At the meeting, which will be covered by BBC / TV, Bunny girls from the Playboy Club (hope they don t turn up the SJ night at the dogs - see next paragraph) will be programme sellers , and a special marquee manned by SJA nursing members will look after children whose parents want to really concentrate on the form Good punting.
TO THE DOGS
Top greyhounds will be running for St. John , too at London s Wembley Stadium on May 20 1974.
The special Royal Gala evening, which will be attended by Prince and Princess Richard of Gloucester, will include 8 race s all sponsored by national organisations. There will be a special dinner and reception at the stadium's enclosure restaurant , and London District members will be making a collection
Sounds a s though it s going to be a good SJ night out at the dogs. And thanks , Wembley Stadium Ltd for your help in organising this SJ evening.
TWO FILMS
The Central Film Library , Government Build ing , Bromyard Avenue, Acton, London (01 - 743 -5555) is distributing on free loan a new nursing recruiting film article ' Men In The Nurs ing Team '; it is in colour , runs for 22 minutes.
The film shows how men and women work together as a team - men play an important role in the treatment of mental illness and intensive care.
This film which has received approval from the St. John Ambulance Appraisal Panel , ha s been produced to interest schoolleavers of both sexes in nursing as a career and will be of great interest to St. John cadets.
The Petroleum Film Board, 4 Brook
Street, London WI Y 2AY , (01-493 -3333) is distributing a new film in its excellent History of the Motor Car series entitled The Veterans; it is in colour, runs for 27 minutes and is available for a minimal booking charge of 20p.
The Veterans tells the story of the development of the motor car between 1895 and 1914, the period when motoring became an established means of transport but still mainly for the wealthy.
The film has great nostalgic charm and if the price of petrol increases even more it could well become a museum piece! A useful programme filler' ,
ROYAL GALA
}{ IN AID OF St. John Ambulance and St. John Ophthalmic Hospital AT WEMBLEY STADIUM MONDAY MAY 20th. 1974 for (4 ,001) In
CHILDREN'S DAY
For many years World Children's Day has been observed in the United Kingdom on June 15 in response to the United Nations Resolution of 1954 which recommended that PR -CHAT ----------.,
A Stroke or Streak? all countries should set aside a day to foster friendship and understanding among all children of the world and make the general public aware of the needs of children everywhere. The United Nations Children's Fund and the Save the Children Fund sponthe day in this country, and for 1974 have chosen to draw special attention to their work for children in Vietnam. Further information, which includes wallsheets, posters , service sheets and lapel badges, can be obtained from the U.K. Committee for UNICEF 99 Dean St., London, wrv 6QN
(Photo Neil Lancashire)
ON THE BEACH
I hear that Brian Wingate, a 21-year-old Brigade member from Birdham, near Chichester, has received the Royal Humane Society's resuscitation certificate for his action with three other people in saving a man from the sea at West Wittering on June 17 last year.
The man, who got into difficulties while swimming and was unconscious when brought to the beach, was successfully given artificial respiration by Mr. Wingate.
STIMIED
Supplies Director John Webb's letter in the April issue on learning languages touched off thoughts of an incident at the recent Police National Finals in London.
A team test involved two sailors injured in
a brawl, one of whom could speak only German and so was unable to explain his injuries.
But the organisers learned that one of the Kent police cadet team could speak fluent German, so when they came to the test the 'foreign sailor' changed his nationality to Spanish; but another member of the team could speak Spanish!
In desperation the 'sailor' became Tibetan - and that stimied the men of Kent.
135 YEARS' SERVICE
I hear that presentations were made recently to three Lowestoft members who between them have given 135 years' service to the Brigade.
The trio are DIO Eric Kilham, 46 years' service, Stanley Cleveland, 49 years' service;
and John Grice, 40 years' service. Mr. Kilham is a Serving Brother of the Order.
Lowestoft Division's President said at the gathering at the headquarters: 'I think you will agree that they are a great credit to the town.'
The presentations were made by the Suffolk Commissioner Major R. S. Schrieber, who thanked each man for 'a lifetime of service'.
FLOWER HELP
A flower festival entitled Flowers and Industry is to be held at Luton Parish Church from June 14 to 16 (Friday, lOam to 7pm, Saturday Warn to 9pm, Sunday Ipm to 5pm), the proceeds of which are for the church restoration and to complete payment for Luton SJA's headquarters building.
OUR REVIEW competition for an essay on 'How I would award a Cup for Welfare' produced some very interesting and stimulating suggestions, and elsewhere in this issue (page 13) you can read extracts from some of the entries. In particular, there were four points which, in various ways, the majority of competitors brought out in their essays and on which they seemed to be generally agreed; and whatever may emerge as the final decision about how the competition is to be organised , I feel personally convinced that these four points will not lightly be set aside if it is by any means practicable to devise a competition based on the principles to which they refer. They are:
1. That a welfare competition cannot effectively be run on the same lines as competitions in first aid and nursing, because true welfare is not a subject that lends itself to team tests in a traditional setting, with eliminating rounds and a national final held before an audience at Croydon or elsewhere; it is a subject which demands a completely new approach to the whole competition procedure
2. That the subject for competition should be an actual welfare project carried out in the locality in which the competitors live, chosen by them according to the particular needs of their locality, as an onward -going contribution to the total well-being of those whom they feel to be most in need of their help.
3. That the competing 'unit' should be the whole of the St. John family in the immediate locality - ambulance and nursing, adults and cadets, auxiliaries, presidents and Association members, people of all ages and of any Brigade rank or none, provided that they are genuinely related to the local St. J ahn family,
4, That the project should not be a 'flash in the pan', something which comes to an abrupt end when the year's competition is over. On the contrary, it should be something more like a garden competition. When a year's garden competition is over, you don't abandon your garden to become a rubbish tip and start a completely fresh garden somewhere else; you keep your garden going, and you try to make it an even better one next year than it was the year before. Meanwhile others, stimulated by your example, start to cultivate their gardens too, and a steadily increasing number of people become involved in doing something that they find to be infinitely worth while.
Is that too fanciful a concept for the development of our St. John garden of welfare? Maybe it is; but I hope not. There will certainly be problems of organisation. But the word 'problem' is only the name for one side of a coin: turn the coin over, and the
AT RANDOM
by Watkin W. Williams Deputy Commissioner-in-Chief
special evening institute where volunteer teachers teach mentally handicapped the essential elements of education.
At the moment, the building of a hostel to accommodate a small number of members who need residential care is nearing completion, and a generous local benefactor has promised £ I for every £ I that is raised locally towards providing the £6,000 still needed to complete the project
other side is called 'opportunity'. And I'm quite sure that I'm not alone in feeling undaunted in the determination to try and face the challenge that this particular opportunity presents.
For folk who care
By sheer coincidence, at the very time when I was helping the Chief Nursing Officer to judge the entries for the essay competition, I happened - in a different capacity quite unconnected with St. John Ambulance - to visit the David Livingstone Club at Harlow.
This club was founded in 1959 as a 'Project for Folk Who Care' by a local lay preacher of what is now known as the United Reformed Church. Its object is to give to all who are in any way handicapped a share in the fulness of life that the rest of us all too easily take for granted, to involve them as members of the one family of all God's people and to give them the joy of fulfilment in having a purpose in their lives, Although the majority of club members are children, and most of them suffer from mental rather than physical disability, there is no top age-limit for membership nor is there any restriction on the form of disability that qualifies for it.
The club was opened as an act of faith, and its funds have been raised and maintained through a combination of fervent prayer, courageous begging, hard bargaining and careful stewardship which has received splendid support both from local Councils and from countless individual supporters. It has 70 members, drawn from towns and villages within a radius of about ten miles, irrespective of county or any other boundaries, and it is staffed by a wonderful team of voluntary helpers - including, I discovered, at least two St John members. Every evening of the week the club is a hive of activity, which includes an arttherapy room, a quiet room for reading and games such as draughts, a large hall for dancing and music and general 'getting together ', and a shop. It also provides a
My own visit to the club was as a member of a small team from my home town who are making an ecumenical effort among our local churches to get the hostel completed within the current year. But one of my very first thoughts was what a superb opportunity there must be for any St. John family unit', in any town throughout the country, to get a similar club going, based on its own headquarters. The NEED is there, staring us in the face, if only we have the eyes to see; and it's a need that could in many cases be fulfLiled by using all our resources and those of our families and friends , without in any way detracting from our existing commitments in matters of first aid and nursing.
Good first aid
Those who attended London District's international camp in the cadet jubilee year will no doubt remember Ambulance Cadets David Paxon and Keith Haddon from BuJawayo. They are now sixth form boys at Hamilton High School, where there was recently an explosion in the chemistry laboratory which wounded six boys and seriously inj ured a seventh.
Last week I heard that David and Keith, together with Timothy Jordan (an ex -cadet) were most prompt in giving ftrst aid to all the casualties and more particularly in controlling the severe bleeding of their seriously injured schoolfellow and maintaining that control during his journey to hospital. The next day they had the embarrassing experience of being publicly thanked by their headmaster at morning assembly!
Having met them in London when they were over here in 1972, and having met their Superintendent when I was in BuJawayo last year, I was particularly interested to hear this news; and I'm sure that all the friends that they made in England will wish to congratulate them on a good job of first aid well done.
One of them said, when interviewed by their local press, that they'd 'done nothing spectacular'; but their action - and their reaction - is just typical of the work done by countless of our St. John members in more than forty countries in many parts of the world, so in thanking them for being true to their St. John training and traditions we can also give thanks for the many others whose equaUy splendid 'unspectacular' actions all too often escape notice.
The Chief Commander, Sir William Pike , meeting memb ers of the f rstaid section during a recent visit to the Northumberlan d Constabulary
ACCIDENTS to the ELDERLY
Today ' s community problem where another aspect of first a i d c an h el p
by R. A. ELSON, MB,FRCS
THE AVERAGE AGE of the population of Great Britain continues to rise ; people are living longer because of improving conditions of health. Undoubtedly preventative medicine (public health medicine) has contributed most of all to the control of disease ; it is often forgotten that this branch of medicine is more important than an y other in maintaining our standards , for without it d sease runs unchecked , as is sometimes seen in countries with poorer public health control. Added to preventative medicine are the improvements in treatment : antibiotics and other drugs safer surgery and generally greater ease in getting medical attention. With longer life there must be more old people, and with old age there is a new problem - infirmity , of both mind and body
O ld people become increasingly vulnera b le to the hazards of modern life , even when they are mainly confined to their homes. In fact this confinement perhaps to only one or two rooms , contributes to their danger.
Consider an old person , more usually a woman whose family has grown up and left home often leaving the town and whose husband has died She live s alone in some poverty and perhap s, having had a simple life mainly as s ociated with her immediate family circle , she has not had the opportunity or desire to develop any lasting outside interests Now that she is alone and restricted all her mental faculties become concentrated on: (1) the immediate problems of day -today comfort, especially warmth , and (2) memories of her more vivid and happy past. The past is often linked to her little home and the outside world becomes more and more remote despite radio and television. Modern scientific and technological discoveries are less comprehensible and gradually ignored. Three other factors are involved in this progressively restricted life: firstly , the ageing mind has le s s ability to adust to change; secondly the restricted life involves reduced exercise each day , and thirdly a poor diet.
Perhap s the mo s t di s turbing o f these t hr ee aspects is the mind 's lo ss of r es ilience. If th e o ld p e rson is tak e n from her familiar environment ( her room and her memorie s) s he feels ill at ease , uncomfo rtabl e and filled with a sense of inabilit y o cope In man y c ases, the mind is unable to grappl e with t h e fo re ign situation and if too much contact w ith w h at s familiar is lo s t , a terrible s tate of fear and confusion s uperv e nes The be s t exampl e o f the latter is frequentl y s een when an old person has an accident and has to be admitted to hospital, perhap s for surgery. The lack of exerci se and poor diet contributes to the ageing proce s se s affecting th e musculo -skeletal s y stem. For example , a s we become older ( from 30 onward s !) the bone s become more porous and les s s trong If th e person is not active (the case of our old lady ) this weakening s inten s ified and eventually reaches a dangerous degree whereby bone s can actually crack spontaneou sly or from the mo s t minor accident , like tripping o ver a loo se carpet or st e pping heavily down an unexpected step. Again , he weakened bone s often ache and this contribute s to inacti vity
and th e nc e m o re weake n in g.
Th e proc ess of b o ne agei n g is ca ll ed osteo p o r os is. Alth oug h n ot d a n gerous to life dir ec tl y, it s o n e of t h e g r ea t est co n t ri butors to a cc id en s a nd in creasi n gly rest r icted living in th e eld e rly. R estricted livi n g leads to ind r a w in g of th e e n viro n ment. If an accident occ ur s, t m ay res ult in a comp lete mental br ea kd ow n w h ich, owing to the loss of resi ie n ce in th e ol d m ind, may be permanent and res ult in th e pe r son beco m n g u nable to li ve a lo ne and in d ep e nd e nt ly
On e o f th e gr ea t es t pr o bl e m s facing the communit y to d ay is th e n ee d s of t h ese old p eo pl e a nd h el p in g them to remain in circulation a nd n o to b e d e pende n t on socia l care.
Wh a t c an fir st -a id ers do for t h em?
Th e purpo se of th is article is to s how a few thin gs w hi c h ca n he lp eno rm o us ly if an o ld p er son h as a n acci d en o r is s udd e n ly ill.
Th e a im from th e b eg in n in g m ust be to add to g ood fir s t a id an ot he r r equi re m e n t: to k ee p th e p er so n in co nt ac t with her environm e nt.
Wh at ca n h a p pe n is t h at an old pe r son fa ll s in h e r h o m e a nd sustains a fracture (the
Two vici ou s ci rcl es wh ereb y ag ein g eads o weakness of the bones. Fracu res from m inor accid ent s ar e mo re likely
com mo n est is the fracture neck of femur) which makes it im p oss ib le to move She may l e on t h e fl oor in a co ld ho use u nti l someo n e lik e t he mil k m an or a neighbo ur cal ls, by wh ic h ti m e s h e m ay be weak from lack of food, pa in a n d exposu re
Already f ri ghtened , an alarming series of events occur: unfami liar ambu lance men arrive and car r y he r off to hospital, all white walls and strange noises. Someone explains treat m ent, pe r haps an ope r ation. She is p ut in a ward, a large room with lots of unfa mili ar faces , has an operat ion which invo lves an anaest h etic a n d then wakes pe rh aps in a different ward. No -one fami liar visits he r , and he r mind escapes into familiar, less -frig h tening thoughts of her h ome and past. P eople observe tha t she is co n fused an d hall ucinated.
I f she recovers and ret u rns home, t h is ordea l may reverse and end happily; but
s ometimes the confusion makes rehabilitation impossible Then she cannot return home and permanent hospital -care becomes necessary
Some of this sorry tale can be obviated, especiall y at the beginning, for if the sympathetic first -aider can estab lish contact with the victim , explaining while still in familiar surroundin gs what is necessary, perhaps while waiting for the ambulance the patient may be able to grapple with the realities of the situation . I f a relative, fr iend or neighbour can accompa n y her to the hospital so much the better. D octors and nurses are v ery aware of this need of elderly patients of something familiar to cling to and will usually welcome such aid.
Make s ure that the old lady can take familiar objects with her to hospital - a picture of the family , things from her bed table, her handbag and door keys , her beads and bed jacket - as many little items as
WE LFARE CU P - jottings from the Review contest
ID EA S for a Welfare Cup com p etition se nt in by R eview r eaders which particularly interested the judges were:
1st Prize: Dr. E Perkin s, Count y Superintendent (N) Susse x : Welfare is all en co m passi n g and o n e must think big o n the subject. I s u ggest that the We lfa r e C u p be awa r ded to the Di vision or D ivisions who produce the best p roject on some welfa re need in the area. The project would be judged by a panel , simi lar to the competition young scientist of the year' run by the BB C.
2nd Prize: Mrs. J. L orenz member Newport Division Pembrokeshire: Ideally the cu p s h o uld be awar d ed to a Division ra th er than an individual. It wi ll do much to n crease t h e awa r eness of membe r s of the Brigade to t he needs of the community. T h e planning and the judging must be flexib le enough to take in t o account the many d ifferent physical a nd social areas fr om w hi ch ent r ies may come. If poss ib le, e ntri es s h o uld be j u dge d at H ead qu arte r s a nd the D ivisions fro m w h ich the 'Top T e n ' come s h ou ld be v isited by the j ud ges.
Mrs J. Rickleton, Divisional Superintendent, Transport Nursing Division , Northumberland: We lfare work must ac h ieve p ositive a n d asti n g res ul ts. It mu s be e mp has ised t h at t h e w h o le' p er -
reasonable All these desirable things can be organised by the capable first - aider quietly and without panic explaining all the time. A conversation with t h e relatives and frie nd s can in s til into them a sense of duty (perhaps long neglected ) to take the trouble to visit frequently and maintain the links The firstaider could even contribute to the visiting and maintenance of home links . I believe that , as with more obvious accident hazards which first -aiders should be on the lookout to prevent , much could be done fo r lonely old folk by taking the t rouble to seek out and visit a few of them at regular intervals - which is another form of preventat ve medicine
Undoubtedl y, one of the greatest needs for charity today lies in old people. And I think first -aider s could make an invaluable contribution in terms of friendship to those who would accept it, in this field of commu n ity care.
son is to be cate red for and this means psychologically as well as physically I would insist on an expense account being kept and take this into consideration when judging.
Mr. D Downs Corporal , Hull North West Combined Division, E R. Yorkshire: On S un d ays and Ba n k H o idays the Local A u thority services are scanty or non existent, so S t. J ohn could then step in and help whe n assistance is most needed They could also help by just sitting and listening for a few minutes , to make the elderly especially feel that someone cares.
J. Manton Vice -President, Vauxhall Motors Corps Luton Bedfordshire: Welfare covers everything from the 'cradle to the grave The whole division shou d be able to compete This would include presidents , auxiliaries and other folk associated with the organisation.
Miss M. E therington Di v isional Superintend e nt , Dunstable Nursing Cadet Division: A national p anel should be se t up to consider recommendations sent in by either Counties or Areasthis panel would prepare a short list and then arrange for these members to be interviewed, to talk to them and so find out more about the work being done Cadets or adu lts c ould compete and only one cup
be awar d ed
Mrs. P. L. Kearsey on retired list: The presentation of this award provides an exciting new challenge to the Brigade. Two advantages of this new competition are ( 1) there is no published syllabus on which to base it, which should stim u late initiative, and (2 ) there are no seasoned compe t itors, so everyone shou ld sta r t from scratch. It is instead an exercise on the words 'For the service of mankind'. The entry may be in the form of words or pictures. It may be concerned with work which is being done or with the identification of a new need and proposals fo r work to be ins t igated.
Mrs. I Challi s Divis ional Superintendent Oldbury N ursing Division , Worcs : The cup should be awa r ded for actual welfare work. Each member would have a record card on which welfare work is credited on a points system
Mr. J. T. Hartle y, D ivi s ional Superintendent Stratton St. Margaret Ambulance D v, Wilts: I suggest the welfa r e competition be started in a modest way with not more than two persons per team A situation could be set of a temporary nature , such as an emergency or a nonemergency situation First aid could be included in order to give the competitor something to deal with.
St. John stories
Both in the same boat
OUR beach first-aid hut at Exmouth serves, particularly on Sundays, also as the general receiving point for lost children - and as a result is frequently visited during the day by the police, who invariably arrive just as a cup of tea is being handed around.
The post has two rooms, one with many windows while the other is much more secluded, and it is into this latter that the
.. HELLO, POI..'CEMI\!\I'ffi ARE You " LOST, TOO?
...: policeman goes with his cuppa.
Recently we had a little 3-year-old boy with us for over two hours - he was lost.
We sat him on a stool and gave hinl a stack of picture books to look at - and of course later a cool cup of tea. He had just finished the tea when in walked a burly policeman, who was also given tea, to retire to the second room to drink it. But he had hardly
taken his first much-needed sip when our 3year-old jumped ofT the stool, strolled through to the other room and looked up at the policeman to say: 'Hello, policemanare you lost too?'
W.
E. Street
The lonely hut
SOME years ago I worked in a town which had - and still has - many problems arising from immigrant population along with many others peculiar to the permissive, and in some respects, money -obsessed society.
Living in lodgings throughout the week, returning home at weekends, I used to help during the week-day evenings in the local hospital - an experience unique and unforgettable, and very often gruesome and sad.
The old hospital stood in extensive grounds dotted with shrubberies , and, after dark, female nurses were not expected to go outside the main block to the several outbuildings; one of these was a small building without windows, behind a tall privet screen in a remote part of the grounds - the mortuary.
One winter's IJlgc.t the night-porter -a wild -looking Spanish immigrant and I were required to trundle a corpse, in the long galvanized-iron box-trolley , through the deep snow to this lonely hut. The Christmas moon silvered the untrodden snow where the shivering bushes did not paint moving indigo shadows. It was bitterly cold but, by the time we had reached the mortuary and let ourselves in, we were warm from the exertion of pulling and pushing the small-wheeled trolley through deep snow.
The harsh light of the unshaded bulb showed the white -washed walls and the raised slate-topped slab on which post-mortem examinations were conducted. A large part of the total space was taken up by a big
NEW LIFE SAVING AID
The Ba1can Engineering Company has produced a simple device for saving life in relation to water accidents. It is a new method of throwing a strong line a considerable distance to help someone in trouble. The maker says it can be thrown 132 feet by using a 2ft -long flikstick. The Bell as it's called, comprises a plastic container about the size and shape of a + pint beer bottle, with a wound kop of 132 feet of 260 lbs. B.S. braided floating line sealed into it; one end of the line is tied to a short plastic grip stored within the neck of the Bell.
refrigerated cupboard, designed to take four bodies each on a pUll -out galvanized tray. We opened the large insulated door and noted two shrouded figures already occupying the lower trays so we manoeuvred the loading trolley into position, cranked it to the proper level to allow us to transfer the body on to it and raised it to the level of an upper berth. Then, as we slid the tray into place, a wheel slipped ofT the rail and the tray tilted and jammed. The porter got his shoulder under the tray, jerked it back on the rails and slammed it right home with a muttered curse. More to air my slight knowledge of Spanish than to chide him for his sacrilege, I said 'No! You should have said "Vaya can Dois!" , (Go with God!). His jaw dropped and his eyes started from his fierce face as he crossed himself and muttered, 'Ya, eso es' (You are right!).
J. E. Baker
During my stay in Kingston I also attended a meeting of the St. John Council at which the Governor -General was present. It was most heartening to learn what an active interest His Excellency takes in the afTairs of St. John Ambulance. At this particular meeting he stressed the vital importance of public relations to the work that the Association and Brigade undertake for the community , and I was able to confirm the importance that we in the United Kingdom attach to this same subject of public relations.
After three days in Kingston we went by car over the mountains to the North Central Area of the Island and arrived in a tropical rainstorm in Ocho Rios (meaning Eight Rivers'), where we were to be the guests of Sir Harold and Lady Mitchell. Sir Harold, a Represenative Senior Knight of Justice on Chapter-General and a former St. John Liaison Officer for the Caribbean, has formed a permanent Cadet Centre on his estate with a view to training young Jamaicans for citizenship. Accommodation has been built for just over twenty boys between the ages of 14 and 17, and each boy completes a 3-year residential course which provides him with opportunities for higher education or employment - mainly in the Government service.
we were the guests of the Governor and his wife, Their Excellencies Sir Wilfred and Lady Jacobs. St. John Ambulance in Antigua is unfortunately without a headquarters of its own, and this severely handicaps its activities. However , I was very pleased to see that due to the enthusiasm of Mrs. Tomlinson Area Superintendent (N ) there is an active Nursing Division and Cadet Division, and I was abte to inspect them together with the Police Division in the grounds of Government House During this parade it gave me much pleasure to present some 70 First Aid certificates and this successful result was very largely due to the splendid work and energy of Dr. Wisinger the Area Surgeon.
CARIBBEAN SPRING
(cont. from p. 1 )
from our own experience at home, Ambulance and Nursing Divisions - whether adult or cadet - cannot thrive without a firm base Before our departure I was encouraged in the belief that the problems of a headq uarters would be overcome provided the nece s sary support was forthcoming from influential s ources on the island.
In use, the Ben is grabbed by the neck, tJ cap removed and the grip withdrawn, and it is considered easy to throw overarm from 60 to 90 feet.
The Bell stows easily and is for one use only - in other words it is a disposable item. It is available in various packs from £2.95 each plus VAT from Balcan Engineering Ltd, 41 Witham Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
This equipment has be accepted by the St. John Ambulance Medical Board.
The administration of the centre is carried out by Area Superintendent Davis, and all boys are trained for the adult St. John First Aid Certificate. They are also trained to read music, and every boy takes part in the cadet band. During our visit, the cadets wearing their special ceremonial uniform, gave a most impressive performance with their drum, bugle, and fife band. They are coming to England from September 3 to 18 and will be based in London, and I hope there will be opportunities for them not only to play in public but to meet and associate with some of our young members while sight-seeing around London and the Home Counties.
Our stay with the Mitchells was all too short, but it was long enough for me to see how fortunate is St. John Ambulance in the North Central Area to have such active and enthusiastic support from both Sir Harold and Lady Mitchell.
From Jamaica we went to Antigua, where
In addition to attending a meeting o f St. John Council I had a long discussion with His Excellency about the need for a headquarters and the means by which it might be acq uired The first and most urgent necessity is a convenient site for the building , and there is hope that, with encouragement and support from the Governor , the Government would be prepared to grant the Council a plot of land upon which to build Thanks to the determination of Sir Wilfred Jacobs to ensure the success of this project , it may well come to fruition within the next eighteen months When we left the island , plans were already afoot to start a campaign to raise the twenty thousand dollars which is the estimated cost, and it is hoped that it might be possible to provide some financial support from this country. St. John Ambulance is indeed fortunate to have in the present Governor someone who is so devoted to its in · terests and who gives such active encouragement to the work of all its members
Our next and final stop was Bermuda. Here we were met by Dr. Simon Frazer the Chairman of Council, and he and his wife acted as our hosts throughout our visit. In Bermuda, as in Jamaica and Antigua, St. John Ambulance has its problems. There is a shortage of personnel in the Brigade and also of qualified instructors to undertake the allimportant work of the Association ; and they are handicapped by the lack of a proper headquarters and of training aids and other facilities. I spent much of my time grappling with these problems because, as we know
It is only fair to add that in the true tradition of St. John Ambulance there are a number of dedicated members who are doing splendid work for both the Association and the Brigade. In particular , I would like to mention Mrs Bessie Barton who is a tower of strength , and it is very largely due to her dedication and enthusiasm that the Brigade is able to carry out in a limited role its public duties and the Association is able to hold first -aid classes for the public. In addition, I would mention what pleasure it gave me to meet Mrs. Joan van Putten who is doing a splendid job with the cadets: many members of London District will remember her having visited their camp in the Isle of Wight two years ago. She deserves every encouragement for the work she is doing under the considerable handicap of having no proper headquarters in which to work.
The glossy travel magazines often describe Bermuda as an 'Island Paradise'. It is certainly true that on these crowded islands nearly every form of active outdoor , sporting and leisure activity is catered for and, in addition there are all the attractions that the sea (and the sea-bed) itself can provide for the sportsman and the holidaymaker. There is , therefore, enormous scope for the development of Brigade public duties at the more active sporting events and, indeed there can also be the opportunity to form a combined first aid and rescue organisation to meet the needs of the island community whose life and activities depend so much on the sea.
My tour convinced me that wherever I went there are innumerable opportunities for St. John Ambulance to serve the community in terms of teaching first aid and providing first -aid cover Success in both these fields depends upon good leadership , drive and enthusiasm. This is the message that I tried to leave with all the kind and generous friends that I met.
ERROR?
from Major J. S. R. Reynolds, RAMC(Rtd), Training Officer (South)
With reference to your ar:icle 'No Doctor At Sea' (March Review), I hope that a correction to the grossly inaccurate paragraph, in which the author selects an example of the type of message which can be used in emergency situations, will be printed in the next convenient issue.
It surprises me that no check seems to have been made with the Chief Medical Officer's department at St. John HQ and that the simple fact that the article was reprinted from another publication is taken for the accuracy of the statement.
I would have thought that any person with the smallest knowledge of first aid is aware of the danger of giving an emetic to casualties suspected of drinking a corrosive poison.
It is essential that the printed word is accurate in your journal in order that the readers do not receive the impression that St. John does not practise what it preaches.
Farnborough J. S. R. Reynolds
Edit: The fictitious ship's captain had given the wrong treatmentthat's why he needed urgent medical advice; as Major Reynolds points out, he obviously hadn't the 'smallest knowledge of first aid'.
The incorrect treatment was intentional - by the author, the Review and the other (St. John) publication which first printed the article.
But, on reflection, perhaps this should have been explained in the article for the less prescient of our readers. My apologies to them.
PHOTOS DON'T LIE
from Mrs. M. Cooke, Area Staff Officer (Cadets)N
In 1961, and again on the cover April 1971 the Review published a photograph of my husband and our daughter Elaine when she was 2years-old and dressed in nursing cadet uniform (as a mascot).
12
years later ...
READERS VIEWS
Readers' views and opinions , which should be sent to the Editor , although published are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor or the Order of St. John and its Foundations Although readers may sign published letters with a pen-name writers must supply the r name and address to the Editor.
I fully agree with Mr. Mansey. The Grand Prior s badge is a good way to attract cadets and a similar scheme to attract adult members , as well as keeping the interest of those already joined , should work.
Mr. Wight - Bann's article also contains some attractive ideas , particularly the concept of a state certified first -aider'. However I cannot agree with the idea that this should given to members of five years service. All this would prove is that the has been a first -aider for five years. It would not indicate that the holder has a high standard of first aid.
If such a qualification is to exist, obviously some experience is required, say two years, but the most important feature should surely be an examination of high standard? Perhaps the examination could include basic ambulance aid , which in these days of increasing ambulance duties has been sadly neglected by St. John.
Alternatively , this subject could be included in Mr. Mansey 's scheme.
NeWlOn Abbot P. Collman
the photographs as other better or more topical ones are obtained. The following letter was sent by the Chief Officer for Cadets to all Commissioners on February 8 1974:
Head Dress - Ambulance Cadets
The new type of hat introduced for Ambulance Cadets in 1972 has been a matter of considerable controversy during the past fourteen months. Although it was almost universally selected by Cadets before it s adoption, ] think we must face the fact that in practice it has not lived up to its expected popularity , and that we must therefore give further consideration to this matter.
I propose to raise this at the Cadet Advisory Committee Meeting on March 7 and it would be a great assistance if any constructive suggestions could be put forward regarding a suitable type of head dress which would be acceptable to both Cadets and Adults. As a temporary measure it has been agreed that Ambulance Cadets may continue to wear the beret with the new type of jacket if they wish to do so. Any new type of hat proposed must be given a fair period of trial, and in the event of a revised type of head dress superceding the present type , an allowance will be made to those Cadets who have already purchased the latter.
I'm enclosing a photograph (below) of Elaine today, now 14 -yearsold, a cadet sergeant (of Halton Combined Cadet Division , Leeds) and with my husband after she had received her Grand Prior badge. She is one of 10 cadets in this division awarded the badge during the last 12 months.
The earlier photograph was certainly prophetic!
Leeds M. Cooke
IDEAS ABREWING from P. Collman, Ambulance Member
I read with interest both A I M R. Mansey 's letter A Spur? and Mr. Wight -Bann 's article Let 's look to the Future! (March Review ).
NEW CADET UNIFORM
from D. G. Watson, Divisional Superintendent, AIC Division
1 note (March Review) that the Supplies Department has some new posters one aim of which is to boost recruiting.
Ambulance cadets have had a new -style uniform for some 12 months , but one of these new posters shows a cadet wearing the oldstyle uniform Recruits are not easy to come by. How, therefore, can we at divisional level be expected to project an up -to -date image of the Brigade to prospective members when the publicity material we are expected to use shows uniforms which originated in the 1950s?
While on the subject of this new uniform, it is still not possible to obtain a copy of Dress Regulations applicable to the uniform.
I am fast coming to the conclusion that someone, somewhere in a high place in the Brigade , has made a terrible mistake over this new uniform (particularly the ski -cap) , and having realised the error now wants the idea hushed up by not depicting the image of what was to be the cadet uniform of the 1970s or advising ambulance cadets of the correct way it should be worn
Enfield D. G Watson
Edit: No good action photograph of ambulance cadets in- the new uniform was available when these posters were prepared, the PR Depr lells me. But it is intended to keep these posters up -la -dale by changing
I will be grateful if you will make this widely known amongst your Cadet Units and Officers , and let me have any suggestions which might come forward.
AVISITING
from Mrs. M. Cooke, Area Staff Officer (Cadets)N
We in our Area have recentfy had the pleasure of entertaining an officer and 7 cadets from Ledley Hall Combined Cadet Division , Belfast, for 5 days.
We invited them to an Area training weekend held in Leeds last January Part of their air fares was paid from Area funds, and they stayed at the homes of some of our cadets.
Div. Officer Frank Higginson spoke to us about their life and work among the injured of East Belfast.
Our own cadets arranged socials and house parties during the visit. Friendships developed and there was a general swapping of badges, photographs and mementos all round. On the day of departure our members gave our visitors a wonderful send off and tears were shed by everyone.
We all took our visitors to heart and now there is a regular flow of
letters. Frank Higginson thanked us and said the visit was a wonderful break from the trouble s
We are now preparing to welcome back our friends during the summer.
Leeds M. Cooke
QUAD DIVISIONS
from Miss K. D. Wilson, Divisional Officer
Thank you Mr. Watkin Williams for the useful write -up on quadrilateral divisions in the February R eview. It was most helpful, as there is nothing about them so far as I know in General Regulati ons or amendments
Al s o is there a special form for regi stering such divisions, ie: for joining a combined senior and combined cadet division together ?
Workington K. D Wilson
Edit: Amendments to Brigade General Regulation J 9 and Appendix G, on the subject of a// types of combined divisions including quadrilateral, will be published s ho rtly
BRIDGING THE GAP
from a SJA Mother
I have been a nursing member for only seven years, but I hope I've already got a bit of 'the St. John feeling referred to in At Random and letter A Spur ? (March Review ).
My elder daughter has been a nursing cadet for the same length of time but for the last eighteen months, since she was 16, there has been a very large bone of contention between myself, my daughter and the adult divison. She has gained her Grand Prior Badge, Service Shields for 600 hour s public duty , two cups in county competitions and the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. She is now a cadet leader and we naturall y want her to join the nursing division. But, although she knows mo st of the member s and officers, she is still not happy about transferring
We have both read , and agree with the comments and suggestions put forward in the March At Random concerning the lack of liaison and interest between adult and cadet divisions. We also agree with Mr. R. Mansey 's letter suggesting a wider scope of training activities for adult members.
So why not combine the two ideas ? Cadets especially those who have gained their Grand Prior Badge , could then be encouraged to join with the adult courses to help complete work for the Duk e of Edinburgh scheme.
This would sure ly bridge the gap' and save many adult division s from losing so much potential talent.
Sussex SJA Mother
CAN I DO YER NOW, SIR?
from Miss E. Shepherd, Divisional Superintendent
I was brought down to earth last week. Returning from a duty I met 3 scruffy, aggressive-looking boys , one of whl)m eyed me suspiciously and then said to his pals: What's she?'
'Oh,' said one small imp smartly, 'she's one of them ladies what does yer if yer get hurt.' At least he was half right!
I turned back and took the scared-look off their faces by saying: We help people. We don't do them.' I also told them about cadets, and was informed that a boy at their school at Peckham was a cadet. They said they 'd ask him all about it.
They went their way - and r went mine.
London, SWl E. Shepherd
INFO WANTED
from Percy Hitchins , Area Superintendent(R)
Last January the Reading Area SJA retired and reserve member s group was formed with the aims of keeping in touch with retired members, etc, especially those with advancing age, to assist at competitions or when needed, and to keep our first-aid knowledge usable
This is a new venture for us, so we would welcome any advice from any such clubs on the ways and means of running it. Our age range at present is 65 to 80 years. A t our opening meeting six members service in St. J ohn totalled 202 years.
Are there many s uch groups in Britain?
I would be grateful if any Review readers could help 23 Windermere Road, Reading, Berks.
Percy Hitchins
ORDER INVESTITURE
AS DAME
Margaret Fergusson, Mi ss Gillison, MB, BS. (Bucks)
AS COMMANDER (BROTHER)
Sir Richard Way, KCB, CBE. (Hants)
AS COMMANDER (SISTER)
Dorothy Joan Mrs. Mulligan (London)
AS OFFICER (BROTHER)
Vernon Pe rc y W eids (Somerset)
GeofTrey Frederick Barnes, MB , BS DRCOG. (Co rnwall )
The Mayor of Ramsgate hands over three new side -drums and a mace to nursing members of the town's SJA band. at the
NEWS from SCOTLAND
the
with
Right) Headquarters team, which was led by Mr Ayodele
Mrs C B Agowe , Assistant Commissioner of Poli ce. presenting the winner s plaque to Pol ice College Ikeja team leader Edet Umana with team captain Mr F. Iruanagbe
News from Divisions/Centres
REVIEW CROSSWORD No 5 (74) CompiledbyW A.Potter
Across:
1. Origin of toothache. (4.5). 6. Supported injured arm with damaged lungs. (5). 9. Peer has broken bone around fifty. (5). 10. Toughest of the meninges. (4.5). 11. Intoxicating beverage in Wales (3). 12 Standin for the doctor (5). 13. Tattered clothes by which the student raises money. (4). 14. End-product of protein metabolism. (4). 16. Boy has nothing in fissure of cerebrum. (7). 18. Resuscitator for the dipsomaniac? (7). 20. Auditory structure concealing a murder. (3.4) 22. Sarcastic style of writing. (7). 23. Bungle the job of keeping the hands warm? (4).25. Employed second-hand. (4) 26. Fabric with unusual stain. (5). 29. Cause of Cleopatra's death. (3). 30. Exhortation to encourage surgeon to start cardiac transplant? (4.5) 31. Bury between crushed nitre. (5).32. Restored to health by copper colour. (5) 33 Impaired digestion, said Pepys mysteriously. (9).
Down:
1. Colic produced by a stone in the ureter (5). 2 Boil crura for a ligament. (9). 3. The best part in preparatioh for external use (5). 4. Pass through an experience from one drug. (7). 5. Provoked to a great fury. (7).6. In South Africa, medical officer comes back for the body (4) 7. Put forged notes in circulation, so to speak. (5). 8. Ward for the older patients. (9). 15. Hand prepared for fight is in foot. (4). 16. Acute fever characterised by painful and swollen joints (9). 17. No armed service is the standard. (4). 19. In confusion, I strike at inflammation of the cornea. (9). 21. Mixture of mud and tars producing emetic and counter -irritant. (7). 22. Allays excitement and anxiety by fruit from south -east. (7). 24. Eastern ascetic. (5). 26. Bones chilled by fear. (5). 27. 17 Down with a girl. (5). 28. Cast off a light building. (4).
Solution to Crossword No 4 (74)
Across:
3. First rib; 7. Vena cava; 9. Seance; 10. Cut -a -neo -us; 11. M - ill -et ; 12. Dead -beat; 16. R -ye; 18. Leg - al; 20. Pluck; 21. Asp; 23. Cyst -it -is; 27. Re -t -in -a; 29. Spermatic; 30. Amni -on; 31. Ligament; 32. Hysteria.
Down:
I. Can -a-rd; 2 Gamete; 3. Faculty; 4. Specialist; 5. Renal; 6. Breathless; 8. Exude; 12. Deep breath; 13. A -mb -u ; 14 Broken nose; 15. Area; 17. E -spy; 19. Ga -it; 22. Scapula; 24. Shrugs; 25. In arms; 26. In -ion; 28. Ten -ds.
BOOKS
MODERN FIRST AID by A. S. Playfair, illustrated by Edward Osmond. Hamlyn (paperback) SOp.
This book is worth buying for its colour illustrations - so much in first aid is better shown than described in words. The best visual aid is the one you can take home and study at leisure.
The text is obviously written by a very good teacher. Dr. Playfair has had a great deal of experience in teaching for the B.R.C.S. His language is simple, easy to read, and with emphasis on the important things to do.
The chapter on shock, always a difficult subject for the first -aider , explains how the condition comes about with diagrams showing pint bottles of blood. Bleeding and how to stop it is covered in detail. There is quite a lot of detail on unconsciousness, but the important point is made that it is more important to keep the patient alive until medical aid arrives than to make a diagnosis.
There is no chapter on anatomy and physiology, but adequate illustrated information is given The working of the lungs is very well done.
There are minor differences in treatment compared with the standard text book. For example , the fractured clavicle is treated by a pad in the axilla and a sling. Many doctors would agree that this is better than the Figure 8 bandage which, ill applied as it often is, does more harm than good
Cardiac resuscitation is approached with the caution it deserve s. The dangers of cardiac massage are not usually emphasised enough. One shudders even at competitions , at heroic attempts getting mor e desperate every minute.
This book is thoroughJy recommended, especially for those who are doing a re -examination. It will prove more helpful than many a cour se of lectures.
Dr. G O. Hughes , Assist. Chief Medical Officer
FETES BAZAARS ALL FUND RAISERS
Fully guaranteed ball pens and pencils die -stamped in gold with your name or slogan (maximum 30 letters) £2 50 per gross. Cash with order p p. 40p up to £3; 50p over £3
Extensive range of TOYS - STATIONERY NOVELTIES - JEWELLERY - and PRE-SELECTED PARCELS all at wholesale prices. Catalogue from:BAKER ROSS 2a Handsworth Road, London N17 600 Telephone 01-8086948
IDEAL FUND RAISERS FOR YOUR BRIGADE
We supply B all Pens Combs, Pencils, Key Fobs, Rainhoods, P.V C. Good s, Diaries Letterettes, et c., All are excellent Fund Raise r s - Good Quality - We give full guarantee All orders are com p l eted within 5 days of ' receipt. Send now for our 1974 Price List
Choose your carpets vvith confidence 'from DODSON BULL
PART ES All yo ur require m ents su pp ie d , T OY S GAMES. NO V E L TI ES, FA N CY GOO DS of ev ery d esc ri ption, In di v i du a Wr apping Serv ce a so B ALL OONS,
CAN YOU GET THE REVIEW?
or do you have problems in getting copies 1
I often get complaints from readers - 4 in 1-4- hours the other morning - that they have not received current or cannot get past copies of the Review from their retailer. Retail news agents and the wholesalers from whom they order are I'm sure very busy people, and although they obtain the usual trade discount on orders for the Review - and hence we get only about 8p a copy - not all of them are prepared to make much effort for small orders. And ofcourse, the Review office cannot be responsible for any order not placed directly with Review Sales.
I know it costs a little more to order direct from us (£ 1. 70 a year against £1.44 through a retailer) but by ordering direct you have a 24-hour phone service (except when I go away for a break some weekends) ready to deal with complaints. So for an extra 26p a year, I am at the end of a telephone contracted to deliver you 12 copies of the Review each year. Or get bulk orders to St. John units in Britain at lOp a copy, including postage. And if that isn't a 26p bargain, I don't know what is, The Editor.
ORDER FROM:
Review Sales, St. John Ambulance HQ
I Grosvenor Crescent, London SW IX 7EF
'Its quicker by tube'
Contents
- a film demonstrating the application of all types of tubular bandages FREE to you - on loan.
Made with the co-operation of four major London hospitals , Seton s new instructional film justifies its name.
Valuable hints show how easy it is to apply tubular bandages to all parts of the body, saving precious time , effort and money.
An important feature of the film is that it clearly indicates the conditions for which either the Tubular Bandage, Elastic Tubular Bandage or Elastic Net Bandage may be chosen.
The 16mm technicolour film runs for 30 minutes, and is available free on loan.
Just fill in the coupon and send it , but please give at least three weeks ' notice so that your request can be met on time.
Around and About by the Editor p.8
Ambulances and their equipment by Brian Rockell p.12
Every Day First Aid:
Readers
News
News
AT RANDOM
by Watkin W. Williams
Deputy Commissioner-in-Chief
ADVERTISEMENTS
Stubbornness we deprecate, but firmness we condone; Thejormer is our neighbour's trait, the latter is our own.
I always enjoy my phone conversation with Review editor Frank Driscoll about semantics, on the day he receives my script for At Random. No doubt he will object to the word 'semantics', just as he objected to the word 'hubristic' in April At Random, on the grounds that very few readers will understand its meaning. But I firmly brushed aside his stubborn though fully justified objection, and shall do so again if necessary. 'Never mind', I said; 'there's no other single word to describe it, and those who don't understand will either guess from the context or consult their dictionaries or just not bother.' Be that as it may, my remark in April drew - well, not exactly blood, but a most delightful letter of gentle reproach, written in his own inimitable style , from my dear old friend AIM John Sinjin Wight-Bann. It's too good a letter to keep to myself, and I really must share it with you, though I shall have to cut it down a bit.
'HUBRISTIC!' - he writes - 'What a word to pin
(Con tinued on p. 17)
London's
F i re- Fig hte rs
. From Roman times till today
FIRE-FIGHTING in London must be very nearly as old as the city itself. We know that there were firemen in Ancient Rome, the 'Vigiles', and it seems very likely that Londinium (London) had a similar force.
Following the fall of the Roman Empire in the fourth century, AD., there remained no organised fire-fighting force, nor, it seems, any thought for providing one. It was not until the reign of William the Conqueror that any attempt at all was made at fire protection. William made his well known couvrefeu, or curfew law, which required people to douse all fires and lights at nightfall, because he was concerned about the household fire hazards of the time, such as straw as a floor covering and thatched roofs. Severe penalties were imposed on anyone who was caught disobeying the law. Despite this, however, a huge fire occurred in 1086 and a large area of the city was destroyed. Although necessary, William's law was very unpopular, and in the year 1100 his son, Henry I, did away with the penalties.
Several half-hearted attempts were made between the 12th and 17th centuries to introduce building regulations. Some Lord Mayors issued fire prevention instructions to parish councils and builders, but these were largely ignored. About the year 1600 the first primitive fire appliances appeared on the scene in England. Some took the form of large syringes known as fire squirts; another type was a manually operated pump mounted on a tank of water with a nozzle on the top. These machines were maintained at the expense of the parishes, and several were used at a large fire in 1633. Most of them broke down, others proved to be virtually useless, and a number of houses on London Bridge were gutted.
The Great Fire
On Sunday, 2 September 1666, the destruction by fire of medieval London began, and within five days the city which Shakespeare had known, with its narrow streets and high buildings - lay in ashes.
An area one-and - a-half miles by half-a -mile was totally destroyed: 373 acres inside the city wall, 63 acres outside, 87 churches and 13,200 houses. Surprisingly, only six people
were definitely known to have died, but it seems likely that many others must have perished.
The fire began in the house and shop of Thomas Farynor the King's baker, in Pudding Lane. His assistant woke at 2am to find the house full of smoke. He roused his master, and the household made their way through a window and along a roof gutter to a neighbouring house - all but a maidservant who was too frightened to clamber over the roof. She stayed and became the first victim of the fire. The sparks from the burning house fell on hay and fodder in the yard of the Star Inn at Fish Street Hill, and the fire from the burning inn set light to the Church of St. Margaret.
The fire spread steadily down Pudding Lane and Fish Street Hill to the warehouses and wharves of Thames Street where tallow, oil, spirits and hemp were stored, and hay timber and coal lay heaped on the open quays. By 8am it was halfway across old London Bridge, and only the gap created by the fire in 1633 and left unfilled prevented it from destroying Southwark. Even there, sparks set light to a stable in Horse Shoe Alley and two houses burned down before a third was pulled down to make a successful fire break. By the time Samuel Pepys had been called from his home in Seething Lane and made his way to the Tower, more than 300 houses and Fishmongers' Hall, the first of 44 livery halls, were in flames or ruins. He at once realised that a holocaust threatened and hurried off to the Court in Whitehall. There was very little equipment to fight the fire. Ordinances and statutes had laid on the parishes and wards of the City the duty of providing buckets and axes, ladders, squirts and fire hooks for tearing down houses in the line of the fire, but many were rotten with neglect and there was hardly any water except from the river to put out the flames.
When it was suggested to Lord Mayor Bludworth, who had arrived back on the scene, that houses shou ld be pulled own to make fire breaks , he only asked timidly , 'Who will pay for the rebuilding of the houses? But he agreed on the condition that the owners' permission was obtained first.
tinent, and fire -fighters were recruited from water men who plied the Thames b ecause they were s tron g and well u se d to dangerous working conditions.
Pepys returned from the King in Whitehall with the Royal command that houses were to be pulled down to make fire breaks, but the 'trained bands' called out to help began their demolition work too close to the fire , and the ruins they created could not be cleared in time and became added fuel. As the fire progressed, gunpowder was used to blow up houses, often with excessive success.
On that Sunday night 'The Boar 's Head Tavern in Eastcheap - where Shakespeare and Ben Johnson had drunk - burned down, and the fire blazed for three more days among the tenements where a quarter of a million people had lived. At last, on Thursday morning it was brought to a stop at Temple Church near Holborn Bridge.
And then while the city breathed a sigh of relief and exhaustion it leapt into life again on Thursday evening and threatened to continue towards Westminster, but the Duke of York -a bencher of the Inner Templestopped it at the Temple before it had gained a firm hold. Despite protests , he ordered the destruction of the Paper House to break its path, and a passing seaman saved the hall of the Tnner Temple by climbing onto the roof and beating out the flames which had sprung from a few stray sparks at one corner.
The question everybody asks about the Great Fire is what was it caused by? The answer quite simply is that no one ever managed to pin it down. It may have been caused deliberately. Robert Hubert, a watchmaker known to be mentally disturbed, confessed to starting it and was hanged for the crime. However , it was later proved that he did not land in London from France until two days after the fire started.
The Insurance Brigades
After the Great Fire, the old wooden houses were largely replaced with brick ones. and their owners began to insure their premises against fire. Insurance companies were granted charters to provide fire assurances and the fire offices realised that it would be in their own interests to hire men to put out fires in buildings which they insured. They introduced the latest fire engines, some of them designed on the Con -
Every policy holder of an insurance com pany was issued with a metal badge or ' fire mark' which was fixed to the outside of the building. When a fire occurred. often more than one company's brigade would arrive at the scene. If the 'fire mark' displayed was not their own. they would leave the building LO burn. and in some cases even cause a fight with a rival bri gade who arrived and thu s hamper fire-fighting operations. Gradually, however. the in su ranc e industry expanded, a nd as it did so the brigades began to cooperate with each other. The companies came to rea li se that their efforts could be better directed in a single force and after severa l attempts the y finally agreed to pool their resources to form the London Fire Engine Establishment in 1833.
The
London Fire Engine Establishment
On the formation of the Establishment the former fire chief of Edinburgh. Mr Jam es Braidwood. took command as its s uperintendent. Thi s force comprised only eighty fulltim e professionals popularly known as ' Jimmy Braider s' and had nineteen fire stations Di sci pline wa st rict and the men operated a twent y - four hour duty system with only very limited periods of leave. Braidwood brought to London many new ideas and techniques He believed that. to be really effective. a fireman should get into a building and as near to the seat of the fire as possible, rather than rely pn a long shot' with a hose, a principle which still holds good today.
About thi s time the first steam fire engines were invented by Braithwaite, but Braidwood did not like them. He preferred the old manual machines. In 1834 a huge fire occurred at the House s of Parliament and a lar ge amount of historic building and records were destro yed. De spi te it s efforts the Establishment only managed to save We stminster H a ll. After this the insurance com panies began to think twice about their commitment to the Establishment, and made representations to the Government to bring the parish fiire engines under their control. Their efforts were. however, of no avail. The greatest test was yet to come. for in 1861 a riverside warehouse in Tooley Street, Southwark, caught fire and before long almost every man in the Establishment including Braidwood himself was fighting it. Tn the ear y stages of the fire Braidwood was killed when a wall collapsed on him. The fire raged on for two days before it was brought under controL and was not fully extinguished for a fortnight.
After Braidwood' s death the former Chief Con s tahle and Fire Chief of Belfast. Captain Eyre Massey Sh aw, took command.
The Tooley Street fire was too much for the insurance companies, who immediately raised their premium and propo ed the closure of the Establishment. The Government appointed a Committee, who
I nto action
Steam fire engines of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade 1866 - 1903
Fire float and tug on their way to a Thamesside blaze in 1890 (Illustrated London News)
rec o mmended that a Bri gade shou ld be formed at public expense under the co ntrol of the Metropolitan Board of Works and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act was passed in 1865.
Metropolitan Fire Brigade
In 1866 the Bri ga de was commanded by one of the world' s best -known fire -fig htin g personalities. Captain Eyre Mas sey Sh aw who had previou s ly been the superintendent of the London Fire Engine Establishment. He was a personal friend of the Prince of Wales and well known in society circles. Such was his fame that Gilbert and Sull iv an immortalised him in their operetta Iolanthe'.
But Shaw was no flippant socialite. On the contrary. under hi s direction the Bri ga de developed as quickly as the available finances permitted. He greatly expanded the use of steam fire engines, introduced telegraph systems and rationalised life saving operations by taking over the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire in 1868 and increasing the number of street escape stations. The Societ y had previousl y been the onl y body which concerned itself with saving life.
Contrary to the priorities in toda y's Brigade, the insurance Brigade s were primarily concerned with saving property. Shaw was always under -financed and Londoners paid a halfpenny in the pound for their Brigade (today it still only accounts for 3p). The amount rai sed was £31,000. To thi s could be added a further £ 11.000 from the Government, but de s pite the poor finance s the Brigade increased in strength.
A fireman was comparatively well paid for his da y, at 22 shillings a week, but thin gs were not all good. The men were on almost continuous duty and were compelled to live at their station.
The Prince of Wale s - later Edward VII - took a keen per so nal intere st in the business of fire -fighting and at the Chando s Street fire station, Charing Cross , the Prince 's fire uniform was always kept at the ready so that he could attend some of London's more notable fires.
In 1889 the newly formed London County Council took over control of the Brigade from the Metropolitan Board of Work s, and Shaw soon revolted against it s more rigid controls on his activities For years he had been left to run the Bri ga de in hi s own way, and after two years of stormy exchanges he resigned in 1891
1904-41
The Brigade's title wa s eventually changed to the London Fire Brigade in 1904 by Act of Parliament although it had been popularl y known as this for many years. At the beginning of the century s ucce ss ive Chief Officer s introduced man y innovation s, one of th e most notable of these bein g the motor car in 1902. At first it was found unsatisfactory and horses were kept in use, but gradually, a s the performance of the motor appliances improved they were widel y introduced during the 1910 - 20 period. The last hor se-
Fire Chiefs
drawn machine was withdrawn in 1921. Durin g th e First W orld War the Brigade los t many men to the armed services, but when the enem y air raid s began many of them returned and those sti ll serving in the Brigade were exempted from war service By comp arison with the ai r r aids of th e Second W or ld W ar the raids we re light, but even so a total of 670 people in London died as a result of them.
Between the Wars
Th e Bri gade was vastly imp r oved in the period between the as the petrol engine was perfected, fire engines were improved and th e first fully enclosed machines arrived.
Th ese gave protection from the weather and, incid e ntall y stopped accidents by me n falling from mac hin es. New, faste r fireboats with g reat ly improved performance a new headquarte r s was constructed on the Albert Embankment by Lambeth Bridge to
replace the one built for Massey Sh aw's Brigade at Southwark nearly 80 years before Workin g hour s were shortened and the brass helmet which had been in use for 70 years was done away with in favou r of a much str onger cork helmet.
1939-45
As he shadows of another war da rk ened over Europe the British Government passed an Act which provided for the recruitment of an Auxi li ary Fire Service. and when the war eventua ll y came the auxi li aries and regula r firemen found themselves stationed at emergency stations allover London, in ehools and all kinds of othe r buildings. They were equipped largely wit h taxis dr awing trailer pumps, which were to s uppl ement the regular machines. Enemy raids on London did not start until the late summer of 1940 and during the winter months their intensity g rew nightly
Early motor fire escape at the old So uthwark headquarters in 1909
Thousand s of men and machines were called in to deal with the fires The reputation of the se rvic e h a d been g reat ly e nhanc ed by their work during the 'The Blitz' and Sir Win " ton C hur chi ll in one of hi s famous speeches, dubbed them 'the heroes with gr im y faces'.
1941-48
The Government. realising the importance of a un ified fire -fig hting force throughout the cou ntry. made emergency provisions for a National Fire Service, and thi s came int o be in g on 18 August 194 1 In Greater Lon do n the sepa rate Bri ga de s were formed into a single R eg ional Force which was divided in to five and later four Fire Force s.
In 1943 . Major Frank J ack on. the man who had directed the 'Blit z' campaign retired and was s ucceeded by Mr. F. W. De lve. CEL a former Chief Officer of Croydon. Ther e was far le ss bombing in the City after th e National Fire Service came into be ing, but when in 1944 a short series of heavy raids occurred followed shortly after by nyin g bomb and rocket attacks. the service again found it se lf at full stre tch
At the end of the war plans were made for a peace time service. and it was decided that the Bri gades could be best run by Counties and County Borough Councils and the big "split - up' came on I April 1948. A side benefit was, however gained from the war. New national standards had been introduced in s uch matter s as ranks, badges of rank hose couplings, terminology, drills and training.
1948-65
Mr. Del ve took charge of the Bri gade in 1948 and at once began the ta sk of re shaping it. Worn out appliances were replaced, aecommodlltion for the men and training facilities improved. new techniques. equipment and other innovations were introduced Mr. Del ve was knighted in 1962 and after his retirement was succeeded by hi s deputy. Mr. L. W T. Leete. the first man to have risen throu gh the ranks to become Chief Omeer.
Since 1965
In 19 63 the London Government Act was passed. which established the Greater Lon -
don Council as the fire authority over the area previously covered by London, Middle sex. We st Ham, East Ham. Croydon, and parts of Essex, Hertfordshire Surrey and Kent. Mr. Leete was appointed Chief Officer and had the overall responsibility of planning the organisation of the new Brigade which came into being on 1 April 1965, just 9 months before celebrating the centenary of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. the fiirst real predecessor to the London Fire Brigade, as well as the tercentenary of the Great Fire of London. During 1966 there were many ce lebrations including a river pageant on the Thame and a Review of the Brigade by H er Majest y the Queen.
Following Mr. Leete's retirement in 1970 Mr. J oseph Milner. who had been the Dir ector of the H ong Kong Fire Services for so me five years. was appointed Chief Officer. Born in Manchester. Mr. Milner joined the National Fire Service in 194 6 and was selected as a Station Officer for the Hong Kong Fire Services in 1951.0ver the next 14 years he gained several promotions to become Director in 1965.
Nevv control room for SJ Air Wing
A NEW and en la rged operational control centre fo r the Air Win g at St. Mar garet's H o pital, Epping. was opened on April 10 by M ajor General D. S. Gordon. the Com m issioner -in-C h ieC The new control centre has been necess it ated by the great ly increa sed number of ca ll s up on the services of this branch of St. J o hn Ambulance. which is operated by more than 100 volunteer pilots located thr oughou t the count r y and a team of flight co ntr o ll er w ho maintain a round the -clock watch.
Th e contro l centre i the point from which all flight s the majority of them occurring at ni g ht and cover in g the United Kingdom. Europe and North Africa. are organised and pr ogressed to completion.
Sinc e its inauguration in Feb ru ary 1972, thi s unique vo lunt ary se r vice has flown more th a n 100 uccessful mission invo lving the speedy transport of kidne ys for tr ansplant operation s , the carr iage of urgently needed
e
urugs and the transfer of sick and injured patients frolll place abroad to ho pital in this
The ne\\ centre. \0\ hich has been equipped with the 3ssistance of a grant from the Edwina Mountbatten Trust and th rough the generosity and practical efforts of many local supporters and well -wishers. is located in what was formerly the St. Margaret' Ho pital chapel.
Members of the hospital's maintenance taff under their superviso r Mr Fred Short. pared neither time nor efTort in carrying out work connec ted with the conve r sion of the former chapel. Mr. Fred Short. who built the control console, frequently worked far into the night in order to en ure that it wou ld be ready on time. The final touch o thi s contro l point of SJ mercy missions was given by Mr s. Ollin, who made and hung the curtains.
op e ning (L to R) Sqn Ldr Pat Pattison Air Operation Co - ordinator Wing Cdr. Harry Drummond, Senior Controller; the Commissioner-i n- Chief Mal o Gen 0 S. Gordon and Mr Pat Bowen Secretary, St Margaret's Hospital
Do not start lettering close to the border of the poster space. Mea s ure V4 inch down from top, up from bottom and in from sides; rule fai nt guideli nes. The result should be :
POSTER
DONKEY DERBY '21
DESIGN MOKE, BRAYHARD
How to make what you've got to
say look good and be effective
PRODUCE A POSTER? - What, me? If you're suddenly faced with this dilemma, the following hints might be useful.
What you need
a) A blank St. Johp poster as shown in the March Review, obtained from the Supplies Dept.
b) 1 or 2 sheets of dry transfer letters.
Some of these give two sizes of capitals and matching script on a sheet, in which case only one sheet will be necessary. The choice is Letraset or Mecanorma, both of which cost 85p a sheet from good stationers and artists' suppliers. Select a clear type-face, such as Helvetica, Eurostyle or Universe.
c) A soft pencil (4 or 5B)
d) A soft white eraser
e) A l2in ruler.
f) A set square
g) A pencil sharpener
h) An Aerosol spray of fixative
i) A dictionary - as there's nothing more distracting than a word incorrectly spelt.
j) Work at a table with either a large sheet of mounting board or a large desk blotter as a work-top.
Method
a) Keep the wording as brief as possible.
6 Remember , plenty of white space emphasises the words.
b) Draw a light ruled line down the exact centre of the poster, and then horizontal guidelines for the lettering.
c) Faintly sketch out the words, balancing them either side of the centre guide line. This can be achieved by measuring the words and the spaces between them for each line.
d) Spaces between letters should be the same, except for letters M, W, A, T and V which should be placed nearer together or nearer to their adjacent letters. These letters are wider than the others and to achieve good balance it is necessary to lose some of the space allowed between letters of equal width.
To much space: W ATE R
Correct: WATER
e) Remove the backing paper from the sheet of dry print transfer letters. Keep the backing paper at hand as you will use it later.
t) Press the first letter required face down in its exact position on the poster and with a ball -point pen or pencil rub evenly all over the letter. A transferred letter may 'run-off ahead while rubbing, which will cause it to break or twist, so it is recommended that you rub diagonally across the letter starting from the centre; this particularly applies to letter O.
Saturday july 6. 2·30-5'0
Design and lay-out
Make the event to be advertised the eye -
catching title by placing it first. Use the largest of se lected letters and leave a slightly deeper space between this and the next line of lettering. When you have positioned and lightly sketched in the title , this focal point s hould make it easier to find the balance for the rest of the wording.
The poster illustrated is an example of how an announcement can be made simply and effectively on a poster. It shows the three stages of design procedure: guide lines, rough sketching out of words and the result. Normally all guide lines and sketching would be very faint and rubbed out on completion.
The impact of a printed announcement is considerably helped by the symmetrical balance of space; i e. lines 2 and 4 start and
end with the same amount of free area, which is then taken up in line 7 with words.
The effect of such layout is that every detail of the announcement registers immediately. We st rongl y advise keeping announcements brief; use plain letter s; plenty of s pace with no fancy touches such as scro ll s; and use one colour , or at most two.
The St. John posters are printed in three colours , so for the best results use only black print. Dry print is recommended as it does not run, s mudge o r leach out, and after fixing with aerosol it will remain clear even when badly sited s uch as in a window on which there may be condensation.
Good luck in your printing!
g) Carefully peel the sheet away, and the letter should now be in its place.
h) Place the backing paper over the transferred letter and to ensure adhesion of the letter burnish by evenly rubbing with your thumb nail.,
i) When the lettering is complete and all guide line s have been carefully rubbed out, s pray the poster with fixative, following the maker's instructions.
Centring, spacing and guide lines
Centre the poster space from top to bottom. With a ruler, measure and mark centre at top and bottom, then rule a faint line through So:
Speaking at the co nference Dr Colin Dawson a London District Area Surgeon and senior medical advisor to Casualties Union
SJA Medical Conference
Headquarters reports that the Medical Conference held at Nottingham during April was an enormous success. The chief guests were Dame Barbara Cozens, our former Chief Nursing Officer and Major -General R. J. Gray, Chief Medical Officer and Medical Adviser of the British Red Cross Society.
The Nottingham Constabulary put on an excellent demonstration and exhibition and everyone report s that all speakers were first rate; those talks of special interest will be published in subsequent issues of the Review. The 'star' of the conference guest/ lecturers was our own Dr. Colin Dawson (w ith his helpers from Casualty Union), who spoke on using trained casualties for first -aid training
Congratulations to Dr J. C. Graham, Chairman of the Medical Conference Working Party, on the success of his conference, and also to the conference secretary, Philip Adams.
Many aspects of police work were on display at the Nott nghamshire Constabulary s exhibit ion, including (belo w ) a live example
MOUSER HE
SJA to the rescue again! P a nic g ripped a ma s anti - s mokin g meeting at Middle s brou g h recentl y when a h ypno ti s invited his audience to come under his spell.
Women screamed and the hall wa s in an uproar - but the disturbance had nothing to do with the h y pnotist' s methods
It wa s all caused b y a mouse that had crept out from under the fl oo rboard Th e h y pnoti s t sa id : 'There was fear. pani c, uproar. It all started when a tin y mou se ran across the floor. There were women jumping on to chairs, others screaming. We finally go thin gs back to normal - when a St. John Ambulance man mana ged to catch it.
IN FLIGHT
The SJA Civil Aviation Centre, formed in 1970 to provide first -a id training for ground and cabin staff of British airlines, is spreading its wings r hear.
Recently the Centre's secretary, Mr. A. W. Weston, was invited to Bahrain for 2 weeks to train Gulf Air's cabin staff in first aid. This Arab airline, which recently bought ten VC lOs, is increasin g its cabin staff from 20 to 120.
Mr Weston tells me he ran three courses for stewards and s tewardesses and then spent 4 day s teaching stewardesses who were to become instructors.
Gulf Air cabin staff now hold first - aid certificates in a country where even the police are not trained in first aid Perhaps the police there will be needin g St. John in the near future too
FINE - BUT
I t all started early in 1973. SJA Glossop, Derbyshire. was asked if a member would give a talk to the local Round Tablers Cadet
AROUND and ABOUT
WHA T'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST. JOHN
BY T H E E D ITOR
Office r David Travis went along, talked. and the T ab ler s obviously liked what
Fin e, said
SJ A. The Tabler s se t two wo rk organising a Glo sso p - Land' s End -Glos so p car rall y. Th e re s ult : £650 for the unit.
A 14ft 6ins lon g Sprite Mu ske teer caravan hell was bou ght and Atted out to SJ A Glo ssop's instructions. M y phot ograp h s h ows yet another SJ A unit gett in g m o bil e. And incid enta ll y even thi s photo gra ph was s upplied b y Glo ssop Round Tabler s. Fine co -operation by two loc a l organisations.
But, a so ur note I'm afraid. The SJ A co unt y PRO who sent me the se fact s adds: We're ha v in g troubl e ge tting t he Revi ew in thi s area - can you arrange to se nd them b y po s t?' Pr esu mabl y thi s r efe r s to Glo ssop s s uppli es of R eview thr o ug h local
ret ai le r s. a complaint about the Revi ew I am co ntinuall y rec e iv in g from all part s of th e co untr y OF COURSE THE REVIEW CAN BE
A P POINTMENTS
Cumbria: R. E. Pr att, Com. No. 3 Area.
Kent: J. W P ope Com. No. I Area.
Gr. Manchester:T. K J. Leese, Coun y Surgeon.
Merseyside: J E. Crook to Com. Sefton Area. N. Pimbl c tt to Com. St. H e lens and K nowslcy Area.
Suffolk: I. T. H olloway. County Surgeon.
County Superintendents (N)
Buckinghamshire: Mis Sale. vicc Lady Camoys.
Lincolnshire: Mr s. Vcre - K c nn edy, vice Mrs. H edges.
OBTAINED BY POST BY WRITING TO R EV I EW SALES AT LONDON HQ
IN THE GULF
That's how we want to send copies to you. for we lose money on eve r yone so ld thr ough retailer. IN FACT ORDERS OVER SIX C OPI ES ARE C H EA P E R FROM HQ THAN THROUGH RETAILERS
Let's tr v to cstabl ish a rclationship between SJA units a nd the R ev ew at HQ as exists betwecn the R ound Tabl e and SJA Glossop. If it can be done oca ll y, w h y n ot nationally?
THE LANDLORD
Ncwcastle's SJA Di vision has now go t its own permanent headquarters a/ler 72 years 0/ heing ill exi'5le n ce.
At the o pen in g of the new HQ at th e end o f M arch by the M ayor of Newcastle, Di visional Superintendent Joe Durh am said aptly: It' s lik e the odger becoming the land lord.'
The building. a former day - nu r sery sold to the Bri gadc at a very preferential price by the Boro u gh Counci l. provides two lecture rooms. storeroom. kitche n ge n e ral store. and two offic es. A further s o r e is t o be added W elcome home, N ewcas tJ e SJ A. Th ough t : more St. J o hn 'lodge r s' sho uld become 'land lords'.
HER GIRLS
D ame Ba rb ara Cozens. until her retirement two yea r s ago Chief Nursing Offi ce r of th e Brigade for 7 years, was handed a leatherbound book a the Nottingham M e dical Con fe r e n ce by h e r s u ccessor, Mi ss Rose mar y Ba il ey.
The book. which I am s ur e will always br -
FAMILY AFFAIR
Devon Commissioner Major T. W. Gracey presents Grand Prior badges to three of the Malinowski family, Cpl. Michael (left) Cpl Maria and Sgt Edward (3rd & 4th from right): wo of the Long family Susan and Cpl. Stephen (2nd & 3rd from leh) ; and two of th e Pu tt family, Sg!. Nicola (4th from eft) and Jacqueline (in her absence, presen t ed t o her fatherl Oth er two (righ t ) are Sgts. Norma Tucker and Johana Bradford
SJA Glossop getting mobile at the dedication of their new mobile first - aid unit. See story FINE BUT
ing back a flood of touching memories for D;me Barbara contains the sig nature s of a ll her g irl s - the Brigade's nur sing members.
D ame Barb a r a se nd s th e fo ll ow in g letter to them: M y seven yea r s as yo ur Chief Nur sing Officer was one of the happi es t periods of my life.
You gave me so you r val u able friendship; your happy greetings at your Competitions and during my visits to your County Conferences
'T hi s vo lum e will remind me of tho se occasions. and the names in it will be tr easured. I only wish could wri te perso n a ll y to each one of yo u. but thi s is obviouslv impossib le. accept my warmest thanks.
HOW IT'S DONE
Y ours affect o natel y Ba rbar a Cozens' Farnham Qu ad rilat e ral Di v is ion, Sur rey, reports:
'In S epte mber 1972. seve ral m e mb e r s of Farnham Di vison sugges ted repl ac in g our existi n g M o rri s ambu lanc e. Thi s idea was put to the General Purpo ses Committee. As a result. a six - man ap peal committee was formed whose so le purpo se it was to raise mon ey for the n ew ambulance and handl e th e r es ultin g publi c relations. Durin g the vear thi s became a five - man committee, owing to a member em ig r a ting to Australia. Enqui r ies were made with several am -
bulance body bu ild ers. After the leanets had been compared and v i si s made to wo rk shops a c hoi ce was made: a C. F. Bedford c ha ssis w ith a Wadham -Stringer- built body. The price was approximately £4000, fully equipped including V A T.
'This price covered some specialised equipment which incl ude s servo-ass isted braking. piped oxygen, a multi - po sture trolley. a Laerdal aspi rator and tw o ambubags. quartz - h alogen headlamps. beacon and front repeaters. add itional jacking point s and a rescue kit. Sinc e a great deal of our wo rk involves transporting wheelchair cases we invested in whee lch ai r clamps. which have proved an invaluable asset. The vehicle's internal co lour is pastel gree n. as a r e the blankets and upholstery.
'The order for this ve hicle was placed in November with a payment of £500, and two anonymous guarantors to our credit. Delivery was expected by July 1973. Th e commi tt ee set to work making useful co nta cts and o r ga ni s in g fund -raisi n g events. These included jumble sales, a gala-day and a sponso r ed drive. Tremendou s s upport was received from local o r ga nisation s and the people of Farnham. Thi s made the mone y available in j u s t under twelve months. The completed ve hi cle was collected from the bodv builders in Jul y and dedicated in S eptember at the annua l inspection. The vehicle has already travelled over 1, 500 mile s.
'The Morris ambulance, which the new
vehicle replaces, has been overhauled and sent to Portadown, Northern Ireland, with a supply of first-aid equipment. The army shipped the vehicle for us at no cost'.
A FIRST?
T hear that what is claimed to be the first division in the country to be formed completely of Asians has been inaugurated at Wellingborough. Over thirty boys and girls who have been undergoing instruction at local schools have been granted permission to become the Wellingborough Castle Combined Cadet Division. The name is taken from the electoral ward of the town in which their headquarters is situated. They were presented with their certificates by the County Commissioner/Commander, Lieut. Commander J. W. Ford, at a recent ceremony.
RESCUERS
For their rescue of a crane driver from his cab last year, I hear that Northumberland Wallsend members Supt. Alf Weddell and Brian Hill recently received the Richardson Silver Salver from Area Commissioner M. G. Bartlett. Well done, lads!
On Sunday morning, last April 21, A / M Christopher O'Leary, on duty at Nottingham City Area SJA HQ, received a phone call at 10.30 from a Mr. Richards, of Nottinghamshire, asking if a Brigade ambulance could transfer his wife's mother from Kent to a Melton Mowbray nursing home as soon as possible.
With clearance for the duty from the transport officer, Chris picked up Sgt. Bob McKie, who assists transport, from nearby Gelding Colliery Division, and by 11.30 the ambulance was heading south down the MI. They arrived at Sidcup, Kent, at 4.30, had a break, picked up the patient, and set ofT north again, arriving at Melton Mowbray at 11.30. Not knowing the exact location of the nursing home, they were lucky at that hour to meet up with a police car which escorted them to the home.
Bob and Chris arrived back at the Nottingham HQ at 12.40am, tidied up their vehicle, made out a report, and went home - to sleep very well, I'm sure.
That. I'm sure everyone will agree, is service. A 366 -mile ambulance journey, undertaken within an hour of the initial enquiry,
Northumbria 's No Area Superintendent George Brook s, Serving Brother , who retired in Mar ch under age imi regulations. George first took to first aid as a competition patient for his father n 1914 and after 60 years of first aid is now ooking forward to reti rement. At least he was - for No 1 Area has now set up a project on retired members, a nd George is to tak e on the job and on a Sunday too The same instant road service that the Air Wing is giving in the air.
BUSY
JOY
Nursing member, air attendant and police 'special' Mrs. Joy Longmore of Camberley, who won the 1973 International Police Association travel scholarship. attended a symposium on mobile intensive care units last autumn at Mainz University, Germany , as part of her study of 'air transportation of casualties and patients'.
The week -long conference, to which Joy went with the help of a fare grant from SJA, included heart specialists and anaesthetists from all over the world.
Of special interest to Joy at Mainz was a visit by a Danish helicopter and crew, part of the Danish coastal rescue service. The 'chopper', fitted out as a mobile intensive care unit, can transmit cardiac readings to the receiving hospital during Right.
Also present were many American doctors, for the USA is very conscious of the high rate of cardiac failures caused by stre.ss of modern living and of the need for mobile intensive care units to save lives. Light relief came from a delightful story told by one of the American doctors.
Apparently in the States many men heart allacks while playing golf, when It IS often difficult to summon help, so one golf club in tailed emergency telephones near each hole. Sure enough, one man collapsed with a heart attack and with the help of this telephone system the mobile intensive care unit was called out. The majority of these mobile intensive care units are about the size of a bus. as they contain all the most up - todate equipment for stabilising the patie.nt's condition before removing him to hospItal. instead of rushing a critically ill patient through the streets with bells ringing. etc. which only aggravates his condition. The man's life was saved but, as you can imagine, the green of the golf course were fairly churned up It took the groundsman a few weeks before he got the course in playable condition again!
Shortly after the course had been got back to normal, a golfer was driving around the course in one of those littlc buggys that they use in the States when it broke down. He went to the telephone at the next hole and said: 'My cart has stopped.' The telephonist heard this as 'My hearl has stopped' and immediately sent out the intensive care bus again - all over those greens! Imaginephoning to say his heart had stopped! I bet the groundsman needed that bus.
GIRL OF THE YEAR
Thc Mainz conference, organised by Professor Dr. Rudolf Frey, of Mainz Univer sity Hopital, also got some help from Joy; she spent one night from J J pm to 5am typing the English ver ion of the recommendations ready for the delegates the next morning.
Professor Frey will be attending the First World Congress on Intensive Care. to be held in London June 24 to 27, and he has asked Joy to help him during the congress with French and English work.
TRAVE L FOR D ISA B LED
Once a greatly neglected section of the airtravelling community, disabled people are now after much more attentively in most countries. according to a survey in a recent iss ue of the journal Marine & Air Catering.
About 40,000 disabled passengers pass through Heathrow every year but until six years ago the airport had no special facilities for them. The survey indicates that since then there has been a steady improvement. For example. information is now provided on the exact location of special ramps, lifts and toilets in all three terminals.
K LM emerges from the report as one of the airlines particularly well equipped for handling disabled passengers. At Schipol (Am terdam) airport - which has no doorstep and has lift and toilet doors wide
Swissair's facilities include a leg support for winter sport casualties and a special chair for lifting severely disabled passengers on and ofT aircraft.
Disabled people find that one of their worst problems is the delays that can occur before the special machinery is put into motion.
The survey concludes that the most important s ingle feature in helping the disabled air traveller is communication. It stresses that this must be maintained clearly from the time the disabled person approaches the travel agent to the time he is driven away from the airport.
A new ambulance appropriately with Reg No 999 is presented to the SJ Council for Plym outh and Distr ic enought for wheelchairs - KLM ofTer passengers three forms of mobility aid after their own wheelchairs have been stowed, a standard wheelchair, an electrically-operated minicar and a special wheelchair which can be used in narrow aircraft aisles.
(Photo: South Shields Gazette)
Correc tion to SJA Blet chley's 12 nur-
Ambulances and their equipment PART ONE
As more and more St. John units are acquiring vehicles
by BRIAN ROCKALL
THERE IS NOW an ever increasing range of ambulances and their equipment available on the British market. For the last ten years produced many significant changes, at a rate unparallelled in the previous decade. These changes have affected both the basic design of the vehicle and the standard of care that is available to the patient. The Government report on Ambulance Training and Equipment has probably been of more influence than any other single factor. This report, first published in 1967 , contained many basic recommendations which have helped to standardise training and equipment throughout the country. The re -organisation of local government and the regionalisation of the Health Service will also have a profound effect.
Let us firstly consider the basic design of the vehicle
Over 140 local authorities are at present responsible for buying and equipping ambulance vehicles but the present market for emergency vehicles is small. Under 750 are purchased in one year. The largest authority the G.L.c. has 300 emergency vehicles in its fleet. The result is that ambulances are normally based on commercial vehicle chassis, and a specially designed ambulance does not, at present, exist. The vehicles in common use are based on the Ford Transit, Bedford CF, BMC 250JU and the larger Bedford J 1 and BMC EA and FG. There are also small quantities of Austin 3 litre and Range Rovers in production.
The ambulance body is either a conversion of the commercial vehicle body or alternatively and more commonly is a specialist body built upon the vehicle chassis. The vehicle may include manufacturer 's options to make it more suitable as an ambulance, eg special rear suspension, larger capacity engine, and a high output alternator to cope with the additional electrical loading.
A Government project designed an ideal emergency ambulance and this would have front wheel drive, independent suspension on
all wheels, anti -skid brakes, automatic transmission and doors at the side and back together with adequate headroom. This vehicle has never been commercially produced although some of these ideal features are available on the vehicles currently produced.
The Bedford CF has independent front suspension and most manufacturers have an automatic transmission option, a particularly useful feature for stop/start driving.
The following should also be borne in mind for the basic design of the vehicle. A suitable hand throttle should be fitted , allowing the fuJI range of electrical systems to be used on standby duties , by keeping alternator output high, and thus reducing the likelihood of a flat battery The exhaust system and fuel lines should be well clear of the fuel tank and lines , and the exhaust should emit fumes well clear of the vehicle body
The brakes should be dual -circuit , servo assisted for maximum ease and safety. Both the fuel system and battery should have emergency cut out switches, clearly marked, and with ease of operation. All the electrical system shou ld be thoroughly suppressed a s VHF radio is particularly prone to interference. This means that in addition to coil, pI ug and alternator suppression, individual components such as the heater blower motor and windscreen wiper motor may have to be suppressed.
Perferably the windscreen should be laminated and be provided with two speed wipers.
The doors should have a full drop side window with or without quarter lights. There should be at least two side windows, with safety type non -transparent windows , at least one of which should be able to provide an emergency exit for a patient and stretcher This emergency exit should be clearly labelled.
Mud flaps should be fitted to all four wheels and an aluminium splash plate should surround the fuel filler.
The chassis should be undersealed and fitted with sound -deadening equipment. This may be particularly necessary where engines are partly in the driving cab It should be possible to hold a normal conversation at all speeds without raising the voice.
The advent of stretcher trolleys has meant that the rear doors are now smaller in size. This has produced a further safety feature and doors do not need to be opened beyond the width of the vehicle, in the face of passing traffic. Some authorities have adopted a single rear door which lifts upwards , but this produces a hazard if the door is not elevated far enough when entering the vehicle. A design of rear door becoming increasingly more popular is the layout recommended by The Working Party. A single rear door is used for the stretcher, while a second, much narrower door allows access to the rear for the attendant. This is beneficial for patient privacy
The equipment available can be split into distinct groups - safety equipment, warning equipment, interior equipment and patient care equipment.
Safety Equipment
The first requirement of any ambulance is that it is readily visible under all light and weather conditions. It h as been known for so me years that under most conditions yellow, lime green and white colours are readily visible. In 1967,101 local authorities had ambulances either white, ivory or cream in colour. The remainder used colours which adopted the local authority's colour scheme and one could see ambulances the same co lour as bu ses (the maroon / white livery of Reading) and other inconspicuous combinations of colour, eg dark grey in Hull, dark blue in Somerset.
Following the recommendations made b y the Department of Health, ambulances are now predominantly s now while in colour. It s interestiing to note that under conditions of fog and snow, white is not the most
) A 31b dry powder extinguisher
in a position where i can instantly be put into use
suitable colour. Oculists' re search ha s concluded that yellow is the most suitab le colo ur for all -round visibility which explains why the Po s t Offi ce liv ery is now yellow and not green. and also adds weight to Coventry's experiment with fire engines which resulted in their yellow colour. Several othe r local authorities now use yellow fire vehicles and travelling further afield W a rd La France, one of America' largest fire vehicle manufacturer s, now adopt a Auorescent lime-yellow for their emergency vehicles.
Durin g the la s t two years we have also seen the adoption of Auore sce nt tape, firstly on motorwa y police vehicles and now ambulance s. Thi s will become far more widely adopted and we will see combi nation s of the blue, orange / red, and lime g r ee n markin g all emergency vehicles. This tape has man y advantage s. It s mor e re adily visible than the vehicle it se lf; it is available in different widths; it s reasonable in price a nd is easily
applied (although not so easily removed).
Although compulsory in Germany, we have not yet seen the adoption of rear fog lights on vehicles. Police authorities have been quicker to see their advantages than ambulance authorities. They are an invaluable safety feature during fog and other adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain encounte red on motorways. An added advantage as far as emergency vehicles are concerned is that they can be illuminated at accidents, breakdowns. etc. and make the ve hi cle far more conspicuous.
These lamps can also be used i n conjunction with hazard warning lights These heavy duty Aasher units were introduced during the late 60s and utilise the vehicle.'s indicator lamps which all Aash s imultaneou sly. Units are manufactured by most major electrical manufacturers in this country and are easily fitted into existing electrical circuits. Most ambu lanc e authoritie are consciou of the
value of this warning device and the majority of new vehicles are being equipped with hazard warning systems. It is important to remember that it is illegal to operate hazard warning lights on moving vehicles. The vehicle should also be fitted with adequate reversing (maximum of 2x21 watt) and side repeater indicator flashers. Also in the category of safety equipment are such useful items as portable lamps, reflective triangles (again a compulsory requirement on the continent) cones and Auorescent jackets. These items all have a very neces sa ry place in the inventory of equipment to be carried on a vehicle. For personal safety. Auorescent jackets are invaluable and should be worn under all hazardous conditions and especially when dealing with road accidents.
All Brigade vehicles should carry at least two Auorescent jackets (Brigade Orders July 1968 ). (Turn page)
(Right) One of SJA Berkshire's Eastern Area ambulances showing c lea rly the fluorescent stripe
(Below
mounted
(Below, right) A He ll a roof-mounted beacon and Fiamm air horns. Note the trumpets are inclined downwards
Ambulances and their equipment
(cont)
Every ambulance should also carry some means of extinguishing fires. There is a wide range of extinguishers available but not all are suitable for general purpose application in an ambulance. An ambulance is inherently more s u scept ibl e to an internal fire because of the nature of the equipment carried, a r isk that is multiplied if this includes oxygen. In addition, the extinguisher must be suitable for e lect ric a l accidents. Water based and foam extinguishing compounds will conduct elect ricit y and consequently are unsuitable for electrical fires. Foam and water are also unsuitable because of the size of the extinguisher. Carbon TetrachJoride (CTC) is no longer considered suitable because of the pho sgene gas generated, which makes its use particularl y hazardous in confined surroundings.
Of the al tern atives, dry powder and BCF (Bromochlorodifluoromethane) are the most practic able. BCF, an I.e.I. product. is probably more efficient than dry powder on petrol fires and evaporates without a trace. Powder does produce a mess , but gives a lot of extinguish ant for the money. It is of little use purchasing a 'pocket size' extinguisher for vehicle use. Some of the smaller extinguishers are exhausted after only 10 seconds of use and in order to be equipped with useful fire -fighting capacity the extinguisher should weigh at least 31b It should also be remembered that extinguishers deteriorate in use and shou ld be checked after 2 years to ensure that when they are used, they will work.
Aerosol fire extinguishers, a lthou gh easy to use, have not been granted BSI approval, and no extinguisher carrying less than I Y21bs of extinguishant (21b in the case of dry powder) are recognised as being suitable for BSI approval. Always look for the BSI kitemark when purchasing extinguishers
Warning Equipment
There is now a vast ran ge of audio -vis ual warning equipment available
Most vehicle electrical manufacturers produce a range of specialised lighting equipment for ambulance vehicles. The first conside rati on is a blue beacon, all of which have to comply closely with statutory regulations concerning the rotation speed of the motor, angle of light, etc. The trend is towards larger blue beacons and newer versio n s are now being produced with quartz - halogen
bulbs giving a brighter light. The beacon is now mounted further back on the roof line, which allows a stationary vehicle to be readily visible from the rear. Some ambulances have two beacons fltted. either one each s ide at the front or, one at the front and one at the rear. In conjunction with these, blue repeater lamps are also u se d These are either mounted on the grill, on the wings or just above the windscreen.
Local authorities use these very inconsistently. Buckinghamshire County Council do not fit them to their vehicles while the neighbouring Berkshire fit four, two on the roof above the windscreen and two on the g rill. These additional blue light s make it possible for mini -s ized vehicles to see an emergency vehicle In their mirrors In addition to these blue lights some authorities have an interrupter unit fitted in the headlight circuit which continually flashe s the headlights. Thi s makes the vehicle particularly visible in daytime , when blue lights are least effective.
Some ambulances are still fitted with bell s, particularly tho se used in densel y populated areas (eg Greater London), and while this is traditional in so me re s pects, they cannot be considered as effective as a siren. Bells are ge nerally not heard from within a car and a passing cyclist can produce an effect as s tartling as an ambulance bell.
Of the sirens available there is the generally accepted alternating horns and the less common wailing siren. There are two types
of alternating horns available, those operated by compressed air driven throu g h trumpets and windtone horn s ope rated throu gh an alternating unit The compressed air type produce the most penetratin g note. ge nerally so undin g an A and B note a lternately at 60 cycles per minute. Fiamm are the mo st commonly see n , di tinguishable by their bright red trumpets. Th e trumpets s hould always be angled so that the sou nd hits the g round aproximately 50 feet in front of the vehicle. This not only pr eve nt s water entering the trump e t s but also produces the most effective so und.
The windtone horn s are normally mounted behind the grill, or below the bumper, and provided they are mounted in a suitab le position are less liable to be affected by heavy rain than the compressor type. We are likely to see further changes in the range of so und equipment available as so me manufacturer s are working on compressor less horn sets and others are experimentally trying the siren producing a wah - wah-wah so und (a la Hawaii Five-O).
Thi s is a purely electronic sound which is penetrating but directional so that people and vehicles each side of the sou nd path are not inconvenienced by the sound.
Sirens and horns should be controlled by a hand operated switch on the driver's side and a push button floor switch for the attendant. All horns must comply with the Home Office Specification No. JCDD /24 dated 1964 (Continued next month)
EVERY DAY FIRST AID
- a new, easy-to-understand series of advice that will help you to cope with FAMILY ACCIDENTS
FALLS
part three
by Dennis Clark, MBE, FRCS
LAST MONTH, in part two of Family Accidents, we discussed fractures of the upper limb from falling with outstretched hands. The injury commonly occurred at a distance up the arm from the part hitting the ground, from indirect vio lence. Except the fracture from falling on the point of the elbow, we did nut mention direct violence and so omitted fractures of any arm bone from blows, kicks
or falling on uneven objects. In the leg we have to think of direct vio len ce, because it so often causes a wound as well as a fracture in the shin bones where they are just under the skin, a so-called open/raclure. When we talk about wounds we will deal with the extra dangers of an open fracture, but at the moment it is enough to know that a wound must be covered before dealing with a fracture.
Leg fractures result from ...
Above the knee the shaft of the thigh bone , which is strong and covered with muscles, needs a severe violence to cause fracture but, when it does occur, there will be considerable bleeding into the muscles not shown on the surface and it will cause shock - another matter to be discussed later. How are yo u go in g to handle the se severe injuries? You are going to do what we did before; assess, diagnose , treat and transport. Let us take a few examples. Grannie has tripped and cannot get up from the floor because of pain at the top of the leg. As she lies there, holding the side of her thigh, the leg is unnaturally rolled outwards. Father, up a ladder cleaning out the gutters, has just fallen on to the path. He looks bad, face pale , sweating and contorted with pain Holding his thigh , he begs you to get help as he cannot get up. George out on his motor -bike, is now lying in the road bleeding from the leg above the ankle. He too cannot get up. 'T he foot-rest hit me', he says. It is a country road with little traffic and a clear view both ways. It was fortunate that you were out in a friend's car and came this way. George 's bicycle is on the far side of the road, half on the verge, so George need not be moved.
In all these incidents you have assessed the situation within seconds, and decided whether to move the casualty or not. You have thought of the priorities (Bleeding, Breathing, Consciousness) and the visible signs of fracture: pain, loss of use, swelling, deformity (peculiar outlines, twists, unnatural bends, shortnesses). Before even touching any of these , you will have made a rough diagnosis to be confirmed or changed as you make up your mind what to do
Because anyone with a leg injury severe enough to prevent standing must go to hospital by stre tcher, you send for an ambulance at once. Then you make your patient as comfortable as possible, moving him as little as pos s ible, while you make a further examination to discover if there are other injuries
Bleeding s a priority. George 's open frac -
ture (and you can see the shattered bones) need s immediate dressing so you see to it.
For nearly all leg fractures the ground itself is the nearest splint and most convenient (except in the torn gristle of the knee when the leg cannot be s traightened). You use the ground by arranging the casualty in the most comfortable position you can manage Then yo u decide what to do until the ambulance arrives. Every move causes pain.
It may be best to leave the patient with support only from the ground, but if within a few seconds you see any restlessness that can cause more pain then there is need for greater support. Get your triangular bandages out and arrange them ready for use.
Gently cup the heel of the bad leg in one hand , and while holding the foot with the other give a gentle slowly-applied pull , enough to ease pain. If you are rough or jerk it will hurt. Even if you are alone, by releasing one hand the good leg can be brought alongside the steadied bad one and a triangular bandage arranged in a figure -ofeight around both feet and ankles. Only when the reef knot is being tied need you release your hand support to the bad leg After that the knees are bandaged together. The two bandages above and below the fracture are not so important, but they do increase comfort. N ow you are using the good leg and the ground as splints.
A s you wait for help you attend to your patient's general condition, observe him, record the pulse rate cover him if necessary , reassure him by telling him correctly what has happened and what will happen to his benefit.
You may not feel you can do much but yo u can. You can take charge, thus relieving the patient of the anxiety and responsibility of thinking what to do. Through your knowledge you appear calm, however scared you may feel, and y ouI' confidence can spread to others. You listen to an account of the accident. You assess the dangers or inconveniences of the situation and deal with them You make a quick diagnosis, noting
the complications of bleeding and shock. You treat your patient and arrange transport.
Apart from the dressing for the wound of an open fracture, yo u have been told to use triangular bandages in holding the limbs together, but any form of band - belt, tie, sca rf - would do in an emergency. You already know the ways of using a triangular bandage; the reef knot, the slings, the figureof-eight and the special bandage for each part of the body. Can you apply them gently? How quickly, firmly and gently can yo u tie a reef knot? For practice, take three complete newspapers, one on top of the other, make a roll of them about the size of a limb and fix with selotape. Arrange ten lengths of rag (about 2 feet by 4 inches folded into three, to about an inch wide) across this roll, at even spaces, and stick them at their middles with one strip of selotape the length of the roll. Turn the whole over , arrange the ends evenly on both sides so that they are ready to be tied round the roll. Then see how quickl y you can tie ten firm reef knots Soon you will be able to do them with your eyes shut, inside a minute. I can, and I'm s ure I'm not so yo ung as you are.
Can you tie a reef knot?
SJA Guernsey's new lighting unit
with the receipt of
s by the operator.
BOOKS
THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE 1974
Editor: Christopher Driver Consumers Association, publishers of 'WHICH', £2.15
Once again h o lida y tim e is here a nd our thought s t urn to t ra ve l. For tho se wh os e j o urne ys cove r t h e Briti s h Is le s and R e pu bl c of I rela nd , Th e Good Food Guide 1974 s an ideal co mpan ion - well laid out, ver y comprehen sive and with accurate and informative de s cription s of both hot e ls and r es t a ur a nt s . M os t o f the info rm a tion is pro v ide d b y volunt ee r s and th e n che c ked b y the Guide 's in s pe c to r s. I would like to see a b o okmark of the s igns and sy mbol s pro v ided for easy reference and a s the b o ok is very bu lky it would be more c on venient to ha ve a se par a e s upplement for London
PRINCIPAL DRUGS
An Alphabetical Guide by S. J. Hopkins
Faber & Faber BOp Mar y Grah a m Thi s is a u seful littl e re fe r e n ce b oo k, sma ll enough to carry in th e p oc k et. Dru gs a r e well listed in alph ab eti c al o rd e r a nd I p a rticularl y liked the dual ind e x , i e. propri e tar y/ appr ove d , a ppr oved/ proprietar y. Howe ver , th e d esc riptive te rm s 16 and classifications are in a language too tech n ical for the majority of Brigade members and the book sutTers from being a lready out of date when published. The pro li fe r ation of new d r ugs cou ld have been a n tici p a t ed by t he inclusion of bla n k pages for the addition of notes by the owner. P er h aps, too, the inclusion of the Imperial ta bl es are u n necessary as this system was
onto me, who never staked a claim for Corporal's stripes, let alone hardwear on the shoulder straps My anecdote of the police inspector who said 'Come on, St. John, turn o ut your white bag and let's have the gear' really did happen to me; but it would not have happened to you.' (Does he forget that I too was once a 'faceless A / M' - or 'Private', as we were called in those days?). 'However, I was famous - or notorious!in the Civil Service for being able to give anyone a Roland for his Oliver (the daft answer which turneth away wrath - or not, as the case may be!) You reca ll nostalgic memories of your duties as an ambulance attendant, but I'll bet you can't recall when you and r first met. r came out onto the hospital forecourt when the ambulance pulled in, and said to the attendant who jumped out, 'Caw, you shouldn't carry a stretcher with all that on your shoulder; you ll hurt yourself!' (' All that' was no more than a very lightweight crown and pip). 'You see, I'm sold on the ideaThe rank is but the guineas's stamp; The man's the gold, Jar a' that.
AT RANDOM
(Cont. from page 1)
tificates should be forwarded instantly to the recipients, who can then have the very proper satisfaction of wearing the ribbon (or cross on the r ibbon) straight a way, and can look forward without any frus t rated sense of deprivation to an impressive presentation ceremony of the actual Medal or B ar at some later date.
With regard to the Grand Prior's Badge, a directive appeared in para. 6 of Brigade General Circular No. 4/72 which stated: 'With etTect from 1st January 1972 all those who qualify for the Grand Prior's B adge wiU be awarded a Grand Prior's B adg e Certificate In future, those who gain the G r a n d Prior's Badge will receive and wear t hei r Badge as soon as possible aJte r the application has been returned as approved by the Regislrar at Headquarters.
abolished in 1958. Within its limitations the book is reasonably priced and could well be of value to nurses in hospital or the community. It could also be of limited va lue to well experienced Brigade members working in hospital but would need to be used in conjunction with a good nurse's dictionary.
C.S.
but when I said spring in the air' , didn expect you to do just that!
from
'At a recent competition, after accepting, with great good humour, being gawped at fo re and aft in the uniform inspection (like a Berkshire S add leback at the Agricultural Show), over cups of tea and with great respect ('A gentleman is one who is never unintentionally rude') I told the Competition Marshall that he had his medal ribbons in the wrong order. All the same, I can take your point. We John Sinjin Wight -Banns mustn't go about like the Irishman in the ballad who invited all and sundry to 'Tread on the tail of me coat' am resolved to keep my contented detachment as an A / M with n o ambitions, and I want a quiet old age ('It was a summer's evening, Old Kaspar's work was done', etc ) So I will remember your words of wisdom and remind myself not to anticipate trouble lest I thereby engender it.'
Good old Jack! r can't see him enjoying a quiet old age for long without kicking over the traces, and almost certainly with good cause. But although I remain absolutely firm (or perhaps stubborn) and unrepentant in sticking to what I said of the hubristic impl ications of his remarks about 'amateur dogooders versus professional take -chargers', I should like to pay tribute to the superb conclusion of Part 2 of his article in the March R eview, which ought to be written up in let ters of gold in every St. John headquarters thr oughout the world.
Now or later?
It's always a very delicate matter to decide exact ly the right balance between being in oo much of a hu r ry to present awards on an ins u fficiently important occasion, and browning otT the recipients by keeping them waiting months and months for some really big 'do' when the presentation can be made by a VIP.
My own pe r sonal view is that on the wh ole we tend to err on t h e side of waiting too long, and that when people have worked
keenly and devotedly for several years to qualify for an award, the vast majority of them would prefer to receive (and, where appropriate, wear) the visible symbol of their labours as soon as possible after they have earned it.
But in the case of two of the most important awards made to Brigade members, the recipients can have the best of both worlds if directives on the subject are correctly carried out - they can receive something to wear in uniform at the earliest possible moment after qualifying for it, and can later attend a presentation made by a VIP on an important and impressive public occasion. I refer to the Service Medal of the Order awarded to adults, and to the Grand Prior's Badge awarded to cadets (or to ex -cadets who complete their qualification after being promoted to adult membership).
The commonest cause of delay in the issue of Service Medals and Bars is the long period that often elapses before the application (BF / SMA or BF / SMBA, supported by BF/4) is sent up to the Registry. This should normally be done in the January following the final year of qualification, which in turn should normally mean that the Medal is available for presentation, or at least the ribbon is authorised for wear, any time from about the middle of March. Local traditions vary widely on the timing of the most suitably impressive occasion for the presentation of the Medal; but that need no t - nor should it - dep rive the recipient of his right to wear the ribbon as soon as it has been authorised.
And there is provision Jar this, for every Medal sent out for presentation is accompanied by a certificate which states 'This certificate is issued as authority for the recipient to wear the Service Medal ribbon pending the issue of the Medal', and a corresponding certificate authorises the wear of the appropriate number of crosses on the ribbon pending the presentation of a Bar. These cer -
This means that the certificate can be presented on some important later occasion to recipients who should already be wearing their Grand Prior's Badges and should probably have been doing so for the past several weeks or even months I have recently come across evidence that these two provisions are so frequently ignored that I can only assume that many of those at Divisional, Area and County leve ls are unaware that they exist. So I hope may be forgiven for drawi n g attention to them, and that in these and all other ways (e.g. the prompt enrolment of ca d ets as soon as possible after they have qualified, and the prompt presentation of warrants of appointment, rank chevrons, service chevrons, proficiency certificates, etc.) we may help t o stimulate and encourage all our members with the sense of achievement that is their due.
Sunny spell
I managed to slip away after Easter fo r a short but very much needed week of relaxation in the sunshine of Malta, and it was a great joy to revisit St. John Ambulance H Q in Valletta and see my friend Mr. C. M. Saliba, a foundation member of the Malta District and now for many years past the District Administrative Officer, who at well over 80 is in full possession of all h is faculties and could walk mos t visitors otT their feet in showing them round the sights and treasures of that historic and lovable island.
But on this occasion he generously forgave me (as I hope did other St. John friends to whom I asked him to convey greetings) for begging to be allowe d to preserve a totally relaxed incognito during my brief spell of sunshine and rest. While there I read two quite superb books, one being the recent best - seller novel The Kappillan of Malta by Nicholas Monsarrat (Cassell, £2.50), and the other, which I regret not having discovered years ago, Malta: an Account and an Appreciation by Sir Harry Luke (Corgi, SOp)
I can warmly recommend both of thesetogether with The Great Seige by E rn ie Bradford (Penguin, 35p) - to all St. John members who have the good fortune to step within Malta's field of magnetic attraction.
AMBULANCES
from John L. Springer, Divisional Superintendent (A)
This Division operates ambulances required by many clubs, which organise motor sports and point -to-points, who cannot start these events until the ambulance and crew are present.
Organisers have complained to me that they occasionally contact St. John units in whose area they wish to run similar events, only to be told that the unit cannot supply an ambulance with the cover. No move has been made to supply a vehicle, all efforts to locate one being left to the organisers.
Could not St. John Districts inform their officers of the location of all District ambulances, and so give a better service and fully utilise existing SJ ambulances?
Huddersfleld John L. Spring er
A GREAT IDEA
from Mrs. Barbara Beeston, Nursing Member
That adult Grand Prior's award suggested by a reader in the March Review - what a great idea!
As an ex -Grand Prior cadet, now a nursing member I've felt for a long time that such an award should exist. It does not seem fair that people who join over the age of 21 are not able to take any G.P. certificates.
Quite honestly, I don't think many adult members, who've not been cadets, know exactly what the Grand Prior's award is! Or the hard work it entails for all concerned.
I always felt proud as a cadet to wear my G.P badge , but now as an adult member, the magic seems to have washed out of the badge. For many an adult member has asked me: 'What's that badge for?
So I feel that it's about time adults had an award too It would be something for them / us to work for, and give them more interest in the Brigade.
So come on Headquarters - give us the OK! Leeicesrer Barbara Beeston
BOUNDARY
from Capt. P. H. E. Welby-Everard, Commander SJA
25 is Lincolnshire, Reg ion III 20 is Humberside,Region II. Shaded area is Caistor , now ncluded in Lincolnshire
I should point out that the boundary between SJA Regions II and III which is also the boundary between Lincolnshire and Humberside, was incorrectly shown in the map published in the April Review. The boundary as shown is that originally proposed in the Parliamentar y Bill but this was altered in the House of Lords so as to retain the Rural District of Caistor in Lincolnshire.
Enclosed is a tracing of relevant part of your map on which 1 have shaded the additional area that has been included in Lincolnshire. Lincoln P H. E. Welb y-Eve rard
FACE-LIFT
from Edward Tortell, Corps Superintendent
Enclosed are two photographs taken in St. James Counterguard , Valletta, which is the headquarters of the Brigade in Malta, after the fortifications had been given a thorough face - lift.
One photograph shows a cannon - ball trough which I cleaned up about 4 years ago. I think this is the only specimen of its kind still to be found on our bastions. It is capable of holding many cannon balls of some 5 inches in diameter. Nursing member Miss Connie Calafato stands by to give a comparison of size.
READERS VIEWS
Readers views and opinions, which should be sent to the Editor , although published are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor or the Order of St John and its Foundations Although readers may sign published letters with a pen-name , writers must supply their name and address to the Editor
hours voluntary dut y on transport. ]n 1963 I joined the full time ambulance service, the sa me one that I had been helping on a voluntary ba s s. So you will realise that I can see both sides of the problem
I have found that ill feeling between the volunteer and the professional is not very g reat and many full time men are Bri gade member s. 'Knocking' them w ill , J am su r e, ha ve an adverse efTect on new entrants to the service.
It might be a point worth mentioning that although the ambulance services' training schools have been ope ratin g for about 6 years, they have not as yet produced a manual of their own, so there is still only the manual of the vo luntar y organisations a s a basis for their training.
Finally, I would say that every ambulanceman or wo man on a course is told the same basic principles as we are in St. John, ie Breathin g, Beating (ex ternal ca rdiac massage) and Bleedin g, and it is their duty to pre erve life, promote recovery, and to prevent the condition from becoming worse.
Let us work together for the good of the public. Otherwise the public will sufTer Northamp ton B. !. Stone
TRAil IT
from G. Meades, Ambulance Member
Parts of Valletta s St. James Counterguard , HQ of the Brigade in Malta after a face-lift
For divisions without sufficient funds for an ambulance or ca ravan, ma y we suggest as an alternative a trailer?
Our particular unit, shown in photograph, is a stan dard Conway kitchen trailer with a 36ins x l5in s x 6ins section which can easily be equipped for instant use without the necessity of unpacking sto re s.
Further ready - u se sto re s are carried underneath this sectio n in a 36ins x 13ins x lOin s cupboard, with access by hinged rear door. Guard rail s fitted on the top of main storage area which measures 36ins x 36ins x 20ins a r e strong enough to carry sta ndard Furle y stretchers and provide convenient securing points for a ca rry chair Even fully loaded, the trailer can be handled by one person.
Forest Hill SE23 G. Meades
REMEMBER THESE!
from John E. Dane
Recently there have been programme s on radio and TV about cigarette cards which have become collectors' items, complete sets being much so ught after and increasing in value.
collect a complete se t. However the series was reproduced in book form during the First World War, and I am sending you my copy of this publication in the hope that you may be able to show some of them in the R eview which although they are in colour should come out well in black and white.
It wou ld be interesting to know if any readers of the Review r emember these cards and if any are st ill in existence.
Dr. Cantlie was the author of many early editions of First Aid to the In jured. copies of which were referred to as 'Cantlie's' at the Stores Department in my early days, Croydon John E, Dane
In his letter, Mr Dane asks Can you remember these first - aid ciga rette ca rds )' which were later issued in book o rm
NO ACTION
from Miss Kathlyn D. Wilson, Divisional Officer I was most surprised to find, after our Divislon had sent in a BF 7 for a new vice - president, that warrants for presidents and vice - presidents are no longer issued b y HQ. Our BF 7, sent by the county secretary, was returned as 'no action necessary at HQ
Surel y the least HQ can do is to acknowledge the willingness of presidents and vice - presidents to serve us, if not wi.th a warrant then at least wi th a letter of some kind!
Workingtol1
The other photograph shows the angle of the fortification with the vedette (Jook-out post). This is common to all bastions around Valletta and on the other s ide of Grand Harbour but they all differ in style and design. Sliema
OFFENDED from B. I. Stone
Edward Torrell
Please do not knock the full -time ambulanceman, 'Let's look to the Future (February Review), which seemed to me to be particularly offensive.
I joined as a cadet when I was at school, became a student member , and then transferred to the adult division. Since, I have done many
During the early part of this century, collecting cigarette cards was very popular among sc hool boys who endeavoured to comp lete their se ts by swa pping , begging from any person seen with a new packet of cigarettes or winning them at various games played with their s pare cards.
The first se t I can remember was issued to commemorate the centenary of the battle of Trafalgar and depicted the Ro ya l Nav y in 1805 and 1905
The broadcast programmes mentioned the subject matter of man y early se ries, but did not include the one in which r was most interested, That was First Aid, compiled by Sir James Cantlie for W.O & H.O. Will about 19 10, when 1 was a Bo y Scout receivin g first aid instruction from members of the Brigade. I ca nnot recall what happened to m y original cards o r whether I did
Kalhlyn D. Wilson
NEWS from SCOTLAND
Stirling
The Annual General Meeting of the St. John Association of Stirlingshire was held recently. The retiring chairman, Dr. Macfarlane Gray, whose great contribution to the cause was highly praised by his successor Mr. W. A. P. Jack, reported the successes of the previous year, in which an ambulance for the disabled and a foetal heart monitor had been given to the hospital authorities. After the meeting Mr. Robert Barr showed a film of the island of Rhodes.
St. And r ews
Priory Chapter has agreed to make a donation towards the appeal made by the University of St. Andrews for funds to restore 'St. John's', the former Templar property which was taken over by the Knights of St. John in the 14th -ce ntury and
became a local centre for them. It consisted of a terraced ran ge of mansion es along the northern side of South gait, toda y known as South Street. immediately opposite the s it e of the fir s t University buildings. raised in 1410. Medieval St. John ca n be easily traced today. fts mansi o nes run for 80 ya rds along South Street, as Number 65,67,71,73 and (there being no No s. 75 and 77) 79. Behind. to the north. st retche s the walled garden of the knights. with it s apple and pear tree s. totallin g five-sixths of an acre.
Much has changed since those days. Second and third s tore ys were added in the late 17th -century and nearly all the fenestration is of that period : a ll the hou ses but No. 71 have modern shop -fronts. But ther e are still substantial survivals: Nos. 69 and 71 still incorporate 15th -ce ntury ground-floor room s, which served as s tores or were leased as
WALES
THIS YEAR the quiet town of L1andrindod Wells was again chosen as the place for holdin g the Youn g Adult conference of members from all parts of the Principality. The conference was under the chairmanship of the Chief Commissioner. Lt. Col. J. R L. Traherne. who welcomed the 100 members aged between 18 and 30 and introduced Mr. Watkin William s . the Deputy Commissioner- in -C hief, who opened the conference and a ter su mmed up the proceedin gs of the whole weekend.
During the Saturday afternoon members took part in a simulated exercise involving
20 casualties trapped in vehicles as a result of a series of bomb explosions. The assis tance of the Police and Fire Service, who released clouds of smoke. added to the realism of the scene. The ambulance members undertook the first -ai d treatment
shops. ma<;sively vaulted. the floor level well below that of the modern street: there is a fine fir s t floor chamber in No 71. some 40 feet lon g though now divided into tw o. with its four window facing so uth: and in Nos. f,7 and f,9 a number of camerae are in t cres ti ngly arranged in pair. grou ped around a minute quadrangle a ppro ached from the st reet through its original archway or pend.
During the 19th -century the University acquired the principle component of Sl. John s. No. 71 and the great garden behind. In 1969. No 67 and 69 were bought, followed by No. 65 in 1970, and it was at thi time th at the plan to restore the original character of St. John s wa conceived.
As an Order committed to the care of th e livin g. we cannot make a grea t contribution to the re sto ration of ancient buildings, but it is hoped th a t individual member s will he lp to provide funds for the work. Anyone in terested s hould get in touch with the Appe al Office of the University of St. Andrew s.
Saturday evening.
On Sunday. Dr Tudor Powell Jone s. Deput y Princip a l of Caerleon Teachers Trainin g College. gave three lectur es o n 'Better Teachin g'. which were receiv ed with great enthusiasm.
The co nferen ce co nclud ed with an open forum. when members put forward their points of view. Member s hoped the conference was 'here t o stay'.
Order h istory
A sympos ium on th e hi stor y of the Order was held in Cardiff recently and attended by members of the Order, Brigade and Association. The Order Librarian, Professor Lionel Butler. and the Curator, Miss Helen ieholl s. helped by Mi ss Pamela Willi , gave illustrated talk s on the Order's history
The Chief Commissioner and Principal Secretary entertained the speakers to an informal dinner, and among those who attended were the director of As soca tion, Mr. J. p Pickford. and the Vice -Chancellor Mr E. W Meurig Will ia m s.
OVERSEAS
on the spot, while nursing member s received the casualties at the hotel ballroom which was converted into a reception centre. The exercise proved most sti mulating and success ful, and a post mortem prompted he a lthy discussion. There was a dance on the
CANADA
Llandrindod Wells exercise (right) casualties await transport to the reception centre (below) where nursing members gave treatment.
(Photos: Marina Gallery Uandrindod Wells)
News from Divisions/Centres
NORTHANTS - Wellingborou g h Headquarter s Ambulance Divi s ion has held man y annual and celebration dinners but thi s yea r's event, to celebrate the di vision's 85th. anniversary. wa s attended for the fir st time by the Mayor of Wellingborough. Not th at previous ga thering s had been ignored by the civic head of the town, but Wellingbor o ugh has had a mayor for only j ust over a month.
Previousl y the town's leading citizen had been the Chairman of the Urban Di str ic t Council. Councillor Alan Northen with hi s wife the Ma yo re ss. congratulated the division on its long and valuable work for th e town
A churc h parade a nd special se rvice at the Hi g h Street United Reformed Church was also' held. Thi s church, f o rm e rl y Congregational, was closely associated with th e Bri ga d e's ea rl y da ys in the town
YORKS - South and Wes t Area Commi ss ioner Mr. A. Buckley Hamer officially accepted an ambulance for SJ A Hebden Bridge from the local Round Table recentl y The vehicle, donation s towards it s running costs were also given by the two local councils and British Legion, was then handed over to Corp s Sup e rintendent Frank Mitchell.
Nearby Sowerby Bridge Division. which covers man y stock -car and hillclimbing events. has also recently acquired it s own ambulance.
ice team and uniforms at recent area competition (Photo:
Northgate Studio Louth)
Beason News Pix , Taunton)
Wilts All smiles from Swindon Central Nursing team , runnersup in the team test in the re cen t county c ompetitions (Photo Wiltshire Newspapers Swindon)
r eli eve pai n. (4). 17. A ft er mu c h f uss. a pilll t o ake as one's ow n (5).
20 T he ca r cin o ma covering tend on or spin al co rd (5 ) 22. Br o th ers
w ith o nl y on e com m o n par ent. (4 ).24. Co nce rnin g a pa rt o f [ he br ain
in o ne pint. (7 ). 25. Bo ne wi h a str ange ad is sc urril o us. ( 0 ). 28 Ed ble tuber seen at turn of a m onth ( 5) 29. Sh ape o f fir s aid er 's band age (1 0).30. Fini sh ci ph er w ithin pr efi x. (4 ). J I T o ope n an ahscess is ni ce c hange. ( 0 ) 32. L o ti o n nhi bit ng gr ow th o f path oge ni c o r ga nis ms. ( 10 )
DOWN
I Send pai r for j oint in ured by ove r str etc hin g of li ga mcnts. (8). 2. U nado rn ed gr av e. ( 0). 3. Pro du c t of pr o tein di ges ti o n has li ve y enthu s as m with 29 dow n (7 ). 4 A cquir e kn ow edg e by re nal di ssec tion ( 5).5 H er aldi c go ld and aluminium or admini str ati o n by m outh (4 ). n Art er c hangin g ro t a. pin e or pr e o per ati ve dru g. (8). 7. D o as cit y in di ffi cu lt l abo ur ( 8) 12 Small st o ny part ic les o r co ur age. (4). 14 St ru ctural uni o livin g m att er. (4). 16. A v ari ation of eac h pai n ( 4). 17. Tr ea ted by ensur i ng a c ear air way and appl y i ng art i fi cia r es pi ra ti on. (8). 18. M edi ca ti on spoi lt by a n y? (8). 19. Journ ey t aken b y dr ug addi ct. (4). 2 1 Undi ag nosed su dd en illn ess in c asua ty. (8). 23. Infar ct m akin g o ne m adl y ex cit ed (7).26. Ejec un ce remoni o usly and co me back like a chcquc marked RI D. (6 ).27 . F in ger o f a pett y th ief. (5 ) 29. Sound propert y of mu scle (4)
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD NO 5 (74)
ACROSS:
R EVI EW CROSSWORD No.6 (74) Compil ed by W A Po tter Across I Roo t ca use: 6. Sl ung: 9. N o b.l. e: 10. Dur a. m ater: I A le: 12 L oc um: 13 R ags: 14. Ur ea: 16 Roland. o : 18. Dr nk er : 20. Ear drum : 22 Sat i r ic: 23 MufT: 25. U sed : 26. Sat in: 29. A sp : 30. T akc hea rt 3 I Int er: 32 C u red: 3 3. D ys pep si a
3. Part of anato m y studie d for f ut ure k now ledge (4.2.4). 8 G l obe with a i ttl e spirit in thi s place. (6). 9 A ve ss el not quite c lo sed (4 ) 10 M oth er or f at he r ha s r ea change in dru gs admini stered b y nona imen t ar y r out
FUND RAISING
be'S
eOften an , elderly person just doesn't get enough to eat. Sometimes he's too depressed to face food. Often there's no-one to cook proper meals for him. Or perhaps he can't afford more than a limited range of convenience foods. And the result: undernourishment.Without proper food he can't be bothered to get things done. He can't sleep properly at night. He feels
despondent and low. And before he lmows it he's in the Downward Spiral.Y OU can help "by recommending Complan. Complian is a milkfbased balanced food that's just right fbr an elderly -
it's easy to make, tasty and very gentle on' digestions. It contains all the vitamins, proteins and MiIk-basedbala'-Cffood minerals to give him the nourishmerit he needs. Complan is good too-one takes the place of a Ii ' t meal of 250 caloriesyet ts only bout Sp.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS the late D uke of Glouceste r s ucceeded his great - uncle ,
The Duke of Connaught, in 1939 a s the fourth member of the Royal Family to become Grand Prior of the Order of St. John since the tradition of Ro y al Grand Priors was established in 1888. The thirty -five year s during which he held office was a period of great development and expansion of the Order and its Foundations in their work for the s ervice of mankind throughout the Commonwealth and in other countries overseas. The year of his appointment s aw the outbreak of the Second World War, and most of the Order' s wa r effort was made under the direction of the St. John and Red Cros s Joint War Organisation , one of its most outstanding achi ev ements being the Duke of Gloucester s Appeal which rai s ed more than £50,000,000 to provide food and clothin g parcels for prisoners , while medical equipment and store s were s ent to camps for the treatment of sick and wounded prisoners, and individuals were even supplied with dentures, artificial limb s and hearing -aids.
While the Duke of Gloucester was Governor -General of Australia from 1945 to 1947 he developed a close friendship with Lord Wakehurst who was at that time Governor of New South Wales , and a direct result of this friendship was the appointment of Lord Wakehurst as Lord Prior of the Order in 1948. One of the Grand Prior s special interests was the development and extension of autonomous Priories. The Priory for Wales and severa l Commanderies , which have since become Priories, were in existence when the Grand P rior took office. But all the other Priories and the three Commanderies in existence today were established between the years 1943 and 1952 at the direct instigation of the Grand Prior. His second title being the Earl of Ulster, it was a source of special pleasure to him that hi s first official visit to Northern Ireland was to preside at the inauguration of the Commandery of Ards. He also established the Grand Prior s Advisory Council which meets at four -yearly intervals to co -ordinate the affairs of the Order as a whole He was present at the re -consecration of the restored Priory Church in Clerkenwell in 1958 and opened the cloister and Garden of Remembrance which had been built and laid out be s ide it. Thou g h unable to be present at the opening of the new Ophthalmic Ho s pital in 1960, the Grand Prior, accompanied by the Duche s s of Gloucester, visited Jerusalem in 1963 and inspected ever y department of the Hospital and conducted an Investiture on the premises.
( C o nt inu ed O l'e rleaj)
HRH THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER (cont)
Among the most important developments which occurred during the Duke of Gloucester's period of ortlce as Grand Prior \Vas in the ecumenical field, involving an increasingly clo e and friendly relationship of the four Hospitallcr Orders of Northern Europe with each other and with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The two great landmarks in this development, in which Lord Wakehurst played so vitally important a role. were the sig nin g of thc 'Convention of Alliance' between the Most Venerable Order and the German, Swedish and Netherlands Ordcr s in We s t Germany in 196 I and the signing of the Joint Declaration bctween the Most Vcnerable Order and the Sovereign Military Order in London in 1963.
rinall y . the St. John event for which the Duke of Gloucester will perhaps be best and longest remembered in England was the establishment of the Grand Prior' s Trophy Competition in 1950. which rapidly developed into the premier competition in this country for teams of first-aiders from the Statutory Services. from I ndu st ry and from St. John Ambulance. For the past twenty four years the Grand Prior and his family have maintained a close per so nal intere s t in this competition which has been a trcmendou in pi ration and incentive to raising the ,tandard of life -s aving first aid among all sections of the com munity.
Lord Prior Opening the cloister and Garden of Remembrance adjOining the Priory Church in Clerkenwell in 1958
The Duke of Gloucester congratulating the Metropolitan Police team when they won the Grand Priors Trophy in 1953. (Photo: Sport & General)
The Duke and the Duchess of Gloucester beIng welcomed by the Mayor of Islington at the reconsecration of the restored Priory Church. Clerkenwell in 1958
Princess Anne visits cadets of N-W Counties
NEARLY 1500 cadets and their officers from Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria and Merseyside assembled at Samlesbury airfield, Lancashire, on June 7, for a visit by their Commandant-in-Chief, Princess Anne.
Accompanied by senior officers of the Order and the Brigade, the Princess watched demonstrations and met cadets from the four counties, and presented Grand Prior awards.
Wet weather, which farmers had been praying for after the driest spring in England for 50 years, arrived in Lancashire on June 7, but the vast hangars of Samlesbury airfield were ideal for this event, attended by over 2,000 people, to be held 'in-doors'.
(Leh) Baby Andrew McGeehan was very intent on his role in
Photos Peter Reed. Preston
Presenting Grand Prior awards to (above) Corporal Lynne Allen, of KEhldal, and (below) Cadet Leader Alistair Plummer of Bootie
Merseyside cadets demonstrating mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. (Centre) the Commissioner - in-Chief, Major-General D S Gordon
A venture Ahoy!
tion all of the group managed at least a cou pic of climbs and some free absailing. Towards the end of the climbing Brigadier Barbour, Commissioner for Berk s hire and Mr. H. Knott, CSO (Cadets), visi ted us. Back at the centre the group spe nt the rest of the day c leanin g equ ipm e nt and themselves.
On Friday, the last day of our course, both groups amalgamated then split up by choice for the morning's activity, sailing/ canoeing or a search and rescue exe rci se. I went on the exercise with about 15 member s, which involved carrying out a
A national leadership centre for St. John?
Watercraft, rock-climbing, expeditions and campingincreasingly popular sports and pastimes which demand a knowledge of first aid. Is this the field for our more active younger members'1
Faces tell the story of exciting outdoor activities
IN THE APRIL Review, Mr. Osborne of H oddesdon ended his article Cadets Ahoy! about his cadet division's boating activities with a th o ught about the setting up of a St. John nati ona l ce ntr e for teach in g leadership, watercraft, rock -c limbing, expedition work and camping. Durin g April. 12 cadets/adult members from Berkshire / Oxon, under the supervision of CSO (Training) Bob Penfold , and twelve more from Buckingham sh ire under the supervision of myself, spent 5 days at th e Poo le and Dorset Adventure Centredoing precisefl' th ose actil'it ies!
This was the second time that the two cou nti es had made use of this most excellent centre situated at Poole and with easy access to the beautiful Isle of Purbeck. The course age - range was 15 -2 1 - that section of the Bri gade which it is so vital to keep - and comp r ised 15 boys and 9 girls The aim of the course wasn't to make everyone an ex pert at th ese activities, but to help them to know themselves better through tou g h situations and to obtain a ba s ic knowledge of th e activities. The numerous events, organised by Gavin Smart, senior instructor, and hi s three colleagues. left little or no time to relax. No soone r had the students se ttled in their dormitories than the y were out and onto a neighbouring R oyal Marine assault course, doing their best to defy gravity with the aid of assorted ropes! Tuition on tentin g and use of stoves was mingled with this session. The
Arst night. after some basic map reading and compass work. was spe nt on a night dropout exe rci se. This consisted of s plittin g the course into four groups and dropping th em. out in the country from where, with the aid of map s they had to rendezvous at a checkpoint in the Pur becks - an old barn belonging to the centre. The last group somehow mana ged to be in specti ng Corfe Castle at about I am when the y were found! Thus a very tired course got to bed at about 2am after a very welcome. warming cup of coffee.
Morning came too soo n. with a watery se sion in the RM swi mmin g pool. Everyone was soon jumping off high diving boards. capsi7ing canoes. using snorkels flipper s and masks. and perhaps the biggest attractionaqua lunging. All of this was carried out un der supe r vis ion and the watchful eye of Col. Pat Adams, Chief Training Officer of the Bri gade , who spe nt the day with us. I n th e afternoon the course sp lit into two main groups for the re s t of the week's activities. My group went to Poole harb ou r for canoe ing.
Encapsuled in ano rak s, life -j ackets. pray decks. etc. we were soon thra s hin g abou t in our canoes in cver decreasing circles. Col Adams asked how soo n people capsized. I proved it to be a mere 15 minutes before I found m yse lf upside down in the harb our. 'What a cha nce to practise rescue te chnique:
someone shouted. and I was soon hauled out and back in my canoe. During the afternoon everyone had a great time racing. practising s trok es and rescuing capsized colleagues. plus a turn at sai lin g. That evening was a lso spent in dinghies and canoes. but this time we a ll stayed up right on a trip to another part of the harbour. returning jus t after dusk. Despite the odd ducking and the sensation of sprouting scales and gills. canocing proved a great succcss.
Wedne sday morning saw 12 members be ing transported to Corfe Cas tl e. f:.llly equippped with rucksacks. tents. anoraks and boots. The groups were off on a sixteen mile expedition acro ss the Purb ecks and coastal paths. Once they had been deposited with thcir maps, bearings and questiom. three of us went to th e camp si te to set up our tents. At about 7pm the groups arrived within a time of each other, all enthusiastic and chatting about their exploits but without a moan about sore feet' Food \vas ready and swiftly devoured. the rest of the c\ening being spcnt around a lar ge log Ii re telli ng very con vi nci ng Il aving clearcd the camp site next moring hy 9.30. everyone went rock c1imhing at Dancing Ledge. ncar Worth M atrave l·s. During the day. fivc climbs werc roped out. The wcather was chi ll y and hard on the hands for climbing. but taking every precau
sweep search for one of the girls When she was found she acted the part of a casualty with hypothermia. Correctly treated, she was then transported over rough terrain on a mountan stre tc her, and Anally the stretcher, patient and instructor were taken up the side of a cliff to safety. This last job entailed careful co ordination of the whole team - a real test of leadership and team work. Back at the centre, it was time for summing-up, thanks all photographs. presentation of certificates, round, and more Anal
We were soon on the train going home, four days after we had set out. Nobody spoke very much, but seemed to reflect on what they had lea rned, the friends they'd made. and the fears and experiences they had managed to overcome. Now, sto rie s abound of climbing 300ft clifTs - of canoeing through tidal waves in Po ole harbour. But the most important achievement of those 5 days, r feel. is that we all know a little bit more about ourselves.
Leavy. packed and all ready to leave Peterborough. (Photos: Peterborough Advertiser)
Bound for Germany
An idea born at last year's Nottingham sends 17 members en route to Cologne
DURI G APRIL seventeen Peterborough cadet and ambulance members se off in car and a minibus to vis it the Johanniterunfall -Hilfe in Cologne for a week.
The idea for the visit was sparked ofT at last year's 'Nottingham'. at which Herr Peltz of JUH ga \e a talk.
Led by Peterborough' Area Superinten dent (A) Terry Leavy, the party cros ed the Channel by hovercraft from Ramsgate and at Cologne were accommodated at the JUH hcadq unrters.
At dinner that cvening they met ur ing
Mem ber Mr. Thelma Edwards. of Wellington. who is al 0 leader of the Telford casualty make - up g roup. Mrs. Edwards was visiting JUH to exchange views on casualty make - up.
JUH arranged a full and varied 6-day programme for our members which included a visit to an ambulance station sight -seeing an official evening Alms. and an evening at the Tivoli.
SJA Peterborou gh has now invited a party of Cologne JUH cadets and adult members to be their guests at Bexhill camp during Augu t.
6 cadets and 11 adult members. including Area Supt. Terry
Vincent Smith
A/S / O(T) Bucks.
TO ALASKA
Secretary-General of the Order Mr. N. C. McClintock left London on June 12 for a 2week visit to St. John in Canada, which will include meeting SJ units in Alaska, above the Arctic Circle.
TO THE SUN
How often do you wonder what sort of people win newspaper competitions?
Deputy Commissioner and Mrs. Derek Fenton of London District now know - for Derek recently won an Evening News competition, the prize being a holiday for two in Trinidad and Tobago plus £50 cash. For the first week of the prize holiday they will stay at the Trinidad Hilton, the second at the Turtle Beach Hotel in Tobago. Stylish, eh! Naturally they hope to meet SJ colleagues while in the Caribbean. Have a good time! A tip for husbands: Mrs. Fenton actually did the competition, but asked Derek (dutifully?) to sign it!
TO DENMARK
The 30th mercy mission by the St. John Air Wing since the beginning of the year was completed on May 15 when a kidney required for transplant in Odense, Denmark, was flown from this country.
The initial call from the National Organ Matching Service, Bristol, indicating that a kidney was available in Exeter was received at the Air Wing's Epping Control Centre at 5.30pm. The flight was confirmed 1Y2 hours later, by which time Exeter Airport had closed. Immediate co-operation, however, came from the RNAS at Yeovilton.
Air Wing pilot Jan Behrman, of Hendon , accompanied by Ron Brock of Watford, took off from Elstree at 8.30pm in Mr. Behrman's fast Beech Bonanza aircraft.
AROUND and ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST. JOHN
BY THE EDITOR
PRICE OF THE REVIEW
For the first time since I took over editing the Review 4 Y2 years ago this is something I don t want to write - but I'm afraid I've got to It's like going to the dentist.
In the face of continually rising prices - of paper, printing, postage , fares , office overheads, etc , (not forgetting paracetamol) - over the last 3'/2 year s we've managed to hold the price of our magazine. But now this is impossible From the August issue (August 1 1974) the new price will be
They landed at Yeovilton 40 minutes later, picked up the kidney and took off again at I 0.l5pm bound for Odense some 650 miles away.
The kidney was handed over to the authorities in Denmark at 2.15 next morning.
A few hours earlier the Air Wing had been engaged in another mercy mission when a kidney available in Newcastle - upon -Tyne
20p a copy Annu a s ub scripti o n s will be 2.50. Bulk ord e r s to St. John unit s throu g hout Britain ( minimum 6 copies 3 month s in adv a nce ) will b e 17p a cop y ( e 3p di s count co mp a r ed with 2p now ) Th a t mean s a nnual increa ses for 12 ss ue s of 8 0p on s ubsc ription s. 96p from the new sage nt. 8 4p throu g h SJ UK bulk ord e rs. All price s include po s ta g e and packin g, expen s ive it e m s nowada ys. I tru s t all reader s will understand our publishin g problem s
wa s flown to Cambridge. Wing pilot Dr. Mary St o rrier accompanied b y her husband Mel Storrier wer e c alled from their hom e at Ponteland at 5am
The y went to Newca s tle airport , coll ec ted the kidney, and flew a Twin Commanche a ircraft to the RAF station Oakin g ton , n e ar Cambrid g e, landing at 7 .3 0am Our bu sy Win g is notching up a fin e record
APPOINTMENTS
Bermuda: Co l. J K eefe . r e ig ne d as Co m Malavi: M r. J D. M so nthi re s ig ned as Cha ir ma n
Lanes: L
D
ron
ig
ao., D isl. Sgn. Merseyside: Dr W D Gray a p r oi nt ed Co u n t y S gn.
Notts: M r. A. R Toze r a pp oi nt e d Cou nt y D irecto r vice Mr S wa n w ic k r es ig ned.
Oxford: D r. T. J R ya n o C o mm iss ione r vice Wn g. C mdr K ane.
BROTHER OFFICERS
M eet the Price brothers f rom Hereford - Cyril Ileft) County Training OHicer and Douglas, Deputy County Commissioner both being made OHicers of the Order during May Both have been in the Brigade 37 years and were Invested as Serving Brothers toge her in 1964 But they are not twins. Cyril is the senior by a few years
POP PATIENTS
D av id Cas idy t h e pop s in ge r was due t o ap pear o n s t age a L on d o n 's White Ci t y on S unday eve nin g b ut b y S a turd ay m o rn in g young fa n s we r e a lr ea d y q ue ui ng o get in S o o n e SJ A Di vis iona l Offi ce r d eci d ed th at it was ti me to s t a rt pr ov idi ng so m e fir st a d cove r. well in advance of t hat ag r ee d t o be given by W este rn Ar e a of L o n do n D is tr ic t: wit h t wo cade t s a nd his ca r as a base. th e du t y bega n By eve nin g. h undr e d s of chil dr e n we r e q ueui ng a nd a m o bil e fir s ta id u ni t fr o m Ea ling and a n am bu la nce fr o m
Il a m me r smit h were s it e d on th e ca r p a rk w ith bot h a m bu a nce a nd n ur s in g pe rso nn e l.
Th ey r e m a in ed on dut y a ll ni g ht a n d casua lties tr ea ted inc lud e d t wo as au l victim w h o we r e imm e di a te ly se nt t o h osp it al.
CUP FEVER
H al f - a- m lion soccer- m ad M erseys ders hro nged th e st reets o Live rpool during M ay w hen heir t eam retu rn
DOING IS WHAT COUNTS
No b ook c an help , pra c ti cal exercise is the bes d eC ided the o rganisers at the con c lusion o Bc c kenham and West Wickham Division s recen major disast e ex e c ise H ere members treat a patient with a fractured pe vis after being rapped in a man - hole
appeared the crowd surged forward , resulting in many casualties. As one witness, Area Supt. Jack Bowen , put it ' the pressure became so great and the hysteria so intense that casualties occurred in great numbers. As fast as they could be got from the arena the y were taken out of the entertainment area and to a large open space behind the scenes. Fortunately it was a fine night , and the area was contained within the boundaries of the stadium and roofed over. They were laid out in blankets (the four -bedded first -aid post had soon been filled!) and were treated b y the Brigade surgeons, nursing officers and members. The casualties came out in their hundred s over the next couple of hour s and the treatment area re se mbled a battlefield. Although 309 cases were recorded, the real number was estimated to be well over 500, with 30 sent to hospital.
As is now well known, there was a casualty that proved fatal - 14 -year-old Bernadette Whelan. When she was eventually got out from the crowd, re s uscitation was started by Nur sing Officer Terr y Wing , assisted by colleagues, with Brigade Surgeon Dr Padaychee being on the scene within a minute. As Jack Bowen again says Resuscitation was continued from then till the girl was handed over to hospital doctors , and from personal observation nobody could have worked harder to save her life than those concerned.' Also he records that 'a ppreciation must be given to the complete dedication of all Brigade per so nnel on dut y; they worked harder than anyone had a right to expect, and thi s applied to cadets as well as adults. cannot speak too highly of the way when the emergency became acute, they all worked together for the good of their patients.'
The concert ended at 22.30 but it was after midnight before the first-aid station
Carol Fot hergill of Cornwall's St. Columb Minor and Newquay Division. Carol was at a circus when stands collapsed ; she took charge of the injured and later
closed; Dr. Seccombe's Western Area of London Di st rict had completed 811 hours of continuous public dut y.
READERS ASKED
Dr T. R Evans, Assistant Northern Area Surgeon. London District , and a Senior Re gistrar, Departm ent of Cardiology, R oyal Postgraduate Hospital, has sent us the following interesting notes on cardiac pacemaker s:
Man y patients h ave artificia l cardiac pacemakers imp lanted to control their heart rate Sudden pacemaker failure is now rare. First -a iders are most lik ely to encounter pa cema ker patients when they develop anot her complication of their underlying heart di sease, suffe r an intercu rr ent illness or hav e an accident. Any non -related condition s hould be treated in the manner prescribed by the First Aid Manual.
Pacemaker patients are resuscitated in the s t anda rd manner if they sustain a cardiac arrest. Complaints of blackouts, dizziness or palpitations should be taken seriously, as they may indicate pacemaker failure. Such patients shou ld be esco rt ed to hospital because a comp r e h ensive check of pacemaker function is requ ired . As there are man y different types of pacemakers, interpretation of th e pulse may be difficult. A pulse r ate, timed over a minute, which is 5 beats or less than that specified by the pacemaker card usually indicates pacemaker failure, but faster or irregular pulses' need to be exami ned by an e lectrocard iogram, Oc casionally the sk in may ulc erate over a pacemaker and this wound should be treated by a dry ste ril e dressing. Very rarely e lectric equipment at home or
THANKS to the help given by those who entered for the Revi ew Competition on 'How I would award a Welfare Cup', the first year's co mpetition conditions for the Keith Jo se ph Welfare Cup have now been drawn up and you will find them in the Brigade General Circular for Jul y If you look at the extracts from the R eview competit ion published in Ma y. you 'll realise how immensely helpful the sugges ti ons of Review readers were in drawing up the e conditions. Not that they are by any means 'for all time', for they will almost certain ly have to be adapted in future yea rs in the li ght of experience. But at least it seems that the competition is all set to become air -borne in a very worth-while way. and I hope that those whose sugges tion s helped to make this possible will go a step further by ensuring that their divisions (or any division with which the y are connected) enter for it.
AT RANDOM
by Watkin W. Williams Deputy Commissioner-in-Chief
in a factory can interfere with pacemaker function. particul a rly causing syncope, but this is rare with the latest models. However. first -aiders s hould be aware of this possibility. Conventional battery -powered pacemakers now la st 2 to 3 yea r s but the new ge neration of battery units may last 4 to 5 years. A few patients now have nuclearpowered pacemakers but there is no real risk of radiation and they are treated the same way as patients with ordinary pacemakers.
GOOD READING
Mr s. Dorothy Bin gham -Hall. member of the St. John Council for Somerset, inveterate traveller, and for many years editor of the Somerset County Year Book - which always contains so much fascinating reading - ha s just produced the 27th and the last of these year books And what a bumper farewell book it is!
For Dorothy ha s the enquiring mind and drive of the born journalist, who often has to cajo le entreat and even gent ly bully at times to ge t at the heart of a story.
This book is simp ly jam -packed with s uperb articles, some of which she has kindly given us permission to reproduce in future iss ue s of the Review
But to read the lot. soo n. se nd 30p (i ncludin g postage) to Mr s. D. BinghamHall, St. John House, 41 Oxford St, Weston s uper - Marc, Somerset.
CORRECTION
The Christian names of Mi ss Chaffey. Hant s, invested as a Serving Sister on March 28, were incorrectl y give n in the May Review as M ary Patricia the y s hould have been Hilda Winifred. Apologies. Hilda.
A nd please don't hold back th rough modesty or diffidence, feeling lhat your little lo cal project isn't big enough to enter. or that your numbers are too small to get it going. M any of the greatest developments have had to start in a small way; you are the pioneers, faced with the challenge of planting your acorn project. in the hope that it will grow into a vast oak tree in the years to come.
The reason why I apologise to those who have recently been trying to buy a copy of Bri gade General Regulation s and feel frustrated because they are told that it's out of print. Please don't blame the Supplies Department, because it' not their fault. In deed, r don't think it's anyone's 'fault', but if you simply have to blame someone, please blame me, but try to show a little mercy!
As many of you will k,now. the Statutes of the Order of St. J ohn have recently been revised, and many of our Brigade Re gu lation are directly affected by the exact wording of the Statutes. As Chairman of the Re gula tion s Revis ion Committee, it see med to me irresponsible to authorise a reprint of the Re gu lation s at a time when the new Statutes would make many of them out of date almost before the printer's ink was dry. So I had to make the difficult decision to hold up th e reprint until we knew the exact final details of the new Statutes and could adjust the Re g ulation s accordingly,
Unfortunately, during thi hort period of waiting, our stock of Re gulations ran out. and the Supplies Department are now having to ask customers to wait for their orders until the new impre s ion (incorporating all amendments up to th e e nd of June 1974 inclusive) has been reprinted. It will very soo n be available, and if yo u've felt frustrated at havin g to wait, you'll at lea t have the consolation of knowing that you haven 't bought an out of date copy!
Three sma ller publications (the Membership Booklet. the Divisional Superintendent's Handbook and the Secretary's Handbook), all of which are in various degrees based on Brigade Regulations. are also due for reprinting and they will be reissued with up to date amendments at the earliest possible moment.
Our Review Elsewhere in this issue the Editor is telling you the inevitabl y unwelcome news that the price of the Review will be going up next month (except for postal subscribers who won't have to pay more until their current annual subsc ription runs out). I just want to st re ss briefly a few points that mayor may not overlap the information that he is is giving yo u:
(1) W e have managed to 'peg' the price a t 12p a copy for the past 31 2 years, with the result that we are now producing the Review at a loss that i economically indefensible, and we've either got to put up the price or go out of production.
(2) The Review really is a jolly good 'house magazine' which will still be worth every penny of its new price, and the only tra ge d y is that so small a number of Bri gade members. or even divisions, subscribe to it.
(3) If we could get more subscribers we could get more advertisers. and could then afford to produce an even bigger and better Review without any further increase of price.
(4) Th e Rev iew i a means of direct communication which no staff officer and no division can afford to be without, yet I'm constantly finding many who never see it and am sometime taggered to di cover some who 've never even heard of it. Every division shou ld regard it as a duty to subscribe to one copy as a legitimate charge on its divisional funds; so will you. who do read it. please try and help by putting this fact across to any of your St. John friends who do 110t.
You may be forgiven for thinking that my writ ing these facts to those who already read the R eview is mere futile 'p reachin g to the converted'. But that's not what I'm doing. What I am doing is ap pealing to you, who know the value of the R eview, to try and pers uade all our 'unconverted' S1. John members to s hare the benefits that you already receive.
By sheer chance, my phone rang si nce I began to write this paragraph, and my calle r told me that in the combi ned division to which she belongs every member receives a personal copy of the Review, paid out of their monthly subscription to the division. So you see. it can be done: and it lies in your hands to ensure that my appeal to you is very far from futile.
Hold those cadets
A first glance at our census figures for 1973 suggests that our overall numbersat least in adult divisions - are still slightly going down. But this isn't so in all counties, least of all in those where the number of cadets promoted during the year is highest. If only we could establish a really close relationship between cade t and adult divisions, so that their members already knew each other and the cadets wanted to be promoted because they knew that a warm welcome and a reall y challenging programme of wo rk and service was awaiting them, our recruitment problem would be solved almost overnight. Two recent personal experiences c heered me greatly. I'm sure the y're not unique, but I'm equally sure that they could be multiplied a hundred fold if we all tried harder to develop a true St J ohn family spirit.
The first was a few weeks ago when, on my way back from a ve r y stimula ting leadership training weekend in Wale s. I s topped for supper with one of the ex -cadets from m y former area and her husband She was one of three who very nearly became browned ofT during their later years as cade ts but every effort was made to give them a real welcome and an adventurous programme of training and service in the combi ned d ivision to which they were promoted . In due course they all three trained as SRNs, arid two of them maintained an unbroken recor d of Bri gade service and are now Divisional Nursing Offi cers, the
(Continued on p.24)
(5) A po tal sub cription at the new rate will cost you lOp a year more than if you bought a copy each month from a newsagent. though the actual postage and packing will cost us at least 60p a year, the balance of SOp being paid out of what we save by not having to pay a discount to yo ur newsagent; and I hope you'll agree that this extra lOp is a very small s um to pa y for the advantage of knowing that yo ur copy will be delivered through your letter box every month for a whole year.
(Above) With Princess Moutafia n and TV-personality Nicholas Parsons are
The Commissioner s Cup for Sgt.
received a commendation from the C-in-C. (Photo: Green Lane Studio. Redruth)
EVERY DAY FIRST AID
- a ne w , eas y -to-understa n d series of advice ('0 (\ that will he l p YO U to cope with FA M I LY ACCI D ENT S
FALLS part four ))
by Dennis Clark, MBE FRCS
IN PARTS 2 and 3 of Family Accidents we mentioned conditions, occurring with fractures, that need their own particular treatment. For instance. the open fracture with a wound to be dressed, or a patient with shock from the fracture of a large bone. We noticed too that shock occurred with blood loss, either obvious or hidden. We all know how to recognise shock (faintness, limpness, pallor, clammy sweat, shallow breathing, possibly unconsciousness) in a flash and can confirm it by finding a rapid weak pulse. We know this happens very quickly in a faint after sudden mental upsets and that this 'nervous shock' will recover rapidly if we improve the circulation to the brain by getting the patient to lie down and raise the legs. This is not the dangerous shock caused by diminished circulation of blood to the brain from bleeding and that becomes worse as blood loss continues. Let us take an example. Cousin John, the farmer's son, likes to take you out on a horse. He gives you a quiet horse to ride but tends to show off on his new, rather spirited hunter. Though he is a good horseman he falls off in a country road when his horse shies at an oncoming car. He lands with a bump on the side of his buttock and lies still.
B y the time you have the horses tied to a gate, the occupants of the car are trying to make J ohn sit up in spite of his cries of pain. You know what to do. You have already removed any danger from the horses. Now take charge. Lie John down. Tell him to be still 'in case he has broken something'. Get one of the car occupants to watch for oncoming traffic and the driver to go to the nearest telephone for an ambu lance Make s u re he knows the exact place where the accident occurred and can describe what happened.
Then you examine John. He is pale, sweating. cold and clammy, in obvious pain, not daring to sit up because, he says. he 'HAS broken something' and will 'fall apart or break up'. His hands move round the lower abdomen and uppcr thigh and he wants to pass urine urgently but cannot. If you go to feel for tenderness, he will resent you touching the haunch bone and lower abdomen.
You make your diagnosis; fractured pelvis, not only with the added danger of shock but also with the complication of damage to the lower urinary tract. Keep him as still as possible and tell him to try to hold his water till he gets to hospital. Get his legs together tie a figure -of-eight bandage round the ankles, broad bandages round the knees and thighs. Shelter him if necessary with whatever you have and reassure him.
This will not be easy for John is likely to feel weaker and fainter as time passes. He is going to be anxious about almost everything; the horses, the injury, the difficulty in passing urine, the time the ambulance will take to arrive. having to go to hospital and many other anxieties. You must reassure him by honest and encouraging answers Do not lie. Do not be glib or evade the truth. Always remember that careful listening has a calming effect in itself.
There you have the essence of the first -aid treatment of shock; lie your patient down, relieve pain and diminish the risks of bleeding, cover and protect your patient (without overheating) and reassure.
I n John's accident shock and fracture were not the only conditions to be considered, his fracture was a 'complicated fracture'. one in which there is damage to an underlying organ a s well as a broken bone. On
Fine new HQ for Cornwall
t his occasion it wa damage to the lower urinary tr ac t. Thi is a lso not the on ly way the urinar y tract can be damaged. It can be injured by fa llin g astride a beam or fence or as a re su lt of direct v io le n ce from a ll so rt s of hard o r sha rp movin g o bje cts, boots to bullets. The fir s -aid tre atmen t is the same: lie the casualty down. cove r wounds. instruct him to hold his urine, recogni se and tr eat any s hock, and ge t t o ho s pital urgently.
In considering s hock we ha ve not ed the ig n s th at can be see n in a fla sh and ha ve mentioned the pulse as a confirmatory s ign to be felt. The pulse is mo s t importan t but few first -a ider s feel confide nt in takin g it. Every nur se and every doctor had to learn the trick and they are n ot all as clever as yo u. So get down to it.
The pul se at the wrist is the mo s useful to feel. You find it in the front of the forearm, ju s t above the wrist, in th e hollow be s ide th e knob of bone in line with the base of the thumb. Use the pad s of yo ur forefinger. middle finger and rin g finger to feel your own pulse fir s t. Then feel everybody e lse's in th e class. both wrists. Make a li st of the names and tick them off as yo u feel the pulse s. Repeat at home until yo u are quite s ur e you can feel the pul se every time Soon yo u will be able to count the number of pul ses to a minute. the Pul se Rate
This s the important s tart and someo n c's life could depend on it. A doctor will know at once that shock. for instance, is increa in g if yo u can hand in a repor t s tatin g. 'Pulse 10.30am = 90. 10.40am 100. 10.4 5am 110'. It is s uch a s imple sk ill but needs plenty of practice and, even when yo u are goo d at it. repeat ed rr ac tice Remcmber to o. th a t there is a lot more to be Ic a rned about th e pul se.
THE WISH of the late Princess Chula that S1. John Ambulance in Cornwall should have its own headquarte r s became a reality on March 17 with the dedication and opening of the Prince ss Chula H ouse at Truro. This is the first time that SJA Cornwall ha s had its own County HQ building.
Built at a cost of £ 15.000 as a memorial to th e Prin cess, a former county nursing superintendent. Prince ss Chula House i an extension to the Truro Divisional HQ in City Road. rain throu g hout the mornin g cleared just before the opening ceremony of the new HQ which was per formed by the Bailiff of Egle Lord CozensH ardy. a member of the Chapter General of
the Order of St. John. The Pr esident of St. J o hn in Cornwall. Lord Lieutenant of the County, Sir John Carew P ole. delivered the document vesting the property in the Order to Lord Cozens - Hardy.
The building was dedicated 'fo r the furtherance of the work of our ve nerable Order' by the Bi hop of Trur o, The Right Reverend Graham Leonard. Th e subchap lain of the Order. Canon Tom Barr et L
R ector of Falmouth, led the prayers. At the conclu ion of the ceremony Lord CozensHard y handed the documents to Majo rGeneral E. M. H all, Commander and Commissioner for Cornwall
The money for the new HQ ca me from
many SJA Divi s ions in Cornwall, industry, loc al autho riti es and private donations. The Guard of H onou r at the opening was formed by members of the Divisions which had made the lar gest contributions, and members of the Trur o Di visio n formed the flag party. I n addition to being the Count y HQ, the building houses the joint Red Cross and St. J oh n h o pital library and representatives of the Red Cross were among the guests. Also pre se nt was arisa. only daughter of theJate Prin ce and Prince ss Chula. who was presented with an antique silver trinket box as a memento of the occasion. Inside the HQ is a fine sc ulpted head of the Princess presented by Mis s Barbara Tribe.
And (rig ht) someone at a window JLlSt couldn't resist watching the ceremony which was led by the
(Above) All set for the opening of the new building (photo. Robert Roskow Truro).
Bailiff of Egle. Lord Cozens- H ardy thir d rolll left)
Ambulances and their equipment
Sirens, lighting and the all-important patient care
by BRIAN ROCKE LL
BL UE LIGHTS and sirens are probably abused more than any other equipment on emergency vehicles and certain rules should always be observed regarding their use. The siren should normally only be used on the outward journey of a call, but exception can be made if the return journey should be a matter of life and death The se cases are obviously few and far between and include severe burns. mas sive haemorrha ge diabetic coma and cardiac or respiratory arrest.
Howe ve r, if a person is seriously ill he may suffer more because of the so und of the si ren and this would be detrimental to his health Conscious cardiac patients fit into this catergory. It s hould a lso be remembered that all fracture cases benefit by a steady even rid e to ho spi tal and an ear-shattering tyre s kidding run to hospital could well turn a simple fractur e into a compound fracture.
The United State s produced a code of ethi cs for the use of si rens. which although natu r al Iy intended for that country con tain s w se words of advice for all amb ulance drivers, which [ quote at le ngth :
'To the accident victim writhing in pain. to the s uffocatin g man in a fiery building. or to the family terror ised by a marauder, there is no so und more welcome than an approachin g siren. It means help will be at hand promptl y.
'S iren s on ambulances, fire tru cks, or police cars are essential in protecting life and propert y. They are a va luable asset to com munity well -being and public safe ty. The ri g ht to u e a si rcn is a privilege. and it s hould be used and re garded as such and not as a licen se
'An emergency veh icle i designed for a specific and specia l purpose. It s va lue is in direct relation to lh e manner in which it is used. The si ren is an au tom otive acces ory. but it a lso is an instrument of mercy; and like th e ve hicl e on which it serves. it can be
as valuab le as the u e made of it. Like the vehicle it self it is entrusted to its operator so he may complete his humanitarian tasks more quickly and efficiently.
'Good driving is essential in emergency vehicle operation. Pr oper use of siren is part of such goo d driving. The siren is provided to audibly signify an emergency situation and to identify the vehicle responding. It further issues a request, rather than a command, that motorists and pedestrians temporarily relinquish their rights to. or their oc cupation of. the street. A siren does not confer upon its operator any exemption from goo d driving practices.
'Sound judgment on the part of any driver is essentia l to afe t y and certainly must be characteristic of the eme rgency vehicle operator. H e should sound the siren as a dis tinctive and powerful call for special atten tion and consideration. It is his amplified request for others to move ahead. move aside. or remain out of the way. [t' s his request for distant tratftc to clear a right-of way. A siren does not immobi li ze the pedestrian post barriers at intersections. and blast preceding vehicles out of the way. A siren can assist. but i never a substitute for, good judgment.
'Observance of law is a vital requirement of good driving and good judgment. Speed limit. are ba5ed on maximums that local traffic and congestion co nditi o ns safely allow. Hi gh maximum speeds do not assure an elTicient emergency run. It is the safe arrival at destination with minimum delay. or elapsed time. that really counts. Use your siren so you can move Within safe legal limits. and not as a further hazard to life and property. A siren gives you no right to run red li ghts. especially at high speed, race through school 70nes. or ignore posted war nings.
'Courtesy is another form of good driving.
PART TWO
Courtesy of the road is not a mere formality or convention but i<; an inherent respect for the right of others . True courtesy is extended whether or not it is reciprocated. Use your siren to request your rights. Use it to request other s to temporarily concede their rights for an emergency situation. A siren. however. gives you no assurance you will always receive a courteous re ponse. [t gives you no ri g ht to discipline the discourteous. hit the car making an illegal turn: cut off the car which didn't pull over, or run down the pedestrian who wouldn't pause at the kerb.
'Proper use of the ircn includes all these points. Sounding a siren is important but equally important is its most effective operation. Don't hold the top pitch, producing a monotone that may blend with other am bient noise levels. Apply the power intermittently to take advantage of it variable up and down calc tones which contrast with other noises. Also remember that proper use of a siren sometimes includes its silence. Use it when you need it, when it can do you good far ahead in the trafTic pa [[ern. Don't use it when conditions do not warrant use of this emergency device or when no emergency exists.
'Good citiLCnship includes respect for the right of others. especially those in distress. Good citizens will gladly concede the right of way to an emergency vehicle if they know the vehicle is on such an errand. Use of your s iren has been granted you. as a good citizen by good citi;:ens. so you can notify all within hearing that you are on an emergency. Respect that privilege and good citizens will be glad to sacrifice the few moments their place in traffic or a change of light to help you "ave a life. Abuse that privilege and your requests will be ignored and privilege rescinded. The result. as has been proved in certain communitie. wi ll be greater loss of life and property. more suITer
ing. and more accidents. and you may be numbered among those additional unfortunates.'
Interior Equipment
Even after further standardisation. interior layout will vary considerably. This is necessary because of the variety of work an ambulance may have to undertake. It follows that. although a vehicle may have a standard body. that vehicle has different requirements if it is to be a (a) a sitting -case ambulance, (b) a dual -purpose vehicle, or (c) used as a mobile first aid post. Because of these differ ing requirements ambulance manufacturer afTer a wide range of alternatives.
Commonly all the variations contain some form of partitioning between the driver and the saloon. This partitioning may be half width. a full partition with a gap to allow access (alternatively a sliding door). or a par titian al)owing no access but often with some form of communication between the driver and attendant.
There is a large range of cupboard space
built into most modern vehicles. The large array of equipment now carried makes it important that convenient. logical and tidy access is provided for all the equipment. These storage units are custom - built to store items of equipment used by the different authorities. and may be built on the floor of the saloon (at the head of the stretcher). under the stretcher, or in lockers by the door. Overhead locker. in the cab and saloon. also provide useful storage at a handy height. All lockers should be clearly labelled (with a Dymo label or similar) showing the exact contents. External locker are also often included. These allow access to tool, lighting or cutting equipment from the outside of the vehicle.
Particularly useful for SJA types of duty arc the small sinks and water supply that can be built into the torage cupboards. Floors are usually covered by rubber mats in the cab, allowing ea y sweeping out, and by heavy duty vinyl in the saloon. The vinyl will usually match the vehicle interior, but it is wiser to choose a mottled colour to diguise the shoe marks that can be so difficult
to remove from the lighter-coloured plain vinyl. Places encountering particular wear are usually reinforced with aluminium tread steps. ego the treads of rear steps and cab door. and this is trimmed to form a flush surface with the Aooring.
Stretcher equipment is becoming more standardi ed and most vehicles now use stretcher trolleys. one of which is usually fitted each side of the saloon. Stretcher trolleys vary enormously from simple Aat elevated beds to stretchers with postural drainage and adjustable height. making it possible to transfer a patient from the ground at the scene of an incident to a hospital bed without physically elevating the patient. Stretcher trolleys have a further advantage for SJ A units because they can be easily fitted if a coach or van is being converted. Gone are the days when it was necessary to work out cable mechanism to ecure the stretcher.
A u eful adjunct to the trolley is a pole and canvas stretcher with spreader bars. This forms a very lightweight stretcher. and used in conjunction with the trolley makes it
All controls clearly labelled
Ambulances and their equipment (cont)
possible to move a patient several times with the minimum amount of body movement. These items together with a spare Furley st retcher a n d a ca r rying sheet form the basic stre t c he r equipme nt.
Some fo r m of carrying chair should also be included and this i commonly located on the rear doo r. T here are seve r al designs of chair avai lab le, and a simple chair with an effective res t raint strap is usually sufficient. T he more elaborate carrying chairs have arms wide r seats. etc, and although infinitely more comfortab le, they are awkward for negotiating narrow s airways and corridors. Effect ive lig h ting is a lso important for the interior. A suitable cab light should be provided, as most commercial vehicle bodies incorporate an ineffectual interior light. usually of 6W powe r To be able to read maps, instructions, etc, at night needs more powerful lighting and this may either be loca lised in t he fo r m of a map light o r a more powe r ful general interior light ( 12-2 1W capacity) Sa loon lighting is ticularly im po r tant, for in good lighting it shou ld be possible to distinguish subtle plexion changes in pa le or cyanosed casualties
Fluorescent interio r lighting is becoming
They help the volunteers
popular and is ce rtainl y su perior in li gh t out put. Unfortunately earlier examples of 12V fluore sce nt lighting had a hi gh breakdown rate and replacement tub es were difTicult to obtain. With the increa sing popularity of fluore cent li g hting for camper. pares arc now more readily obtainable.
Ordinary lightin g can also be effective. but it also needs to be powerful and 4 x 21 W light s are usua lly fitted. The disadvantage is that the consumption from the battery is 7 amps compared with the I am p of fluore s cent li g hting. Dual level lightin g is also fitted in so me vehicles and a llow s variable degrees of output. and this can be useful at dusk. etc.
A rear loadin g light s hould also be fitted normally on the nearc;ide rear door pillar. Thi s is essential for illuminating the \ ehicle steps. roadway. etc.
It is also helpful to have a movable power ful spotlight. either mounted externally as a spotlight on a swi nging arm or on the wind creen imilar to 'rally lamp '. Th ese provid e adequa te light for distinguishing door numbers and house names.
Seat s s hould be fitted with safety belts both in the cab (a le ga l ob li gation in newer vehicles) and the sa loon. and there shou ld be mean of secur in g the patient to the stretcher. Attachment point for other pieces of equipment are u ually provided.
A s uspe nded fixture i used for infusion apparatus. and terminals are provided for connecting portable incubator Piped ygen and suc tion apparatu (working from
the inlet manifold) can be designed as an in tegral rart of the vehicle.
All \ ulncrable interior surfaces s hould be adequately padded. and where possible all cupboard hin ges and catches s llo uld be rec essed: in vehicles With littl e headroom warning should be in suitable place
[t also useful to prov 'lde g rab rails by the rear doors and ahove the stre tcher to sup port a ... emi recumhent patient.
Patient Care Equipment
Of all the recent changes in equipment. that of patient care has probably been most noticeahle. There arc now recommended standard" of equipment to be carried in am bulances. which. together with the in depth lraining of thc profeSSional services. has en sured that patient care reaches a hi gh stan dare'!'
[-\en items as blankets and pillows should be of a suitable standard. Ordinary 'bed blankets' arc not suitable for usc in an alllbulancc. Th e most suitable blankets are non nufTy. hard wearing and can be boiled. DOll1e'-lic pillows are also not suitab le for ambulance usc. a<; they are normally too large for usc o n a s tr etc her. Correct size stre tcher pillows arc a\ ailable and these arc foam filled and should be covered with ven lilmed plastic and a hard wearing pillowcase of a suitable grade.
l: qulpll1ent has become more
sophisticated and technical and while in the last ten years aspirators and positive pre ss ure resu sc itators have been introduced by many local authority services, many of the earlier models of this equipment have been su per se ded by later designs. rntermittent positive pressure resuscitators of the MinEpac or Automan type are commonly in use, as are advanced types of aspirator allowing u sc independent of the vehicle but still allowing the equipment to be installed and powered in the vehicle. A s an alternative to the automatic re susc itators , bag and mask re susc itator s are in common use.
Entonox is also carried by emergency vehicles and this provides safe and suitable analge ia. Brigade Orders 1548 (November 1971) allows Entonox to be used by Brigade units provided adequate instruction is given. 1t is now possible to have this equipment piped into the vehicle in a similar manner to oxygen.
The most advanced vehicles now carry cardiac defibrill ato rs, cardiac monitoring devices and humidified oxygen supplies, and we can expect to see an increasing range of equipment become available, although this will mainly be for use by medical personnel.
There are numerous pieces of smaller equipment which are carried on most vehicles. and among these are such useful items as local road maps, an inventory to check equipment, an insurance claim form,
tape measure, etc, in case of accident, listed details of local garages in case of breakdown, etc, These items can be incorporated at low cost on any ambulance, no matter how old.
The recommended standard of equipment as defined by the working party is as follows:
Type I: For ambulances which are used for emergency patients,
Type 2: For ambulances which are not normally used for emergency patients.
TH E D RI VE R S and attendants of SJA Bristol' s transport department have taken on another job - raising money to help charitable organisations. They call their new organisation Aid the Volunteer s Fund. Every year they choose a charity that needs help and rai c;e money to buy them some equipment.
Char ity begins at home. of course. so for their first year they chose St. J ohn. Their target is £1.000. to equip SJA Bristol' s ambulances. At a recent AVF dinner and dance. Fund chairman and SJA nursing officer and drive r Alan Ecroyd (left in photograph) presented two sets of Entenox and two sets of oxygen equipment to County SlafT OrAce r Bernard Cutliffe (r ight). Janet Buick. with her hu band [an. an SJ A ambu la n ce drive r (centre). helped to demonstrate the Entenox.
The Queen stops for a chat
CAN THEY AFFORD TO BE IN TH E BRIGAD E?
from M. V. Mor ing, D iv is ional O fficer
I rea d wi t h interest the results of the s urvey carried out in Wale s b y N / M Miss Herbert and D / Supt. D. Kitto and commented on in th e March At R andom by the Deputy C -in -C.
About eighteen months ago I wrote a letter to the Revi ew (publ is h ed in the Nov 72 issue) putting forward m y own id eas r eg ardin g lo ss o f younger members from the Brigade (also commented on b y the Deputy C-in - C)
Since writin g my letter, experience has s hown me th a t I h a d o mitt ed to con ider an important factor which may al s o ha v e bee n o verlook ed by others interested in s toppin g the drain of 16 yea r s plu s memb e r s from our ran ks.
Shortl y after writin g that letter [ married a member of our lo cal Nursing Division. We were lucky enou g h t o purcha s e a s m a 1\ bungalow twelve miles from our Div ision' s HQ W e both r e m a in e d Brigade member s and ha v ing spent all our Bri g ade li ves with o ur D ivisions were reluctant to transfer to other divi s ion s ne a rer our ne w home I have a fairl y we1\ paid job and was able to a bsorb additi o n a petrol costs and three mortgage increases ( in twelve m o nth s). With th e arrival of our litt le (prospective) St. John Junior , a c han g e of accommodation was necessary.
We decided to move back to our home town to be ne arer relati ve friends and our St. John commitments (T am Divisional Se c retar y). W e found an older -type propert y , reasonabl y pric e d a nd mana g ed to ge a mortgage ofTer. The repayments would have been £89 per m o nth ( w ith future increases threatened) making spare- tim e volunt a r y serv ice impossib le and part -time evening emplo y ment e s sential.
My point is that many young members who g et enga g ed or m a rri ed mu s t in these time s be in s imilar positions , h a v in g to work 'a round th e clock' to live, either by taking a s econd job or b y re g ular o vertim e. Spare time, little there is , s obviou s ly s pent a t hom e with th e wife and family. Many of the y oun g er members who ha ve left m y Di v s io n would supp pr t this view
I was fortunate in bein g offered and able to a ccept a j o b w ith accommodation provided and thu s enable us to continu e o ur St. J o h n work, but for many starting out on the road o f married life thi s mu s t s u rely p r esent an unsolvable p r oblem from the Bri g ade viewp o int. M any o lder member s sufTer s imilar financial hard s hip s ; the y h ave known harde r times a lso; but the y have had the adv a nt ag e of b ei n g ab e to buy property at sub s tantially lower price s o r qualify for C o uncil accommodation. To them, a fitted kitchen and a modern h o m e are a luxury to the youn g the y are considered n ec e ss iti es Unfortunate ly, [ see no s olution to the problem of los m e mber s h ip on financia l ground s I t would be wron g and improper to s u gg e st p ay ment for 'volu n tary work (reimbursement o f 'out -of- pocket' exp e n seyes!). Mo r e help cou d be given in s uppl y in g uniform s at e co no mic price s ; but a volunteer' s rime be bou g ht.
I feel certain it would be of s ome a ss is tance, if onl y to di s c ove r th e true scope of the problem, if the y ounger member s w er e to h o n es tly inform their superior offic e r s if the y could not affo rd financi a ll y t o co ntinue B rigade member s hip.
SOllr/7end M V. M o rin g
HSF AND SJ from John E Dane I wa s plea se d to read the articl e on the Ho s pit a l S a turda y Fund ( M ay R eview). but at the s ame time di s appointed be c au se it said no thin g of it s Sl. J ohn activitie s. r have s ome knowled ge of it s St. J o hn s t o r y, be ca u s e ea rl y in 193 6 I was appointed Hon Air Raid Prec a ution s lec tur e r to the Ho s pit a Saturday Fund Centre of the St. John Ambul a n ce A ss ociation , a nd con t inued in thi capacit y until w e h a d to a ke up action s tations a t the outbreak of war in 1939
READERS VIEWS
Readers' views and o pinion s, whi c h s hould be sen to th e Editor, although published a re no t n ec es sa r ily endo (,se d by the Editor or the Order of St John and it s F o und a tions. Although readers may sign publi s h e d lett e rs w ith a pen · na me, writ e r s must supply their n a me a nd a ddress to the editor
J ose ph A s h th e Ce ntr e H o n. S ec p rov id e d m e w ith t h e HSF jour n a l in w hi c h th e Cent r e's ac ti v
repo r
I h ave kept th ese repo r ts a nd am sen d ing th e m t o yo u as th e officia l record of t he Ce ntr e s work d urin g thi s pe ri
/
ays Inn Road, WC I , w hi ch co uld be d
ribed as bein g in th e cen t re of Lo nd o n which t he n h a d a mu c h la r ge r loca p o pu la t io n t ha n now.
Thi s wa a so th e HQ o f t he HS F A m bul a n ce a nd Nur s in g
Di v is io n s o f th e Bri ga d e. w hi c h n o d o ubt we r e th e r es ult o f th e wo r k of th e HSF Ce nt re.
Th e HSF a l 0 made avai ab le for th e ir m em b e r fi r s -aid boxes s u ab le for fac to ri es a nd b u s in ess pr e mi es. a stock of w hi c h wa at 52 / 5 4 G r ays I n n R oad.
I firs t m et J osep h A s h a b o ut 1925 wh en he tr a n sfe rr ed fro m t h e
HSF Am bula n ce Di vis o n t o t h e Croy d o n Di vis io n in w hi c h I was ser vin g. At th a ti me he a lr ea d y h a d seve n me d a ls a nd d eco r a t io n s in cludin g th e In s ig ni a o f S e r v in g Bro th e r o f th e Or de r, S ervice M eda l of th e Ord e r. a n d I be li eve th e S o uth A fri ca n W a r M e d a l of th e Or de r. in di ca tin g th a t th e HSF Sl. J o hn ac ti v iti es go b ack to th e as ce ntu ry, a nd I fee l th a t he HSF was n o t o nl y a pi o neer in th e ir ow n sphe r e b u t t ha t of Sl. J o hn as wel l. J o'>e ph A sh was eve ntu a ll y pr o m o ed o O ffice r B ro th er o f th
pot -hunter s and keep a s pecial uniform for the purpose (and there are such!) , our uniform is our working suit (and for many of us , our hardworked working suit!) Moreover, whatever the middle -aged and exservice men amongst us may think about its suitability with a peaked cap , the fa s hion among s t the youngsters tends towards flowing locks , side burns a nd beards - and these get short s hrift from the baldish , clean s haven examining officers. Also hat- bands and haversack s do go yellow with time and haversacks get scufTed in use. But the real rea s on why uniform inspection is so vexatious and unavailing is because mark s are debitted by the eagle -eyed one for reasons he keeps to himself, so that when marking s heets are perused , one hears ma sse s of conjecture as to why we lo s t a score of points' , s uch as ' Look, Charlie lost us two marks for his cap'. 'Well it s fairly old and yellow and hasn 't got a felt backing oval behind the badge like the new ones have! }'Why did three of u s lose a mark each for trousers? Mu st a' bin because the stripes weren't all that white - because we all had knife-edged creases .' I lost two marks for my bag but 1 had scrubbed it inside and out with liquid detergent and even touched - up with white paint the stitched -in cloth loops carrying the belt- attachment buckles! (These become black from rubbing agai nst the belt)
The PLEA: For the alleged purpose and so that we can do better in the next round , please tell us why points were debitted , and make every examiner allow for how old each suit is and for how many hours of public duty it has been worn. (7 years old and over seven thousand hours Honest!)
THE SET PIECE (TEAM TEST): There are two schools of thought amongst entrants : one thinks that the test should be dealt with exactly as a real incident would be tackl ed the other (probably the more competition-experienced) knows that marks are given for all the skills which can be demonstrated and all the knowledge revealed. The first school would swiftly diagnose the need for hospitalisation, call for an ambulance , establish if there were danger to self or casualty and , on being assured that there was not, would deliberately refrain from moving fractured limbs, etc., imbude with the spirit - imparted by so many medical and lay instructors - that 'masterly inaction until the ambulance comes is often the best first aid. (After all ambulances nowadays DO have Thomas or Inflatable splints, trolley- stretchers etc, and provide two more skilled operators to apply extension, to lift etc.) But this procedure which any casualty officer would approve, would cause the team to earn precious few marks , whereas their more wily competitors (probably against the ir better judgement) would be collecting 2 marks for this and 3 marks for that all down the marking sheet.
The PLEA: If the designer of the team test really wants to draw out all the skills and knowledge a team may have he must get away from the ea s ily -arran ged ploy of' An elderly person, living alone in a town house is found by a neighbour at the foot of the stairs etc, etc.' and dream up a test piece where 'you are on top of a mountain and your companion fall s down a chasm .' so presenting the competitors with a myriad of problems of decision and judgements.
I would like to know what team - members think of such opinions; I have no doubts that most stafT officers will disagree with all I have said .
Bath Il Penseroso
WA T CH T HOS E BOTTLES
from R. E. Taylor, MPS, Honor a ry Secretary
Re the photograph 'Bottles Oh!' (May Review), the collection of bottles is on the face of things, a good idea and teaches youngsters the value and use of salvage. It does, however , contain the seeds of possible disaster in that many people hand over bottles which still contain tablet s or capsules , many of which resemble sweets and are extre m ely potent and dangerous if sampled.
I think it s hould be pointed out that such schemes need very strict supervi sion to prevent childish curiosity causing tragedy
Bideford R E. Taylor
SEN s AND FIRST A I D
from Dilys Leake, N u rsing Member I full y agree with Miss Wilson's letter (April R eview) on SENs joining St. John Ambulance to gain further knowledge of first aid. As a student nurse, I have found that first aid is discussed as part of our t r ai ning in school only.
Sheffield D ilys Leake
REVIEWS
from George M. Nich ols o n, Di vi siona l Secre t ar y I have every back number of the Review from January 1962 up to date also February 1952, recording the death of King George VI. If any member would like any back numbers, I will be pleased to hear from them
I am a member of City Combined Division, an d am s t ill taki n g the Review but lack of space makes it necessary to dispose of ba ck numbers.
41 Colly gat e Rd, Meadows, Nottingham NG2 2EJ G eorge M. Nicholson
Sitting Pretty
NEWS from
SOME OF MY READERS will know that for the last two years I have been living in England, although J have been allowed to keep my name on the Scottish Roll and retain my office as Librarian of the Priory of Scotland. I think lowe it to members of the Order in Scotland to explain why have been so anxious to maintain my connection with the Scottish Priory and why I am so grateful to the Prior and Chapter for tolerating this situation.
First I am deeply attached to the life and members of the Scottish Priory. It is hackneyed but true to say that the further north one travels the more friendliness and good-heartedness one Rnds. The cheerful at-
WALES
Girls Keener Nursing Cadets of the Brigade in Wales outnumber ambulance cadets by four or five to one, stated Mr. C. T. Holmes, Deputy Commissioner, South Glamorgan County, in his annual report.
He says that it seems as if boys, as with men, show less interest in serving the community than their counterparts, but Mr. Holmes goes on to say that they had 'some very Rne adult members, both male and nursing, but it would be good if we had more men members.'
The report also says that the beach at Barry Island was manned throughout the summer months by the Lifeguards, a division that was growing numerically and efficiently. As well as beach duties they had spent many hours of hard work at the HQ building, bringing it forward as a useful centre.
'The Rrst-aid post and the creche at Barry Island were operated throughout the season and many hours of duty were put in by St. John personnel and the Parents Association, the cadets doing very well during the collection week, and I thank all those who did duty at the island, for without their support, the organisation could not function.'
The report analyses the cases treated at Barry Island last year: a total of 1,567. Of these 756 were wounds, 346 injuries, 152 burns and scalds, 151 stings and bites, 21 suspected fractures, 16 haemorrhages, and three dislocations. There were 77 injuries caused by glass, seven by deck-chairs, and
SCOTLAND
mosphere in our priory has to be experienced to be really appreciated. We do not carry out our charitable tasks in a spirit of mournful duty or gloomy piety; we enjoy them.
Secondly, have felt great pride in being as ociated. though in a very minor capacity, with an organisation which has made great advances over the last few years. I joined the priory only eight years ago and can hardly believe the expansion that has taken place since then: we must be the most rapidly growing branch of the Order in the world.
Lastly. it is very exciting to be a member of the Scottish Priory. Our members are engaged in so many different activities - nursing, hospital equipment, sheltered homes,
old people' ho pices, mountain rescue, ski rescue that life can never become dull. We ought. I think, to give thanks for the fact that it has not been possible for us to enter the field of ambulance work, for we have been forced to diver sify our activities, which is healthy, and to look for new things to do. ] n fact I would go so far as to say that, although we are still comparatively small, the future lies with us What we experiment with today may well be adopted by other branches of St. John tomorrow, for circu mstances are constantly changing and no charitable organisation, however committed and however wealthy, can rely for ever on what it does at pre ent.
The Order in Scotland is happy: it is grow ing: and it is blazing trails that others will urely follow. What else could a member want?
the re -styling of the new St. John Ambulance HQ in Carmarthen.
The HQ, formerly the canteen of Pentreporth Primary School, ha been leased to the Brigade by the Dyfed Education Authority It co nsists of two large lecture rooms, a committee room, kitchen and toilet s. Work on converting the building started in April 1973, with re -w iring being one of the first tasks by members of Wale s Electricity Board. The windows were repaired with 40 new panes of glass put in by voluntary labour
The re -styling of the building took 60 sheets of hardboard and 800 feet of timber; it was washed and cleaned and altogether 40 gallons of paint were used. This operation was carried out by members of the Carmarthen Division, boy and girl cadets, poliee officers and police cadets and South Wales Electricity Board
At the opening ceremony, County Commissioner Mr. J. Ronald Jones, Chief Constable Dyfed Powy s, received the keys of the new HQ from the Director of Education , Mr. Henry Thomas, and finally handed them to Mr. Maldwyn Osborne, President, Carmarthen Town Division.
OVERSEAS CONFERENCE - L ONDON
The 2nd St. John Ambulance Overseas Conference, which will be attended by delegates from 20 countries, is to be held in London on July 2 and 3. Under the chairmanship of the Chief Commander, Lt -Gen Sir William Pike, the conference will include a report by the Canadian delegation on First Aid Community Training: future medical trends likely to effect first aid, by Professor Sir.
Hedley Atkins; the role and structure of divisions; and various other items including treatment of snake bite and other casualties not dealt with in the First Aid Manual, and public relations. The conference, to be held every 3 years after the success of the Rrst in ] 971, will end with a reception at St. James' Palace by the Lord Prior, which will be attended by Princess Margaret.
3 wounds and 54 brush burns caused on the fairground. 756 children were cared for at the creche. The first-aid post was voluntary manned by ambulance members for 720 hours, nursing members 456 hours, am bulance cadets 285 hours , nursing cadets 647 hours, while the Lifeguards were on the beaeh control for I A 19 hours
Rescue 1
The St. John inshore rescue craft from Loughor rescued two men and a 12-yea r old boy , who couldn't swim, when they became marooned by the swiftly incoming tide on a sandbank 200 yards from shore during April.
The three, who had been exercising
(L to R) Mr. Henry Thomas. Director of Education for Dyfed, presents the key of the new Carmarthen HQ to County Commissioner Mr. J Ronald Jones, Chief Constable Dyfed Powys , and Mr. Maldwyn Osbourne , Presid ent Carmarthan Town Division
OVERSEAS
greyhounds, were up to their waists in water when the rescue craft reached them. No news of the dogs; presumably they swum ashore.
Rescue 2
Superintendent of Llantarnam Division Reg Jone s ha s s ugge sted that there should be a permanent Rrst aid attendant at Cwmbran boating lake after two SJ A cadets, Susan Skinner and Lynne Williams, and another girl, all aged II, pulled a small girl from the lake recently arter she fell from a rowing boat.
New HQ
Div Supt. Bill Jones played a major part in
SOUTH AFRICA
The Gov<:lrnor-Genera" Prior of the Order in Canada with SJ young adults (known as Crusaders in C6;,ada) from Toronto Corps at a recent investiture.
A Western Berkshire Area
News from Divisions/Centres
J E RSE Y - At the Association Centre's ] 974 first aid competition the Sealed Knot Society of Jersey staged an unusual settinga battle between Royalists and Parliamentarians which took place over 300 years ago, The 4 competing teams had to deal with patients in uniforms of the period, including one in armoured breast plate!
The winner , who received the Philip Le Masurier trophy, was the SJA team, and second, for the Scott- Warren cup, was the State of Jersey Police team.
About 200 people watched the competition and extracts were shown on local TV ,
STANTON DIVISIONS 22 teams entered the adult section of the Stanton open first aid competition held on May ] 8, but owing to lack of entries the junior section was cancelled
The final team results were: Stafford & Stoke Police 'B' ] 53; Stafford & Stoke Police 'A' 146; Duckmanton Workshops 142; West Cannock No. 5 Colliery. 140; Blidworth Colliery. ] 27; Derbyshire Constabulary. 122.
SURREY - Epsom and Ewell Nursing Cadet Division recently enrolled 14 juniors and 6 cadets became full ntembers. The Cadet of the Year is Corporal Siobham McVeigh and Grand Prior badges were presented by the Mayor to Cadet Leaders Felicity King and Christine Burder.
OBITUARY
DR. DONALD McNI C OLL BEAUGI E, Surgeon Folkestone Corps. Joined Bri gade in 1940. Officer of the Ord er.
MISS MAYDA VIS 80, Folkesto ne Corps Staff Offic er (R). Joi ned Brigad e in 1912, retired 1968 Mi ss D avis, who averaged about 500 hours SJ work a year, was attending sick peo ple up to a few month s of her d eath la st February. Ser vin g Si ster.
RAYMOND LEE Secretary London S W. Area, Joined Bri gade in 1969, Area StafT in 1971. Awarded the R oyal Humane Society certificate in 1972 for saving a dro wning man with mouth - o-mo uth re susc itation
and Combined C(lciet
Norfolk 's North Walsham Combined Division with the illuminated ubilee certifica te presented to them recently by County
REVIEWCROSSWORD No.7 (74) CompiledbyW.A.Potter
ACROSS:
1 Illness characterised by sudden, complete loss of consciousness with convulsions. (8). 5. Injured - damaged head holding serviceman. (6). 10. Sites trainer got confused in condition with diarrho ea and vomiting. (6 -9) .' II. Be at fault beginning errand. (3). 12. Hi s method is used to assist expulsion of placenta. (5). 13. Drain burst directly opposite to the ze,Pith. (5). 14. Hepatic secretion aiding digestion of fats (4-4). 16 Holiday taken on departing? (5). 19. Admit to being the culprit. (3-2). 21. Worn by those who get cold feet. (8) 24. Understood a little spirit from grain. (5). 26. Having a wan appearance, but sensational. (5). 28. Palindromic organ. (3) 29. A cause of h y po g ycaemia is one sound liver di s turbed. (7 -8). 30. Having the appea ranc e of an anthropoid ape is main change. (6). 31. She eads deviously with only trunk and limbs. (8)
DOWN:
I Birds sought keenly by golfers. ( 6). 2. Put in charged atom where tendon join s bone. (9) 3 Early sy mptom of otitis media. (7). 4. View a part of the act on ly. (5). 6. Insufficienc y treated by corticosteroid drugs. (7).7. Won the game after some checks, possibly. (5).8. Illne ss is an untidy state. (8). 9. Wron g date about trial is swo rn on oath. (8). IS. Patient who is injured but able to- walk. (8) 17 T a lu s (5-4). 18. Malignant di sease in which enlargement of lymph node s is prominent. (8). 20. Father with pill and a nipple -like projection. (7). 22. Demanded in a regular manner. (7). 23. Arranges for the patient to be examined by another doctor. (6). 25. Stupid fellow in the morning in the orient. (5). 27 Spectacular mu sica l entertainment. (5).
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD No.6 (74)
Across: 3. Palm of hand ; 8. Sp .he re; 9. A.jar; 10. P arenteral; II. Out; 12. Intern: 14. Cardia c; 15. Ease; 17 Ad o.pt; 20. The.ca; 22. Half; 24. Pontine ; 25. Rib .ald; 28. Yam ; 29. Triangular: 30 End.o; 31. Inci se; 32. Antiseptic.
Down: 1. Sprain ed; 2. Severe ; 3. Pep.ton e; 4. Learn; 5. Or .al; 6. Atro.pine ; 7. Dystocia; 12 Grit ; 14 Cell; 16. A c h e; 17 Asphyxia; 18. Ointment; 19. Trip; 21. Collapse ; 23. Fr antic; 26. Boun ce; 27. Light; 29 Tone.
3 cups for 4 girls The Mayor of Dorchester presents them to Branksome Combined Cadet Division 'S team. (I to r) Cpl. Sylvia Thomas , Cdt Ldr. Yvonne Comber, Cpl. Susan Higgins and N C Deborah Allingham, who came 2nd in the Dorset county competitions (Photo: Evan Jones, Dorchester)
CLASSIFIED
ADVERTISEMENTS
ADVERTISEMENT MANAGERS
Dennis W. Mayes Ltd., 69 Fleet Street, London EC4 Telephones: 01 -3534447 & 4412
ClaSS ifi ed Rates' Semi-display [3.50 s.c. (minimum £1.75) per word (mi nimum £1.00)
Box. N o. 25p ex tra.
Column Depth 10"
Pro cess Offset Lith o
Copy Dale' 8th of the month p r eceding publication.
Publi cat on' 27th of month preceding cove r d at e Ag ency comm SS ion. 15 %.
AT RANDOM
(cont. from p.11)
one whom I visited being in a combined division for whose membership her husband has just qualified by taking a first-aid course. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!
The second experience was when I went to visit, in my former county, an a nnu al 'adventure training weekend' for the 15 to 21 age -group with which I had been closely connected since it started twelve years ago. The programme throughout Saturday and on Sunday morning consisted of demonstrations and practice, in small groups of 8, in various first aid and nursing skills, and the climax was an adventure journey on Sunday afternoon in which the groups had to cope in realistic conditions with a number of incidents involving leadership and enterp ri se. And I was overjoyed to find a chap who as a cadet of 15 had been one of the trainees on our very first course in 1963, now a County Staff Officer of 27 and briefing the course Jor its adl'enture journey. The number of those who have attended the course over the past twelve years and have remained in the Brigade has been most encouraging; many of them have become officers and have shown qualities of leadership considerably above the average.
It a ll depends on gripping the enthusiasm of the older cadets when the time comes for promotion by making them welcome in a friendly atmosphere and with a challenging range of activities in which they simply can't fail to want to be invo lved.
Thanks
St. J ohn House C lu b has recently received two very kind and welcome gifts. One is a beautiful French clock, given in memor y of Mr. Kaye Huntington by some of her friends. It now stands on the mantelpiece in the front drawingroom. The other is an embossed bronze plaque of a protea, generously presented by Mrs. Ann Walker. Superintendent- in -Chief of the Brigade in South Africa, for the Protea Room wh ich ha s been s ponsored by the South African Priory. On behalf of the c lu b I shou ld like to say a most sincere 'thank you' to the donors of both these gifts which we shall greatly treasure.
WANTED
Tomorrows Hospital Todays career
On the campus of Surrey Uni'versity a new building is taking shape - Guildford District Hospital, which will be one of the most modern in the country.
We are now training young men and women ready to move into the new hospital and turn this concept of concrete and steel into an advanced medical centre.
Student nurses undergo a three yeartraining leading to State Registration. Pupil nurses take a two year course leading to State Enrolment. Yourtraining will provide the foundation for a career in a profession with unlimited scope for personal development and fulfilment.
Train today for tomorrow's rewards.
For further details contact: The Principal Nursing Officer (Education), Guildford Nurse Education Centre , South West Surrey Health District, St. Luke's Hospital, Guildford, Surrey. Tel : Guildford 71122
When replying please quote reference J 109.
St. John's Day Brigade Finals
AT RANDOM
HER MAJESTY ' S Birthday Honours list included the names of three persons honoured for their services to St. John Ambulance , all of whom we would specially wish to congratulate. The award of an OBE to Lady Mary Hesketh, for 17 years District Superintendent (N) of the Duke of Lancaster ' s District and now County Superintendent (N) of the new county of Lancashire, will give immense pleasure to her many friends. By her splendid example of dedicated service, her wise guidance and inspiring leadership , Lady Mary has won the affection and respect of all St. John members in the County Palatine and spurred them on to even higher standards of effort and efficiency in the service of mankind; and outstanding among her many other contributions to the wellbeing of the community has been her service as Deputy Chairman of the Southport Juvenile Court and as a member of t h e Borough Probation After -Care Committee.
An MBE was awarded to Mrs. H. A. Phillips, an Auxiliary of St. John who for the past 28 years has acted with tireless devotion as organiser of the highly efficient St. John and Red Cross hospital car service in Cornwall ; and a BEM to Ambulance Member E. C. Barnes of the Peckham Combined Division, London District. During the 39 years of his Brigade membership Mr. Barnes never once missed an annual inspection or re-examination, and in the past ten years he has attended an average of 46 divisonal instructional meetings and performed an average of 340 hours Brigade duty each year, including many hours ' first aid and escort duties with clubs for the elderly and the physically handicapped; he has also given freely and untiringly of his time and talents as a first aid instructor and demonstrator at Dulwich College and elsewhere.
We must also congratulate two other members of the St. John family whose names appeared in the honours listMr. A. Morgan Rees, County Director for Staffordshire, who received the CBE for his services as Chief Constable of that county , and the Revd. Canon Rennie Simpson , for many years Officiating Chaplain of the Order and Precentor of Westminster Abbey , who received the MVO (continued
St. John's
For the first time - women
Day
appointed to Chapter General
THE ANNUAL Order service of Commemoration and Re-dedication at St Paul's Cathedral, held on June 29, was this year preceded by a unique Annual General Assembly of the Order at the Mansion House; unique because for the first time in its history the Order is now governed by women as well as men.
From St John's Day 1974 (June 24) the 120 high -ranking Knights of St John who comprise Chapter General - the Order's governing body - were joined by 19 new women members. who include Dames of the Order. (See At Random)
The St Paul's service was attended by more than 2000 members of St John Ambulance, 1000 of them, including several hundred cadets, in uniform. There were also representatives from some 20 overseas countries. The parade of uniformed members was led by Banbury SJA Cadet band, a second band being from St Audries School Nursing Cadet Division.
The Lord Mayor of London arrived in state for the service and the preacher was the Rt. Rev G. A. Ellison, Bishop of London, a Sub-Prelate of the Order.
During the impressive service the banner of the late Brigactier C. M. HofTe, a former Prior of South Africa, was laid up.
A smile for our cadets - Lord Caccia, the Lord Prior arrives
The sun comes out for the arrival of our nursing members
The Chief Commander, Lt Gen Sir William Pike
The parade makes Its way Into St. Paul s
(Top right) Lady Moyra Browne, Superintendent-in-Chief has a word with nursing members of tomorrow
(Middle) One of the bands, from St Audries School Nursing Cadet Division, Somerset
(Right) New members of Chapter General (left) Marjorie, Countess of Brecknock , Chief President, and Dame Margaret Wakehurst. entering the Mansion House's Egyptian Hall in procession for the Annual General Assembly
'We've got it!' - Durham's Dawdon Colliery team with the Dewar Shield, Hingston Rose Bowl and Ellis Cup
(Above) Something odd here - the winning ambulance cadet team three tall girls and a small chap, But all's well; they re from Berkshire s Wantage Combined Division, and have just received their trophies from Lt. Gen. Sir James Baird (right), Director General of Army Medical Services.
(Left) The mood of the Division s earlier team winning the regional competition which sent them to the finals
Brigade
There ' s a new mix
The Brigadc Finals, originating from the turn of the century. are now beginning to show reccnt changes in struc ture of Brigade Divisions. Ambulance team entered this year comprised all men and nursing cadet teams all girls, but both the nursing adult and ambulance cadet competition included mixed tcams from combined divisions - one of which, Preston Youth Combined (2 nursing and 2 A Ms). won the nursing competition, Is this a portent of success for thc Brigade's new policy of closing ranks in combined divisions and so creating a family spirit to combat a falling -otT of membership? For the Preston team includes a young married couple, Margaret and John Wareing, Competition team may soon comprise pairs of husband and wife, brother and sister, boy and girl friend. Such teams would certainly not be able to complain of insufficient opportunity for practice.
RESULTS
Nursing cadet winners - from Clayhali (London) - with Lady Moyra Browne, Superintendentin - Chief
Another combined division team hits the jackpot - Preston Youth Combined (Lancs) were first in the nursing competition. (L to R) John and Margaret Wareing (husband and wife), Jennie Eaves and Malcolm Watson Awards at this year's Finals were presented by Lt-Gen Sir James Baird.
his very gallant action in going to the rescue of a girl and boy, aged 9 and 8 respec· tively, who had fallen through ice 200 feet from the shore of the Avon River near Stratford, Ontario, on March 6 1974 Remaining in the freezing water for 20 minutes during which he was himself in
personal danger, Mr. Palmer made strenuous
IN LONDON
Saving Medal in
Tran sport Sergeant Michael Dene, Tran sport Department. Sl. J ohn Ambulance, Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Dr. David Swainston, General Practitioner, Bailiwick of Guernsey I n recognition of their ou ts tanding con tribution to the dangerous c1iff·rescue in very adverse weather conditions of a gravel y injured youth who had fallen to the shore on the night of Jul y 19 197J.
Certificate of Honour Awarded collectively to th ose members of St. John Ambulance, Bailiwick of Guernsey, who together co ntributed to the above mentioned cliff rescue on Jul y 19 1973
ASSOCIATION AWARD
Meritorious First Aid Certificate
Mr. John Leonard Walker, N.C.B. Ambulance Driver, Markham Colliery, County of Derby.
BRIGADE AWARDS
Meritorious Service Certificate
Ambulance Member George Stevenson, Markham Colliery (South) Ambulance Division, County of Derby.
Ambulance Member Wilfred Mullis, Markham Colliery, (South) Ambulance Divi sion, County of Derby.
Letter of Commendation
Divisional Superintendent Robert Lindsay Tighe, Markham Colliery (North) Ambulance Division, County of Derby.
Ambulance Member James Huckle, Markham Colliery (North) Ambulance Division, County of Derby.
THE St John Ambulance foundation conference. held at County Hall, London, on Jun e 28, included lalks on the promotion and runnin g of 2 hour courses by Association Director General Mr Neville Marsh; the steady decline in active membership of the Brigade by Commis ioner -in -Chief MajorGen. Desmond Gordon nursing and welfare by Supt -in Chief Lady Moyra Browne ; first aid in the educational field by Association
Assist. Director General Mr F. and SJ A Overseas by Overseas Director Sir Hy lton Po ynton.
On Bri gade membership, the strength of adult divisions was reported to be falling by up to 10 % every year. Cadet members nucluate. On the other hand, demand for Brigade services continues to rise. Sounds like the familiar inflation story, doe n't it?
The remedy for the Brigade? - Attract more you ng adult members and retain more cadets after the age of 16.
FOUNDATION CONFERENCE
Moyra Browne , Supt-in-
Major General Desmond Gordon Commissione r- in Chief, spoke on falling Brigade strength
The Order's annual service of Commemoration and Re-dedication for 1974 will be held in York Minister at 2.30pm, Saturday October 12, in the presence of Princess Margaret, Grand President of St. John Ambulance. Its special envelope is shown above.
The preacher will be the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Donald Coggan, Prelate of the Order of St. John. All St. John members are welcome and tickets for the service can be obtained from The Council Secretary, St. John Hall , Killinghall, Harrogate, Yorkshire, HG3 2BW, by not later than September 10 1974.
IN BED
Derbyshire's Bolsover Colliery team had to come to the Brigade Finals competitions without their instructor Staff Sgt. W Broughton, I'm sorry to hear. He had suffered a stroke the previous Sunday and was laid -up at home. Speedy recovery, Staff.
SIR WINSTON
A remarkable exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill s birthday is being held at London's Somerset House to raise funds for the two national memorials to Sir Winston, the Churchlll College, Cambridge, and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
Held in the Fine Rooms, which are open to view for the first time since 1836, the
AROUND and ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST. JOHN
exhibition includes many of Sir Winston 's personal possessions - paintings, letters from the famous, speeches, pistols he used in the charge of Omdurman - much that tells the story of his long and varied life.
There is also a film specially produced for the exhibition, with Richard Burton speaking Churchill's words; and first -day covers of forthcoming Churchill stamps can be ordered at the exhibition in advance.
Running till September 30 1974 , the exhibition is open Monday to Saturday,
lOam to 7pm Sunday 2.30 to 7pm. Entrance for adults is SOp , children, students and old age pensioners 25p.
SPEAKING UP
The following letter from 14 -yea r-o ld Norfolk Cadet Miss B. Wells appeared recentl y in the Eastern Daily Press under the heading T.V. Mockery:
You may think that at the age of 14 I am too young to express my views on a com-
BY THE EDITOR
London Transport Corps jubilee parade (below) inspected by Sir William Pike , Chief Comman de r and (right) the Corp s' new ambulance and first aid unit being dedicated
JUBILEE
250 officers and members of the London Transport Corps paraded at Chiswick Works before Sir Richard Way , Chairman of LT Executive and Lt. Gen. Sir William Pike, the Chief Commander , on June 2 , the jubilee of the corps, which began as the Metropolitan Railway Division in 1924.
The Corps present strength is 270 ; during 1973 they did over 15 ,000 hours of public duty and attended 5 ,62 6 drills and practices. Also, in perparation for the jubilee mem bers collected almost £3000 towards the cost of a new ambulance.
To match their efforts the London Transport Executive very generously supported the Corps by providing a new mobile first aid unit. The two vehicles , dedicated by the Rev. J M Roberts, Chaplain of the Order , were presented to the Chief ommander for St. John Ambulance.
plaint, but I feel that I must. I am appalled by the mockery of religion on our TV screen. Such a subject should be taken serious ly. J okes about religion used to be quite funny. An occasional joke about a choir -boy or vicar would be accepted, but as usual things have been taken too far.
The comedy programmes of which there are quite a few no longer tell a joke but act out a service of matrimony, burial or christening.
SURVIVAL KITS FOR ARCTIC
A unique mISSIon recently took Mr. N. C. McClintock, the Secretary General of the Order, to the Arctic wastes of Canada to a spot called Port Leopold in the Northwest Territories, 100 miles from the magnetic north pole and 500 miles above the Arctic Circle. An area now increasingly busy with aircraft on the routes to the vast oilfields of Alaska.
The purpose of Mr. McClintock's visit to that remote area was to inaugurate a programme to erect a network of 100 's urvival cairns' which will be built during the next ten years throughout the Northwest Territories by the Order of St. John and the Franklin Probe, a society dedicated to the search for Sir John Franklin, who with the s hip s HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, completel y disappeared in 1845 whilst on an expediton to complete the exploration of the North West Pa ssage.
Mr. McClintock is the grandson of Admiral Sir Leopold McClintock, the man credited with discovering the fate of the Sir John Franklin expedition between 1857 and 185 9. Sir Leopold found records on Prince William [sland giving the date of Franklin's death and the fate of the expedition up to that time.
Each of the 6 - foot high cairns of rock will contain a St. John Ambulance kit com -
A lovely summer s day in England Little Maplestead Essex to be exact , where 150 people a t ten d ed the service of rededi c ation of the Order n Essex ( Photo Halstead Advertiser
I think a joke about the deceased is disgusting and if BBC and ITV cannot find anything better to entertain us with, they must be in a bad way for good humorous material.
SAME JOB
ASO Mrs. Durham of Ipswich writes: It was the first day of the County
Agricultural Show and all our ranks from C to ASO were represented in the SJ A first aid tent, busily engaged,
Enter a small ambulance cadet following the show, during which he had chatted to Red Cross colleagues After gravely surveying the hive of activity, he made the
prising enough equipment and concentrated food to enable one person to survive for 40 days in the eve nt that he is lost, s tr anded or forced down in an aircraft. Among the items included are hunting and fishing equipment, a tent, thermal blanket, axe, snares, knife, emergency location beacon, flares and bandages.
After se ttin g up the first cairn Mr. McClintock ceremoniously cemented into place a commemorative plaque inscribed in both English and the little known Eskimo
Mr. McClintock prepares a surv ival cairn in the Arctic syllabics, stating that the cairn had been sealed and dedicated by the Secretary General of the Order of S1. John of London and that it had been erected in commemoration of the many Arctic explorers who have lost their lives in those vast territories. Future locations of the cairns are to be worked out by S1. John and the civil and military authorities who have stated that they will seek the advice of the people of northern communities and of the newlyformed Arctic Aviation Council.
profound statement: 'All wearing ditTerent hats - all doing the same job'.
Humbly I bore ofT a full slop-pail to the toilet block.
TOGETHER
TAKEN HOME
DIO R Symons, of Cornwall's St. Blazey Ambulance Division, recently escorted an injured German seaman home to Hamburg by rail and air. A number of the division's members qualified as air attendants last December.
RESCUED
r hear that 30- year-old Gerald Smith, secretary of Surrey's Esher and Ditton Combined Division, has been awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct. Mr. Smith and a work-mate, who also
Essex, (Ieh) Susan Townsend and Peter Weston, 0 0 ICadets) and D/ Supt. ICadets), Great Dunmow. IRight) Barbara McMahon, ex-cadet sgt of Bebington now nursing member, Thurmaston Combined Division, and Peter Beeston D O Thurmaston combined Cadet Division, Leics
receives the award, are both gardeners at Hampton Court and recently rescued a man who collapsed from fumes while working in a drainage tunnel.
AWARD
Congratulations to Professor Stewart who has been awarded the 1974 Guthrie Memorial Medal for services to the RAMC as a consultant.
FIRST LADY
If - as present trends suggest - the girls of S1A ever consider starting a branch of Women's Lib within the Brigade a correspondent writes, they could not do better than have as their first President Mrs. Evelyn 1. Pigott of Cambridgeshire, who has just broken through a previously male-dominated appointment to become the first lady County Director of the Association. This is a splendid achievement, for Mrs. Pigott has been dedicated to St. 10hn since
she joined as an ordinary member over 35 years ago. She ro se through the ranks to become Div. Supt., Area Transport Officer, Area Supt., County Staff Officer, and acting County Secretary until she was asked to start a branch of the Association in Cambridge early in 1971.
Since then she has done some fine work, not only in providing local contacts for Association courses and examinations within the Brigade, but also taken the name of St. John into practically every industry in the county by organising four-day courses to comply with the Government directive re the employment of first-aiders, with one-day crash courses, refresher courses, lay instruc tors lectures and examinations, as well a the normal six weeks Association courses.
Although officially retired as a selfemployed grocer, Mrs. Pigott has certainly not retired into obscurity. Her boundless energy and enthusiasm has car ried her on to greater activity with the Association and with her other great interest - the Grocers' Federation. As one of their training officers she has travelled all over the country lec -
turing, particularly in connection with decimalisation and more recently the implications of V A T. She is also secretary of the ! ast Anglian Association of Grocers. With all this and her St. John work it is a wonder that she has time for anything else, but, when at home, she is always ready to talk to anyone who calls, be it for information (of which she is 'a mine') or advice (which she is so well -equipped to give), or even just for a chat. She even manages to do most of her own dressmaking! We in Cam -
A T RA N DO M (contd.
Enter, Ladies
The Annual Festival of the Order on 29 June was an important mile -stone in history, for it was the first occasion on which ladies of the Order, robed in the mantle of their grade, took their place in the procession of Chapter General. both at the General Assembly in the Mansion House and at the Commemoration Service in St. Paul's Cathedral - a long overdue act of justice which undoubtedly added grace to the proceedings.
Under thc recently revised Statutes of the Order, ladies have for the first time been admitted to membership of Chapter -General with effect from St. 10hn's Day , 1974. These include: (a) all Dames Grand Cross, of whom there are four in addition to our Royal Dames Grand Cro s - the Dowager Countess of Bessborough, Dame Margaret WakehursL Marjorie Countess of Brecknock and the Dowager Countess of Plymouth; (b) Lady Moyra Browne, by virtue of her ap pointment as Superintendent - in -Chief; and (c) such other Dames and Commanders (Sisters) as may from time to time be appointed and of whom in the first instance fourteen were appointed this year.
Overseas visitors
The triennial Overseas Conference of the St. John Ambulance Foundation came hard on the heels of the Annual Festival, and it was in piring and encouraging to meet so enthusiastic a collection of delegates from 20 of the 50 over cas countries and territories in which St. John Ambulance operates.
The wide range of interesting talks in the conference programme gave ri e to some very lively, profitable and sometimes amusing discussions in which many common problems were made easier to so lve through the mere fact of their being shared by St. John members of many races and from every continent.
My strong impression was that the delegates were unanimous in feeling that their attendance had fully ju tified the thou and of miles' travelling that it involved: how much they gained from it I will not presume to guess, but I'm absolutely certain that we at Headquarter s gained im measurably from their presence and participation. More important even than the for -
bridge are proud to know her and to feel that we havc produced the first of what may prove to be a long line of lady County Directors.
MY SLIPS SHOWING
In 1 une Review, page II, the picture of the ambulance 'presented to the SJ Council for Plymouth' should have read 'a gift from SJ Council'.
Also in June, page 9, story HER GIRLS, the book presented to Dame Barbara con -
from page 1 )
mal scssions were the informal moments when many old friendships were renewed and an even larger number of new friendships formed; and the reception given by the Lord Prior at St. James's Palace on the final evening, in the gracious presence of Her R oyal Highness The Princess Margaret, our Grand President, set the final seal of s uccess on a very memorable gathering.
And then".
And then, almost before we'd recovered our breath, came the Brigade Finals at Croydon, where St. John history was made for the second time in eight days, when two of the principal trophies were won by teams from combined divisions in which male and female members worked together. The Perrott Shield. for the nursing team gaining the highest aggregate marks in all sections, was won by a team from the Preston Youth Combined Division, Lancashire, comprising two Ambulance and two Nursing Members, which shows that first aid skills are not necessarily practi ed at the expense of nuring skills in combined divisions; and still more significant was the fact that the same team won the Marguerette Golding Trophy for the team gaining the highest marks in the Individual Nursing Sections.
The White Knox Cup, for the Ambulance Cadet team gaining the highest aggregate mark in all sections, was won by a team from the Wantage Combined Cadet Division. Berkshire, comprising one Ambulance and three Nur ing Cadets. When r saw them lined up waiting for me to call them forward to receive their trophies I nearly lost my nerve and, tepping aside from the microphone I whispered to the Chief Steward 'Are these thc Amhulonce Cadet winners?' and was reassured by his an wering 'Yes'. Undoubtedly we are moving forward - and at the risk of my neck r repeat that I do mean .!orll ord!
MOUTH-WATERING
The SJA cook-book from Norfolk which set my mouth awatering a year or so ago was so successful that a new volume 'More Recipes from Norfolk Home s', with entirely different recipes, has been published, price £1 including postage from St. John Ambulance HQ, 59 King Street, Norwich, Norfolk.
heartened at the rather lowly places that they gained in the list of results. We were all delighted to see them, and fully realised that any imperfections in their competition technique must have been at least partly due to the fact that they and those who trained them have been far too busy doing real-life first aid and nursing duties, in conditions which have earned our unbounded admiration, to spend much time in acquiring the niceties of dealing with the inevi tably artificial conditions of even the most realistic of competition settings - a realisation which gives one food for thought.
I wish
To end on a personal note, one of the happiest events in my recent St. John experience was when I was kindly invited by the Commissioner for Essex to enrol ten new members of the Combined Cadet Division in my own home town. the ceremony being performed in the parish church of St. John the Baptist, where r am a Parochial Reader on the staff, within the framework of our Sunday morning Parish Communion on the eve of St. John's Day.
The congregation of at least 250 included about 50 Brigade members and a representative party of local R ed Cross members in uniform; the new Cadet flag was blessed at the beginning of the service, which was the 'series 3' liturgy with hymns from '100 Hymns for Today" and St. John and Red Cross members shared in the ofTertory procession. The Divisional Superintendent told me afterwards that he had never seen a more impressive enrolment ceremony nor attended any church service in which the entire congregation was so whole - heartedly involved in a communal act of worship. r wi h that more cadet divisions held their enrolment ceremonies within the context of public wor hip - not of anyone particular denomination, for our present-day ecumenical trends are making it ea ier for us to find fellowship in sharing worship with others r believe there is at least one county in which thi has become the normaJ procedure: and I feel sure that, with careful preparation and given the right atmosphere. if the custom were to pread it would be of ine tim able benefit to the individual cadets at th e start of their St. 10hn life
One other point struck me at the Brigade Finals which I feel deserves mention. It wa absolutely grand to see that, despite all the tragic difficulties that they have to contend with in their own sadly troubled homeland, the Commandery of Ards fielded four teams at Croydon. one in each of the four sections of the competitions. I hope they thoroughly enjoyed their day and didn't feel too distained signatu res of Brigade's nurses (ie qualified professional) not nursing members. We'll try harder.
A cadet guard of honour for Gp. Capt. Gordon Pirie Commander London District SJA, and Lord Mayor of Westminster, at a special civic serv ce In London recently
Metrication
Our measurements receive first aid: do you understand deci, centi, milli?
by BRIAN ROCKELL
ANY PROPOSAL to introduce a major reform such as metrication arouses our instant opposition. When the whole country changed to 'new pence' in 1971 there was overwhelming opposition, various organisations were set up to oppose this violent change and elderly shopkeepers swore that they would not change. Looking back, what became of this opposition? It is true to say that few people think of shillings and pence these days and the quiet revolution that took place now has the blessing of all of us and anyone dealing with figures in their work has found calculations far easier. I can recall schooldays when dividing £36 2s 3d by £6 4s 8d was the sort of headache that caused many a sleepless night. How much easier it must be to teach that £36.11-;.£6.23 is a straightforward mathematical division.
And so it is with metrication and we are now already in a situation' where much of British Industr y has already converted to 'decimal measurements' and no longer can one buy a piece of timber, off the shelf, 6ft long. I suppose in a similar manner we are just as opposed to recording weight in kilogrammes instead of pounds and recording height in metres instead of feet but entirely contradictory to a widely held belief a change to cars recording kilometres instead of miles will not result in us all driving on the wrong side of the road overnight.
Our present 'imperial' system of weights and measures is of very ancient origin and was derived from those days when it was convenient to express a certain measurement in a trade without resorting to the use of fractions. There were further difficulties because weighing devices were then notoriously inaccurate and it became the custom to measure quantity in the container in which the commodity was supplied and we were left with a quaint form of measurement where there were three different chains, and where we had a cloth worker's nail 21/4 inches in length, a stack of hay was 108 3ft and in addition we had such miscellaneous unit s as firkins, butts, tuns, hogsheads, surveyors links, all of which meant something to the person involved but totally confused all others. Even these measurements were developed from the equally crude biblical
measurements where we learn in the Old Testament that there are twenty gerahs to a shekel and we also had cubits and ephah's to consider when building Noah's Ark. To complicate matters further these same units of measurement were different sizes in different countries or even indeed between the regions within the same country.
Nevertheless from these unfamiliar strange sounding units was developed a system with which we are all familiar albeit still unnecessarily complicated and we all learnt to be familiar with units such as
inch x 12 = rool
root x 3 = yard
yard x 22 c hain chain x 10 = rurlong rurlong x 8 = mile
In addition we have to remember such numbers as 36, 220, 1760, and 5280
squa re inch x 144 = square root
x 4 acre acre x 640 - squa re mile
IIlch x 172 8 - cubic
ic root x 27 cubic ya rd nuid o unce x 5 - gill gill x 4 - rint
=
x 20 lon Freezing point of waler 32°F Boilin g heat or water 212 ° F
We can see from this that no matter how familiar we are with these units we are constantly memorising an enormous list of figures: 12,3,22, 10,8,144,9,1210,4,640, 1728,27, 5,4,32,212, 2,4, 16, 14,2,4,20, each of which is a constituent numerical quantity of the next unit on the scale. And these figures represent just a small percentage of those we were previously memorising when we learnt that there were twelve pennies in a shilling, but 240 in a £ 1.
From all of this it was s lowl y realised that a decimal system where items were divided
k now the di s tance, not in miles, but in units of kilometre s.
The metric units
The metric system operates on base units and those with which we are most familiar are the metre (length) and kilogramme (mass). We also have what are termed 'derived' units from which we have square metres for area, cubic metre for volume, etc.
From these basic' units we also add prefixes which qualify the actual size of that unit. We have
mega One million limes the unit kilo One thousand times the unit
heclo = One hundred times the unit (this unit is not so commonly used)
dcci One tenth or the unit
in tens was far simpler and, in essence, followed a much more logical pattern.
It is difficult to trace the exact origin of a metric system but even this system stretches back several hundred years as we find that as early as 1620 an Edmund Gunter had suggested a form of decimal measure for surveying. Sir Christopher Wren was interested in these proposals but progress was nonexistent and it passed to James Watt to campaign for a standard system and in France during 1790 a committee examinee.: proposals such as these and a system ba sed on the unit of ten was devised A metre was chosen as the unit of length and the gramme as the unit of weight. The very simple addition of the word Kilo multiplied these quantities by 1000 and we have a kilometre eq ui valent to 1000 metres.
It was quickly seen throughout the world that this system gave many advantages and the ystem was soon adopted in the Netherlands, Italy. Spain, Portugal and South America, and in 1872 when a meetin g was convened to discuss improvements in the system, some 3 I nations. already par ticipatin g, attended. To date 104 nations are already fully metricated and a further 27 nations including our own is in the process of changeover.
Even metric measurement itself has changed over the years and because of the advances of science and technology an Inter national System of units was constituted in 1960 and this system known as SI becomes the standard system throughout the world.
Will all our measurements be altered?
The biggest fear appears to be whether all of our sizes and weights will be different. We must initially understand that. if a man weighs 14 stone his weight will not alter one iota when we metricate. He will then weigh 88kg. You will see that neither weight is a round figure and metrication will not mean that every size is rounded to a multiple of ten although it is likely that the physical size of commodities we buy will alter to a more sensible size that will approximate to an equal 5 or 10. Many of the things we know at present will not alter in size and the distance from London to Birmingham, by road. will still be exactly the same although we will
cenli One hundreth of the unil milli One thousandth of the unit
There are also other prefixes with which, fortunately, we do not have to be so familiar. From this we can learn that a kilometre is 1000 metres and a centimetre is one hundreth of a metre and in this way we build up our knowledge of each unit.
As with decimilisation of money, it will not be wise for us always to compare equal units of imperial and metric because in the same way it will be confusing to compare each unit. However, during the changeover period it will probably help if we visualise the imperial units with which we are familiar together with the (initially) unfamiliar metric units.
Length
1I1ch 25 .j millimctres ('Millen as 25.4mm)
foot .30<18 metrc or 30.48 centimetres (30.48em)
yard 091<1<1 metre (0.9144m)
Weight
III 28 .15 gramllles (28.35g)
Ib 0.45 kilogrammes (0.45kg)
slone 6.35 kilogrammes (6.35kg)
Volume
nUid 01 30millilit rcs (JOml)
pinl 600 milhlnrcs (600ml)
)!.allon 4.55 litrcs (4.55 lines)
We can implify the measurements even further if we compare each unit and how it will be u se d by each hou se hold.
Weight
Only three unit s of weight will be necessary for everyday use:
the gramme (about I/"th ounce) the kilogram me ove; 2 pounds) and the tonne (just less than our exis tin g IOn and equivalent 10 1000kg.)
In household commodities we will have:
107 Cooking rat 28g
Ib or buller 225g
Ib of nour 450g
2 Ib or sugar I kg
cwt or potatoes 50kg
These are not exact equivalents but approximate well.
How much easier this system is than our antiquated 6 tons 12 cwt 2 quarters I stone 2 Ibs 3 oz which we may have had to record in the past.
(col/ril/ucd ol'er/ea/)
Seeing how the other half
...
An idea of an exchange visit. first mooted at 'Nottingham' a few years ago. recently took five nursing cadets from Havant and Leigh Park (Hants) and their DI S Mrs Pamela Cobb to stay in Derb yshi re with DI S Roy John on, of Ireland Colliery Ambulance Cadet Division. and his wife. The outhern SJ A girls met the northern boy, rather shyly at first. it's reported. but then (photo above) they all went avisiting to a coal mine, steel works, museums and castleseverything that Derbyshire has to offer in other words.
Then 5 Ireland Colliery ambulance cadets went to Hampshire to stay at the homes of the nursing cadets, getting in some very salty visits to yac hts. HMS Victory and Southampton Docks (photo below).
During 5 days up north and 5 down sout h, to cadets got to know each other and saw how the other half lived.
It was great! they all agreed. Then a little tearfully: 'Can we come again next year?'
Cadets avisiting (Back row right) Mrs Pamela Cobb and Roy Johnson
Volume
For everyday usage we will be most familiar with the millilitre and litre. A litre is roughly equiva lent to 1% pints and in household terms this will mean:
= 30ml
of
Length
The units in popular use will be the millim et re, centimetre, metre and kilometre and in household
will be:
Temperature
The centigrade sca le is the scale adopted under the metric system but because in some countries the term Centigrade is used to denote fractions of a right angle it has been agreed that the scale will be called degrees Celsius. In the centigrade scale water freezes at 0 centigrade and boils at 100 ° centigrade. The very odd Fahrenheit scale produces a curious boiling point for water at 212 0 fahrenheit and a freezing point of 320. Although the Fahrenheit scale is nearly twice as long it is not really a great advantage as we rarely need greater precision than the sca le on the Celsius thermometer. As a comparison we have:
EVERY DAY FIRST AID
point of water loo oe
We are already familiar with many of these units as the weather forecasters have provided us with temperatures on the Celsius scale for some time although until recently were helpfully including the Fahrenheit temperature in addition.
Metrication in first aid and nursing
Of importance to us is to visualise the impact of metrication on our work in St. John as many of our familiar units will be altered.
Already our basic manua ls Fir s t Aid' and ' Nursing' express measurements primarily in metric quantities and appendix iii of the nursing manual gives a useful comparison chart and conversion table and we learn from these two manuals that:
The normal adult has an average of 6 litres of b lood. The pulse is found I cm from the lower end of the forearm on the thumb side. The normal temperature is 36 -37 ° C we learn from the nursing manual (First Step s In H ome Nursing is more preci se when it s tates that 98.4 ° F is equivalent to 36.9°e.)
In hypothermia breathing is depressed and the pulse rate is slow at 25°C. and death will result at about 20°C.
An enema solution contains 1000 ml of water (can also be expressed as I litre)
A hot bath is 42 °e - 45 °C.
Roller Bandages are sized in the following way:Finger = I inch 2.5cm H and = 2 inch = 5cm
Arm - 2 or 2V2 in. = 5 or 6cm
- a new, easy-to - understand series of advice that will help YOU to cope with FAMILY ACCIDENTS
FALLS
by Dennis Clark, MBE FRCS
part five
[N PART 4 of Family Accidents we thought about complicated fractures and shock. We ought to know a bit more about complications. Take rib fractures for example. Aunt Mary has just slipped on her polished floor and in falling has struck her chest on the corner of a chair scat. Or Bob comes out of a Rugby football ruck after the heaviest forward on the field has sat forcibly on his c hest. Both these peop le can walk but tend to stumb le because of a pain in the chest that
catches the breath. Both hold the chest where it hurts. The first -a id dia g nosis is obvious; suspected fractured ribs. The treatment is simple, an arm sling on the affected sid e and the most comfortable transport to hospital. But do not be too complacent. Go to hospital with them and look out for complications. Bob , in particular, may have had a kick that has damaged one of the organs in the abdomen just under the ribs: the liver , the sp leen or a kidney. [f so, he may begin to Leg J or 3'/, In. 7 5 or <) em Trunk 4 or 6in 10 or I SC111
We also learn in the First Aid .manual on page 160 that in belladona poisoning the temperature will ri se to 40C.
Our standard measurements of time, pulse rate. and the household measurement of a tablespoon will remain unchanged, as will the measurement of blood pressure which we hav e always recorded in metric measurement e.g. 120/ 80 mm H /g. Oxygen flowmeter apparatus is already graduated in litre s per minute although the cyli nder s are marked in cub ic feet.
In addition to those measurements already mentioned. the following comparisons are useful in our work:
An ounce o f lint will approximate t o 25g A 38111
COMPLICATIONS OF RIB INJURIES
""sit II """ , !!"OM
To convert tempe rature the following chart is useful although this formula can be used C = %(F - 32) or F = %C + 32
Within the next 2 years the whole of Briti sh industry will be changing to the metric ystem amd we. as St. John members, shou ld be ready for the c han geover.
feel faint as you travel and break out in a co ld sweat: in fact. he will develop increasing shock You will want to lie him down if possible and record his pulse rate. You will be thankful yo u have le arned to take a pulse properly and so a lert a doctor to the possibility of organ damage. Complications of fractured rib s. thou g h fea red. a re not common in home accidents. They are more frequently the re sult of far g reater violence , as different as the violence
from a fall cau ed by a trip is from the result of fallin g out of an open door of a car travelling at s peed: or as the violence of a cricket ball bowled at a batsman is from the blow a pedestrian s uffer s as he steps into a road and is hit by a pa s ing lorry From evere violence co me severe injuries. often more than one. From the ame accident head injury and chest injur y, for example. can occur in thc sa me per so n and either can be mi sed by a first aider.
Then look at yo ur patient. 1n an unconscious patient check for breathing and bleeding. Noi sy breathing or no breathing makes you extend the head backwards to open the airway through the throat and mouth. You may have to u e mouth -to mouth resuscitation (to be discu sse d later). If the casualty is conscious, deepl y distressed, feebly complaining and breathing with difficulty. s uspect stovein chest. You may not be able to see bluene ss of the lip s or fin ge r nails nor the abnormal mov eme nt s of the injured part of the chest \\'all hidden behind clothing. so slide yo ur
hand behind the steering wheel pressing the chest gently. [f yo ur hand feels a hollow that does not expand as the casualty takes a breath. your diagnosi s is right. So long as there is no further danger, keep your hand in place and exert enough pressure to ease breathin g, beca use there is no other support to that part of the chest wall. Then wait for profe ss ional assistance. Do not let anyone move the casualty; in fact be prepared to defend your patient against any who want to move him before the am bulance arrives. If he is lyi ng on the road, his own arm may be bound over the frail part of the chest with a slin g and broad bandage and the patient turned towards the affected side. though this may not be as efficient as gentle but firm hand pre ss ure. Above all give the treatment and maintain the position that is the most comfortable to the casualt y I n considering severe violence we have noticed our dependence on the professional se rvice s. the ambulance. police and fire services. Cadets are particularly valuable, because of fast legs and quick minds, in getting help from these professionals 'You are safe for a minute with Mr. Smith. I'll get the ambulance,' can be much better first aid than any tu gg ing or twisting at a possibly trapped casualt y. Make sure you know the 999 telephone dialling code. Use it. Ask for' Ambulance'. When the duty officer replies, state at once there has been an accident, give your assessment clearly, the number of people injured and the injuries you suspect. This gives the officer time to make his judgement. Then give the address or exact position of the accident while the officer writes it down. He will contact the police but y ou ought to ask him if he will do so. Then return to your casualty to keep up your job of protection and reas s urance.
Are you properly prepared for this vital se r vice? Do you normally use the telephone? Do you know where to find all the public telephone in your neighbourhood? Can you tell from telephone wires where you can get private help in emergency? H ow do tel e phone wires differ from electric power wi res? Find out. because one day this knowledge might sav e a life.
The commonest forms of seve re violence affec tin g families occur in road traffic ac c idents We s hall not con ider these in detail but just look at the way they diffe r from or · dinary household falls LAUG-H WITH DAN THE FIRST AID MAN
Fallin g o ut of a car moving at s peed is more like falling off a church tower than trip pin g over a ru g Then there is the car driver in a forward collision thrown with awful speed again t the s tee ring wheel. while the s eering column is c rushed back towards the chest. Such violence is why. in road traffic acc ident s the re s ult is not a simp le fracture of the rib but a 'stove in c he s t' with possible heart and lun g comp li cations. These risks of severe and multiple injuries are the same in other form s of severe vio lence on other parts of the body.
If yo u arc the rirst on the scene in a road traffi c accident. at all costs remember the sequcnce in which you render fir s aid Fir st assess the s ituati on. recollecting the risks of pile lip and /ire. Switch off the ignition and li g hts and get someone to con tr o l traffic.
1 ·;-
TWO PEOPLE - ONE DEVOTION : IS THAT WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT?
Florrie and Bert
OVER HALF A CENTURY of happy and devoted service to the Brigade by an Aldershot couple will be commemorated by a trophy to be awarded annually in North East Hampshire.
The cup, to be given to the most efficient ambulance member or nurse has been presented by 70 -year -old Mr. Bert W oolgar
in memory of 51 years of combined service with his wife, Florrie, who died aged 60 on February 25 1974. It will be known as The Woolgar Trophy. Cups have also been p r esented to the Aldershot and Farnborough Nursing Divisions in her memory.
Mr. Wool gar joined the Brigade in 1939, retiring 32 years later when he reached the age of 70. His wife would have completed 20 years with the Brigade this year.
At his home in Aldershot, Mr. W oolgar recalled recently how after getting married he tried in vain for five long years to persuade his wife to join him in his work for St. J ohn.
'She used to come along with me to inspections and social evenings which she enjoyed,' he said but she didn't think she could get through the work expected of a member.
'So one day I told her we had a special evening on. and would she like to go. r didn te ll her what it was.
'But when we got there she found out that it was a beginners first - aid class, which was just starting. I daren't tell you exactly what she said, but after many cheeky comments she decided to stay,' said Bert.
She soon passed her first - aid test and within another few months passed her home nursing examination. 'From then on there was no stopping her,' Bert recalls.
Florrie and Bert soon became a familiar sight at public events in Aldershot and Farnborough as they put in many hundreds of hours duty together. For 14 years they attended all the home matches at Aldershot football ground and Bert even helped the players in the treatment room before modern eq uip ment and methods were introduced.
For one season he travelled with the reserve team to help their trainer who was in -
experienced at the time.
'We went to football matches for years,' said Bert. 'a nd the only trouble in the crowd was if someo ne was ill or fell over. We didn't have any violence - although we had bigger crowds in those days.'
The couple also attended motor cycle sc ramble s and covered all Aldershot and di strict schools activities for 15 years. Other major public events in the calendar were the Aldershot Army Shows and the Farnborough Air Shows. Another regular occasion was the annual Old Contemptible s Parade in Aldershot, the home of the British Army.
We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it: recall Bert, 'but it was not all work as we also used to go along to many soc ial functions.'
Florrie was also a home help for man y yea r s and as an SJ A nursing mem ber she was given many nursing cases and enjoyed looking after old people. Later she had another worthwhile job helping in the maternity unit at Aldershot Hospital.
Her enthusiasm for her Brigade activities was exem plified by the year she broke her elbow just a few days before the annual in -
spection. Typically, the accident happened as she was on her way to get a box of chocolates for a hospital patient. But she turned up for the in spect ion - with her arm in a s ling , which provided a good story for the local paper.
As another reminder of their days together, Bert ha s compiled an album of press cuttings, certificates and photograph s which he is presenting to the librar y at headquarter s.
Looking back. he says: You were doing a u seful se rvice to the general public and yet a t the sa me time it wa s a happy pastime. I will always encourage other husbands to persuade their wives to join them in a worthwhile se rvice.'
Apart from sti ll keeping in close touch with Brigade ac tivitie s, Bert maintains another connection which no other member can boast.
He works as an u s her at Aldershot Court and every Friday when he is available, the Commissioner -in - Chief. Major General O S. Gordon, sits as a magistrate. At the end of proceedings Bert and the C in -C often have a chat - about a local Brigade query or spec ial function.
ORDER INVESTITURE
COMMANDER (Brother)
R ichard John Braddon (Devon)
Charles James P age, QPM (London)
H a rold Mark Gentry, FCIS (E .R. York s)
Alfred Terry Heath Glanvill, TO, MRCS LRCP, CPH, MRCGP, F ICO (Devon)
George M arner Lloyd, MR CS, LRCP, MRCGP (Here'shire)
Charles John Pratt Seccombe, MRCS , LRCP (London)
Major Gen. Ri chard James Moberly, CB, OBE ( D o r set)
Brig Claude Cyril Fairweather, CB, CBE, TO, DL. JP (N.R. Yorks)
Li eut. Col Il oward Norman Cole, OBE, TO. DL (Hants)
COMMANDER (Sister)
Mar ga ret. Mi ss Caygill (W.R. York s)
Dai sy Li lian, Mr s. Dowlin g (Kent)
OFFICER (Brother)
Alexand er Laird Br own, MB. ChB ( Worc s)
Joh n D oug las Price (Here'shire)
Cyril Harr y Pri ce ( H ere'shi re)
Arthur Mi chael Wurr (British Rail)
Bri g. D avid Charles Barbour. OBE. DL (Surrey)
Frank George Up ton (Berks)
John H arney (Cheshire)
Le slie Broad (Co rnw all)
Gilbert Yeoman Burnham (Cambs)
Joffre J o hn Bra yley (Devon)
Robert Pip e r. MB BCh ir, MRCS LRCP. DPH (Bucks)
Charle Henr y Brun st (Cornwa ll)
Rob ert Stott (Lanes)
J ames Willi am P ope (Kent)
William Hiram Burn s (Lancs)
M aj Willi am J ohn M artin Greener (Bristol)
Lieul. Col. Geoffrey Thomas More Scrope. OBE ( . R Yorks)
Denni s Bertram M oore (Guernsey)
Maj. Thomas Methyen Stewart Roberts (London)
Gilbert Charles Batson (Worcs)
George Willi am Nailor (Somerset)
John Rich ard Carr. SRN. RMN (Staffs)
Li eut. - Col. George De smo nd Thomp son TO.
MB ChB. LM (Lancs)
George Andrew Forbes (London)
Rob ert Frank White (Warwicks)
Gordon Kni g ht Shaw, FICAP, AMRSH, RMA (Leies)
Hamilt o n Mel vill e Weaver, MB, ChB (Northants)
Alfred Charles Holman (Surrey)
Robin Ali sta ir Lov eday Belben (Somerset)
John Fillingham (Notts)
Raymond Jo se ph Donald son. OBE. MB, BCh.
BAO. DPH (N. R. York s)
Alexander Sh e rlock (Suffolk)
Vict o r Ol iver Cri pp (Berks)
ASSOCIATE OFFICER (Brother)
Simon Freeman OBE, TO , FRCGP, LRCP & SE LRFP & SG, FRSH (Lanes)
Elsie Ba rb ara, Mr s. Fryer, SRN (Suffolk)
Marj orie, Mr s Thomson (C he shi r e)
Ruth Mr s. Munson (Essex)
Winifred J oan, Mr s. J onas (Cornwall)
Betty Jo an. Mr s. Stocks, SRN ( Hants)
vy, Mrs. Aspinall (W. R. York s)
Margaret Mary. Miss Kn owles (Notts)
Mu riel Miss Johnson (E.R. Yorks)
Ruth. Mrs. Cooper (Leics)
Beryl. Mi ss H olland (Wo rc s)
Dorothy Maud, Mi ss Stephens ( London)
SERVING BROTHER
D ona ld Graham Clitheroe (Notts)
Charles Cunningham. MB BA, BCh (North ants)
H orace Thomas Cox (Oxon)
R eginald Claude Poole (Suffolk)
John Martin Warren ( Berk s)
Surg. Lieut. John Francis Wolla ston, MB BS ,
RN ( R oyal Navy)
R ea r Adml. William Allen Ha y ne s, CB, OBE (Devon)
Charles Wil ce. DFM ( Wor cs)
Frederick William King ( Wilt s)
Edwin Bri ggs (Warwicks)
William Patience Mcinto sh ( Worcs)
George Hill (Staffs)
Her bert Thomas Dowse (Wilts)
Maj M ervyn J ames Malcolm TO. ( Dev on)
J ohn Edward Jay (Worcs)
Maj Bernard Arthur Meadows ( D erbys)
Wilfr ed Hipki ss (Worcs)
R aymond Robert Anker ( Briti s h Rail)
George Bar tr am ( Durh am)
Jack Trevor H a rtl ey (Wilts)
Daniel Bill s (Worcs)
R onald Arthur Chambers (Essex)
Arthur William Seward ( War wicks)
Thoma s H erbe rt H arrison MRCS. LRCP. DPA (Sussex)
Thomas H enry Bell ( Briti s h Rail)
Br uce Bemrose ( W.R Yorks)
John Leonard Condra (Isle of Man)
ASSOCIATE SERVING BROTHER
Nevile How a rd Cohen, MRCS, LRCP, JP (London)
SERVING SISTER
Florence, Mi ss Newton (London)
J enifer M a r y, Mr s. Rickleton (North'land)
Dora Elena, Mr s. Price ( [ndia)
Kath leen Beatrice. Mrs Wright (Worcs)
Lulu Julia Mar y, Mr s. Maddox (Salop)
Elsie Jo yce, Mi ss Chivers (Wilts)
Ethel May, Mrs. Court (E R. Yorks)
Lilian Joyce, Mrs. Wilton (Salop)
Olwen J oyce. Mrs. Jones (Worcs)
Jean Cynthia, Mr s. David so n SRN SCM (Sa lop )
M aureen Ann, Mrs Rumney (Worcs)
Princess Anne, arriving with Capt. Mark Phillips at the Bath and West Show, was presented with a bouquet bV 10-vear-old
St. John Junior Suzanne Hodge, daughter of CtV. Supt(N I Mrs. Jean Hodge. The Pri ncess also visited th e SJA post which covered the s how 229 casualties (including donkev bites!1 were treated. (Photo: Brian Walker)
OFFICER (S i ster)
Florence May. M is Pearce (Cornwall)
Christina Margar et, Mr s. Tremlett (Surrey)
France s Mary, Mr s. Owen s , SRN (Durham)
Gwendoline D o r a. Mi ss Marlow (Birmingham)
Ph y lli s Laura. Mrs. Bentley. SRN (Berks)
Selena Mrs Har g ra ve (N.R. York)
Annie Mr Bolton (Cornwall)
Dori s May Mr s. Robin so n (Lancs)
Floren ce Emily, Mi s Bu sby (Bucks)
Rachel. The H o n. Lady Bowes- L yo n, JP (Herts)
HULLO
Harold Brown (N.R. Yorks)
David Earsman Dalzell (Lancs) Eustace Edwin Dodd (Birmingham)
Stuart Alexander Sinclair, MB, ChB (Worcs) Tseung Ying - Kay, MB, KBS. DCH (Hong Kong)
COUNTY ACTION AGREED
from Marjorie, Countess of Brecknock, the Chief President Miss Wilson's letter NO ACTION (June Review) suggests that Headquarters is not interested in the appointments of Divisional Presidents or Vice Presidents. The exact opposite is the case. but it was discussed and agreed with County Commissioners that warrants for Divisional Presidents and Vice Presidents should be signed by Commanders St. John, with the object not only of saving County Headquarters a considerable amount of extra secretarial work and postage but also to enable the presentation of badges and warrants to take place on some important local occasion.
If it were possible [ would have liked to welcome every President and Vice President personally but in many cases we receive the information concerning the appointment too long after they have taken office, and even a letter would be quite out of date.
Headquarters M. Breeknoek
AMBULANCE REGISTER
from P. W. Castle, Divisional Officer
I read the story Instant Service (Around and About, June) with interest and would like to fill in a few more details.
The patient's other son -in -law, a local doctor whom ] have met through Brigade work, phoned me at 10.30pm on Saturday April 20 and asked if we could undertake this transport duty on the following day.
I then contacted as many members as possible but they all had commitments, so I called two other divisions, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray, again without success.
When I phoned the doctor back at 11 pm I passed this information to him and put forward the following alternatives:
A) Stamford Division could undertake the duty the following weekend.
B) If they were prepared to compensate a driver for losing a day 's pay we could do it during the following week
C) We could provide an escort for the train journey if this were practicable.
D) Gave him London HQ phone number as they might be able to put him in touch with a division near to his mother -in law's home in Kent who could do the job.
E) Get his brother -in -law in Nottingham to contact the HQ there
The last suggestion was followed and a very successful job was carried out.
This type of situation shows up a gap in our organisation that I feel should be closed. Could not a register of SJA ambulances be compiled so that if the division initially contacted cannot fulfil the task then at least they can provide a list of alternatives who might be able to? Ob viously one knows where ambulances are in the immediate area but not where distances of 50 miles or more are involved. The columns of the Review would be ideal for keeping this register up to date.
I note a similar plea was raised in Readers Views, June issue Stamford Combined Division Peter Castle Editor: So far as the Re view is concerned, to publish additions and deletions to such an ambulance register, agreed.
RESUSCITATION
from D. Little, Ambulance Member
While on a short visit to Sydney, Australia, in April I had the opportunity to become involved in Brigade duties and also attend some lectures on first aid.
I n a gene ral discussion with one lecturer after a session, I found that the medical advisers to both St John and the Royal Life Saving Society (Aust.) in New South Wales advised that the alternative method of resuscitation , ie, the Silvester method, be discarded and the Expired Air method of resuscitation be the only recommended one The new handbook s of both organisations, currently being compiled, are going to be republished with the Silvester method deleted from them.
About the same time in the U.K., refer third edition handbook 1972, St John reintroduced an additional alternative method of resuscitation, viz Holger Neilsen, to the Expired Air method.
Our handbook states that the manual methods of resuscitation are
READERS VIEWS
Readers' views and opinions, which should be sent to the Editor, although published are not necessarily by the Editor or the Order of St John and its Foundations Although readers may sign published letters with a pen -name, writers must supply their name and address to the editor.
to be used in circumstances where the Expired Air method is not practicable, a fact which the Australians [ spoke to did not recognise existed. [ would be interested in the comments of St John medical advisers on why there s hould be a variation in thinking within the same organisation (albeit different countries) on the relative efficiency and application of resuscitation methods, as re s uscitation is one of the most fundamental first -aid techniques we learn.
Hatfi e ld, Herts D Litlle
The SJA Medical Board says:
The Chief Medical Officer, to whom Mr. Little's letter has been referred, says that the question of resuscitation is always under revision by the St. John Ambulance Medical Board but its view is that in those circumstances where mouth -to- mouth respiration is not practicable, specifically there are multiple facial injuries, then the Holger Neilson method (the most efficient of the compression methods) is the most strongly recommended alternative.
FALSE COLOURS from A. Bilsborough, ASO
Following the recent visit of pop singer David Cassidy to England, I was horrified to see a large photograph in a national newspaper of him being 'smuggled onto the stage at a concert in Brigade uniform
While appreciating that this was no doubt done with the best of intentions, and perhaps to prevent a sudden outburst of mass hysteria, surely some other way of arriving other than by cheapening our uniform could have been found?
Preston. Lanes.
GIVE ME A BELL
from G. L. Greenslade, Ambulance Member
A. Bilsborough
I was interested to read Brian Rock e ll 's article Ambulances and their Equipment (June Review) and am g lad to see more space devoted to ambulance matters. It surprised me, however, that the author has such a low opinion of bells for ambulances.
1 have been concerned with accident ambulances in London. with various duties, and have found the bell invaluable. Usually on St. John duties we are at the scene when an acc ident occurs thus obviating the necessity for a journey to the incident. It is during this journey that the two -tones are usually required, and during the journey to hospital that they are forbidden except in dire emergency (eg when the patient has suspended breathing).
This is becau se the bell does not intrude into the saloon of an ambulance, whilst two-tones do. In light traffic the bell is an effective warning and as soon as it is rung the brake lights of the vehicle ahead usually appear as it pulls in. The effect on crowds of people is excellent, as the bell warns of the ambulance's presence without caus ing panic, as the two - tone horns sometimes do. This is particularly useful on Brigade duties which take place 'wherever crowds gather
On many London duties strict instructions are given that two - tone horns should not be used near a procession or whatever. Some drivers have to lean out of the cab and shout a warning while the rest of us calmly ring our beJls!
The two -tones are needed in heavy traffic , and at some junctions, but a good bell, well mounted and well maintained , is a great asset.
The bell is functional, not traditional, and has supporters in the form of the London emergency services, all Metropolitan 'blue light' vehicles (as well as some other cars), London Fire Brigade appliances and London Ambulance Service accident ambulances.
We can't all be wrong! London, SE7 Gareth Greenslade
THOSE CARDS
from R. Cambell
The interest in cigarette cards recently revitalised by radio and TV coverage is bringing to light many sets that have been lying at the back of dusty cupboards.
The set First Aid mentioned by Mr Dane in his letter Remember These? (June Review) was issued in 1913 and many dozens of complete sets have survived and can be purchased for about 60p a set.
I collect cigarette ca rds and have had to disillusion and disappoint many people about sitting on a gold mine when they uncover a few odd cards. In reality it has to be a very special set to be worth anything spectacular, for even pre - 1914 -war cards are plentiful.
There were millions of cards issued of some sets and we children of the 20s were avid collectors.
Slou g h R. Campbell
from Dr. D. H. Kinmont
I still have a complete set of First Aid cigarette cards and it may amuse Mr. Dane to know that , while I was at school in 1910. with the aid of the cards I 'taught' about five of my classmates the elements of first aid!
My intere s in first aid continued and eventually I joined the Brigade as a divisional surgeon in 1938 and remained an active member until 1972, when I went on to the Reserve.
Southwold, Suffolk
from Charles Green
GETTING
Warrington
D.H. Kinmont
Mr Dane may be interested to know that my son has over 150 complete sets of very early cigarette cards including First Aid in book form in colour, 10 pages of 5 cards; they are in new condition. He also has Celebrated Gateway s, issued by John Player, which includes St. John's Gate
But neither, I may add, are for sale.
London, SE22
ANOTHER POSTER TYPE from John Roskalns
Charles Green
I was very pleased to see the article Poster Design in the June edition of Review
However I would like to suggest to readers that instead of using Letraset transfer sheets, which are rather expensive, that the 'Econasign' type of stencil be used. These stencils give a very professional look to the finished article, and with a little practice are extremely easy to use. The stencils are available in kits or singly, and they are very varied and extensive in their range of 'type'.
The Econasign Co Ltd, with whom I have been in contact, are extremely helpful with sending prices, brochures and instructions. This method, after the initial outlay on stencils, is far cheaper and more versatile than the 'Letraset' method. The address of the Econasign Co Ltd, is 19/2 I Palace St., Victoria, London, SW 1 Brig hton
THE BALKANS, 1915 from Mrs Edith B. Hime
John Roskalns
I am writing up my diaries and wondered if any readers could help me with information on Dr Clemow's St John units which operated in Montenegro, Roumania and Russia from 1915 to December 1917! I am particularly interested in the numbers of personnel according to their work who served with the units, and the stores sent to the units. I am now 88 and in 1915, as Mrs Mullen, I volunteered and served with these units in the Balkans.
R.A.F.A. Sussexdown, Storrington, Nr. Pulborough, Sussex.
Edith B. Hime
NEWS from SCOTLAND
THE ST. JOHN'S DAY festivities this year
we r e held in Edinburgh. It was a matter for delight that members of the Order in Sco t land were joined not only by Sir Hanniba Scicluna, who nowada ys regularly attends the proceedings and indefatigably p articipates in everything, but also by five
K n ights of Malta, led by Mr. F. J. P. Crichton -Stuart, by Baron von Seebach, representing the Johanniterorden, and by Col. Hamish Forbes from St. John 's Gate. The day began with a procession to St. Andrew's and St. George's Parish Church, George Street, where the Commemoration Service was held. The Prelate of the Order, the Very Revd. Nevile Davidson, preached a moving sermon on the life and character of St. John the Baptist. The General Assembly was held in the Assembly Rooms and at it the following were invested:
Commander ( Brothe r) William Archibald
Ja ck. FRIBA. FRIAS
Fer gus Jardine FSA SCOT. FRSA
Major David Maxwell Pr octor
Commander ( Sis t er Mr
Mi ss Mary Fraser Hepburn
Mrs Jean Knowles
Mrs. Ethcl Milnc
Se rv i ng B rot h er (A ss o ciate)
Fl is Luca<;
WALES
A great week at camp
from the Merthyr Area spent a wonderful week camping at Rynoldston, Gower, during the spring Bank Holiday
National First Aid Competition
Torphichen
On June 16 the Torphichen Branch of the Association held its Annual Commemoration Service in the Parish Kirk, attached to the tr a nsepts of the original church of the Order's Scottish Preceptory. Normally the service is held on the Sunday nearest to the Feast of St. John the Baptist, but this year it had to be held a week earlier than u s ual because of sc hool holidays.
[t was attended by the Preceptor of Torphichen, Sir Andrew Murray, and by members of Chapter. Torphichen Branch has organised a most interesting exhibition on the hi s tory of the Order in the Preceptory it se lf. The exhibition will be open until September, weekdays (including Saturdays) I I am to 7pm, Sundays 2pm to 5pm. It is an added reason why visitors to Scotland interested in the Order should make a special effort to visit the ancient building which was the headquarters of the Order in the Kingdom in the Middle Ages.
Aberdeen
With much regret the re ignation of Mr John McPherson Mutch from the sec retar ys hip of the Aberdeen Committee has been announced. His valuable service, diligence and devotion to the work of the Order in Aberdeen over many years is remembered with gratitude. Mrs Georgina Scott Sutherland, who has been interim secretary for over a year and incidentally is new -gatherer for the Rel'iell' in the North , has been ofAcially appointed to succeed him. Mrs. Elsie Margaret Adamson has been appointed to succeed the late Miss Elizabeth McLean Chalmers as Secretary of the St. John Association in Aberdeen.
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, London June 121974
OVERSEAS
AUSTRALIA
Of th e 389 SJA Divi s ion s in Australia, 210 of them are in Victoria Di str ict, with it s headquarters in Melbourne. The well -equipped Brigade in Victoria Statc own 7(-, vchicles, which include 52 li ght and 10 heavy rescue vans, Roodli g hts and earchlights, h y drauli c liftin g se t s a nd underwater diving gear, and cliff- re sc u e and oxy -acetylene gear.
Australia ha s been beset by natural disasters over recent years - Rood s following a cyclone and bush fire s and the two photo graphs at the top of the page show SJ A Victoria's Rescue Squad searching for a part y of schoo l c hildren and a teacher; the day -lon g search in vo lvin g 185 members, was called off after the part y was reported found. The photograph ri g ht shows the Re sc ue Squad durin g outbreaks of Are in Victoria State
NIGERIA
Asst. Commandant; and Miss G. Williams was responsible for the cooking.
I.
ROF Chorley 34 26 Y, 23 y, 32 102 Y, 2 IS Y, 4. Garrison Donnington 27Y, 31 y, 35'/, 33Y, 86 2 14
Trophie s were awarded as follows: MEN Championship Trophy:AWR E Aldermaston. Best Indiv idual s: (No. 1& 3) ROF Bur g hfield N o.3. (No.2 & 4 4) ROF Birtl cy NO.4. WOMEN Championship Trophy: O/ ACS Bills Live rpool. Best Individuals: (No. I & 3) D/ ACS Bill s Liverpool No.3. (No.2 & 4) ROF Glascoed 'A' No.2. D/ ACS Bills Liverpool No .2.
Mr. Gordon Thom so n. honorar y trea s urer for over 5 years of the St. John Council in Ni ge ri a and o ut going managing director of Barclay Bank of Ni geria, is pre se nted with a farewell gift (gold cuff-link s and tie clip) from the Council by Mr s. K ofowo rola Pr atl.
SJA's Principal Nursing Superintendent and Lagos State Commissioner for Health. (Photo right) With them at the St. John Nation a l HQ. La gos is the Very Rev. Sope Johnson, who acted for the Chairman, Dr J E. Adetoro.
(Above and left) Australia: Victoria Dis trict's SJA Rescue Squad out on a search. And (below) carrying out first aid in difficult condi tions
News from Divisions/Centres
OBITUARY
Ernest Perren, Secretary of Cornwall's St. B1aze y and D is trict Ambulance Di vision for la st 22 years, died Jun e
mi ss ion er 1961 -66, Commander o f the Order.
REVI EW CROSSWORD No.8 (74) Compiled by W A Potter
ACROSS:
1 Important parameter in assessing degree of shock and response to treatment. (S 8). 10. Broken down ruin with direction to use habituall y (S). 11 Fever characterised by leucocytosis and generalised enlargement of the lymph nodes. (9). 13. Those who have this fever are not afraid of the sickness. (3). 14. Vital organ from all parts of earth. (S ). 15. High -pitched male voice. (4). 16. Tax of a Gael. (4 ) 18 Iron with virtuous artery (7 ) 20. Become widely popular with the fastener n position? (S -2). 22. Fine shades of meaning. (7) 24. Jaundice resultin g from mixing ice and rust. (7). 25. Slipper y fish. (4) 27 Where on e would find sclerae, ciliary mu scles , and Schlemm s canals. (4). 28 A medical fomentation set- up incorrectly (S). 29 Uncle from America with missile. (3 ) 30. Necessar y form of hyperten s ion? (9 ) 31. Live with eleven in queer set. (5 ). 32. Study of the effects of disea se on the structure of the body (6.7).
DOWN:
2. Disease associated with a large increase in number of circulatin g white blood corpuscles. (9). 3. Confused voter in public. ( S). 4. Lon g queue of hair or tobacco (7). 5 Fibres abundant in connecti v e tissue of wall s of arteries and bronchi (7). 6. Diluent for whisk y (4 /. 7. Remnant of the past. (5). 8. One given to thie ving is unlikely to be he a v yhanded (S -8). 9 Put small stones in the mouth to endure pain? (4.4 S) 12. A variation of one new prefix. (3) 17 To be given at once, as on the prescription. (4). 19. Ethnic group needing abnormal care. (4) 21. Abnormal growth of hair due to pituitary or adrenal disorder. (9 ). 23. Hindered on the golf course. (7) 24. Hormone produced by the Islet s of Langerhans (7). 26 Girl has nothing for the cowboy s noo se. (S).2 7. Consume a conconction of tea. (3). 28 Secretion playing an important role in regulation of body temperature. (5) 29. Slight , small nose. (4).
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD No.7 (74) ACROSS:
1. Epilepsy; 5. Ha.rm.ed; 10 Gastro -enteriti s; 11. Err ; 12. Crede ; 13 Nadir 14. Bile salt ; 16. Leave ; 19 Own up ; 21. Bed sock s; 24. Gr.a.sp; 26.
The latest addition to the Wadham Stringer range, the Series IX Structural Plastic Ambulance Body on the Bedford C F chassis, sets new standards in functional design and moves yet closer to the ultimate requirements of the Ambulance Service.
Ambulance bodywork also available on British Leyland and Ford chassis. Specialists also In Welfare and Wheelchair transport vehicles. HAMBLEDON ROAD
WATERLOOVILLE P07 7UA
TELEPHONE 2661 and 2585 (COACHBUILDERS)
Anatomical Teaching Models
1 All Hallows Road, Bispham, BLACKPOOL, FY20AS
Tel. (0253) 52525 (5 lines)
Specialists in British and Cont inental Tours. Full Members of both the Tour Operators Class and Retail Agents Class of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA)
IF YOU ARE PLANNING A CONTINENTAL TRIP LET US QUOTE YOU FOR THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS WE CAN PROVIDE A BRITISH COACH TO TRAVEL THROUGH TO THE CONTINENT AND BE AVAILABLE FOR USE AT THE CENTRE CROSS CHANNEL SERVICES, EN ROUTE CAMPING SITES OR ACCOMMODATION , EN ROUTE MEALS AND COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE INCLUDED.
ENQUIRY COUPON Name of Leader Name of Group Address , Tel. No Destination Duration Date Approx. size of party
Other details
Please return to NST Freepost, Blackpool FY2 OBR No stamp required.
5T. JOHN REVIEW
THE JOURNAL OF
Due to the recent closing down of one London periodical wholesaler, and another in London and throughout the provinces which will cease to handle the Review after the September 1974 issue, some readers who have their copy delivered by newsagents may have difficulties in getting their Review.
The Review is still being handled by other wholesalers. But to ensure a guaranteed delivery of current and past copies by post we suggest readers order cirect from REVIEW SALES, ST
NOR CRESCENT, LONDON, SW1 X 7EF.
Annual sUbscription £2.50, including postage.
Contents
Overseas Conference: The Rol e of Presidents pA
St. John in Canada 's Far North p.5
Will you fly with me? p 6
Dr Mary - Air Wing pilot by Marjorie Barrett p 7
Around and About by the Edi tor p.8
Adventure - and St. John p.14
Th e Horror of Flixborough p.15
Falls, part 6 , by Dennis Clark p 16
From Cyprus Brigade Final Standards p .l 7
Readers Views p 18
A busy week p 19
News from Scotland - Overseas p.20
Order Inv estitu re, July 25 1974 p.21
News from Divisions/ Centres p 22
EDITORIAL :
Edited and p r oduced for the Order of St. J ohn by Driscoll Productions, 26 Pembroke Gardens, Lo ndon, W8 6 HU (01·6038512) Editor F rank DrIScoll
ADVERTI SEMEN TS :
Den n IS W Mayes Ltd
69 Fleet St London, EC4 (0 1 -353 4447 and 4412)
Price 20p monthly [2.50 per annum, including postage from ReView Sales, St John AmiJulance, 1 Grosvenor Crescent, London SW1 X 7EF
COVER : Preparing for the future For John Heeks of Pershore Combined Division, Worcestershlre the Immediate future IS an inSpection and the only handy mirror is on the ambulance. wonder if the fact that Pershore is a combined diVISion has any additional bearing on such last minute sa rtorial concern (Photo: Berrows N( wspapers Worcester)
AT RANDOM :
by Watkin W. Williams Deputy Commissioner-in-Chief
ESCA PI NG for a s hort while to unwind after the hectic ru s h of events in June and July, I'm spending a fortnight with a family of cousins in the far west of Connemara, Co. Galway Th e ir bun ga low is built right on the edge of the rocks by the s hore, and at high tide I could lob a pebble from the sit tin g-room window straight into the sea. Sheer bliss. with no radio, no TV, no electricity, no telephone; fresh pollock for s upper if the family fishing -rod s have been busy, a nd a goo d peat fire in an open grate to sit by in the even in gs. No s hops within a couple of miles, and if you go by car it' s part of the passenger's duty to be ready to ge t out and push the donke ys off the roadway. Our nearest neighbour is an elderly Frenchman - incidentally a K night of o ne of the Alliance Orders of St. John - whose family run a lobste r-fi s hery for export. For the fir t twenty -four hour afte r my arrival there wa a s tron g wind and the views both to land and sea were blotted out by mist and cloud and a fine penetratin g rain. But no amou nt of rain could blot out the fresh beauty of the wild fl owers which grow in a profusion that I haven't see n in Eng land si nce my childhood, nor the blood -red glory of the fuchsias and the flamin g copper and gold of the montbretias in the hedgerows. Yesterday evening a school of porpoises , locally regarded as heralds of fine weather, came leaping right up to our little cove before they turned southwards along the shore; and today , though the wind is still strong and the sunshine has been broken by squalls, it looks as if they may live up to their reputation.
(continued on p.13
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
From September 30 , 1974 , the editorial address of the Review will be Dr isc oll Productions , Wood Cottage High Corner, Butley , Nr. Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 3QF Telephone : Orford (STD 039 45) 548.
For the first time
LADIES on CHAPTER GENERAL
FOR THE FIRST TIME ladies have been admitted to membership of Chapter General (the governing body) of the Order of St John. These include all Dames Grand Cross - there are four at present, and the
Superintendent-in-Chief. They are (we managed to get photographs of most of them):
Dames Grand Cross
The Dowager Countess of Plymouth
The Dowager Countess of Bessborough
Dame Margaret Wakehurst, DBE
Marjorie, Countess of Brecknock, DBE
Superintendent-in-Chief
Lady Moyra Browne OBE
Other new members
Doreen, Lady Brabourne
Mrs. G. W. Lodge OBE
Dorothy, Lady Ellenborough
Mrs. Margaret Boothman, MBE
Lady Dorman
The Lady Mary Hesketh
Miss Muriel Watson, OBE
Mrs Barbara Cartland
Mrs. Keith Lyle, ERD
Lady Power
Lady Caccia
Lady Inglefield
The Hon. Mrs J Smith - Ryland
Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, DBE
Mrs. G W. Lodge OBE
The Countess of Plymouth
The Countess of Bessborough
Lady Moyra Browne, Su pe ri ntende nt-i n-Chief
Marjorie Countess of Brecknock, Chief President Mrs Margaret Boothman, MBE
Lady Dorman
Mrs Keith Lyle , ERD
Lady ngle field
Miss Muriel Watson OBE
Lady Pow er, Superintendent (N) Hampshire
The Hon Mrs J Smith - Ryland
Mrs Barbara Cartland , the novelist
Lady Caccia
Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, DBE
Statute 3 \\'a splendidly exemplified at Headquarter on July thi year when the Chief Commander opened the Second O"er eas Conference. His audience included more than 30 delegate from 18 countries in all fi"e Continent. \\hi h hows the extent of Commonwealth intere t in St. John work. The agenda had been de igned to provoke dl cu ion on practical problems affecting St. John worker 0\ ersea A full report of the conference wiU be circulated but a senes of articles on selected di-cus-ions "ill be publi hed in the Reyie\\'. the fir t. this month·s. being The Role of Pre Idem. Further artIcle will coyer L\CT. Brigade Divisions. and an amusing
addre- by Sir Henry Atkins.
e f residents
The value of these conference lies not only in the interchange of \iews between St. John workers \\ith practical experience from difTerent part of the world. but more important perhap. uch occasions accentuate the feeling of family friendship across the world.
The reception at St. James's Palace. when delegates were honoured by the presence of Princes Margaret. our Grand President. was a fitting climax to a successful conference.
It was unanimously decided to hold a third conference in 1977. the centenary year of St. John Ambulance and also the silver jubilee of The Queen, our Sovereign Head.
By
Lady Brecknock. Chief President
ST JOHN IN CANADA'S FAR NORTH
Ihe ChIef :i,cui.1stances and The Pre ident should act in an advisory role without oyer-emphasismg that she had influence behind her.
h
\\ as most Important that Presidents should be instructed how to carry out their dutie. particularly the public relation fU'1ction and reference was made to The President' s Handbook.
The main function of an Area President v. as to form a liaison between Headquarters and the Di'. isional President and Association. gil. ing guidance where necessary.
lotice of appointment of Presidents and Deput} President s should always be notified to Brigades and Associations.
The role of the Vice Presidents of the Brigade .':as difficult to assess but an apt description '>ould be that of champion of their divisions with Headquarters. The Vice Pre sident should be able to take a consIderable load ofT the Executive Officers'
shoulders.
District Presidents and Deputies should become known to all their Presidents in due course. even if only by sending them a \\ elcoming letter or a Christmas card.
fn the subsequent discussion mention was made of the fact that there should be a one year gap between Brigade Officers finishing their service and taking up office as President. It was generally felt that this was a good arrangement. Another suggestion was that Presidents should be eligible for the Service Medal.
Several delegates referred to the post of President of the national St. John Council overseas. In Republican countries this title was open to objection as it could be confused with the President of the Republic and in such cases the term 'Patron' was to be preferred. The conference was assured that each country could take its own decision on this point.
A first aid post on 43ins. of ice
HOW many Brigade workers would volunteer to work from a tent on a frozen lake at temperatures ranging from - 10° to 20°?
That was the situation at North Canada's Yellowknife's Caribou Carnival, held on 43 inches of ice on Great Slave Lake during the last week in March 1974. A total of 19 St. John volunteers worked a total of 74 hours, and treated injuries ranging from a suspected heart attack to dog bites.
The carnival, which was originally held to mark the passing of the long Arctic winter. now hosts the Canadian Championship Dog Derby. a nationwide Dog Derby Sweepstake. a variety of northern competitions and games, as well as the usual concessions of food. drink and good fortune. While it has grown in size and popularity over the years. the Caribou Carnival still symbolizes a return to outdoor activities after the long. dark. confining winter, for the people of this part of Canada.
The Brigade set up shop in a tent on the ice. Heated by a propane heater. the tent was quickly transformed into an operationa first aid post. and a static display for the public While dogs tugged at sleds. women boiled tea. men strived to carry one more sack of nour on their back. and broomball games raged. the St. John volunteer patrolled and watched.
One local new paper. the Yellowknifer, gave the c accounts of the Brigade's work during the fe s tivities: Ace piledriver. Sven Lund. might be at
home amid the dangers of his massive construction equipment, but the insidious hazards of a peeling knife have him beat.
Sven was treated by S1. John Ambulance after cutting his hand in a potato peeling bout for a Carnival Concession.'
'It's not true that a dog's bark is worse than its bite. Frank German was the only reported victim of man's best friend when
he checked into St. John Ambulance for first aid after being bit by a dog. Frank was operating the dog rides for the swim club.'
After three days of competition and merriment, the tents came down. For St. John. it was a very successful Carnival; cold but successful!
the Chief President , Marjorie , Countess of Brecknock
Caribou Carnival grounds and dog chutes. (Photo: Yellowknifer)
SJA Executive Director, Don Johnston. and volunteers, Betty Brewster and Carol Harper, examine some of the supplies at first aid tent. (Photo: Yellowknifer)
WILL YOU FLYWITH ME?
The St John Air Wing is flying high - now our Air Escort service is set for a steady ascent
CLOSELY LINKED with the St. John Air Wing , whose 21/2 years of voluntary emergency air delivery service in Britain and Europe is now being written about throughout the world in newspapers and magazines, is the Brigade 's air escort service, This service, comprising some 130 SJ A members who have qualified as air attendants, provides trained first-aid escorts for anyone travelling by air anywhere in the world: anYO:1e who is sick or injured, or needs personal attention which cannot be assured by the airline's cabin stafr
What qualities make a volunteer air attendant? What training is required? We asked Mrs. Margaret Warrack, a mother of three teenage children from Stanmore, Middle sex, who recently went on an air attendant's course. Mrs. Warrack is Corps Nursing Officer for Barnet, London District, and an ex -full -time nursing sister now a parttime staff nurse on a children's ward. Mrs. Warrack writes:
To qualify for the course I had to produce the following:
I. A valid first aid and nursing certificate
2. A letter from my doctor confirming I was fit to fly as an escort
3. An air attendant's identity card incl uding a recent photograph
The course, which comprised four theoretical and two practical lectures, started at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where we were welcomed by the course organiser
Mr. A. A. Weston, a London District Staff Officer. There were 80 people on the course, all of them SJ A members, and we were quickly put through preliminary class arrangement.
Our first lecture, by Dr. A. S. R. Peffers, Deputy Director, British Airways Medical Services, was on J nternational Health Regulations and Criteria for Acceptance of Invalid Passengers. We went straight into the suhject. in other words, and it was interesting to learn that while most people travelling ahroad have the more usual innoculations and vaccinations many fail to protect themselves against malaria, now a major health hazard in some parts of the world.
Malignant malaria has proved fatal and the need to take anti - malarial tablets before, during and for a while after returning from such areas was stressed. Influenza, too, is becoming a major health problem in some parts of the world due to the various strains of infection.
The second lecture, a week later, was the Physiology of Flight, which dealt with the effect of air pressure changes diseases of the heart and how oxygen may be needed for the patient. For instance, some aircraft have a built -in oxygen system which can be plugged into, while on others a separate oxygen supply for a patient has to be suppiied. We were also shown a film on decompression in transport aircraft, a subject which could seriously affect the condition of an ailing patient.
The third lecture on the practical aspects of handlin g invalid passenger s was by Dr. Green, Senior Flight Medical Officer of the BAMS. It was interesting to learn that when sk ull traction is needed in fli g ht a Povey Frame is u se d, which is si milar to the Stryker Frame we u se at the Royal National Orthopaedic Ho pital, Stanmore. On the allimportant question of patient -space needed on an aircraft, a plaster Hip Spica takes up the space of at least three pa sse nger seats, and for s tretcher cases the space of nine seat ! It was also mentioned that sometimes the old wartime Tobruk splint is still used aboard aircraft.
The next s tage of the course was a practical session - fl y ing. For this we went to RAF Oakington, where we were taken to the medical centre and met by the senior Medical Officer, who asked if any of us suffered from sinus or ear trouble. Once cleared for flying, we changed into overalls and were kitted out with parachute harness and inter -com head set. Tn parties of four, we boarded a Var si ty aircraft and once airborne we joined the crew of the plane on the flight deck. We were flying for about 2 hoursgoing through bumps, circles, U - turns, even landing and taking -off again, so that we could experience every manoeuvre that an aircraft may have to take in an the conditions that we could experience. in other words, with our patients.
Back at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, our next lecture covered escorting patients by air, which included a film on how cabin staff deal with untoward medical incidents among passengers in the confined space of an airliner. After this talk , Mr George Woodhill, Registrar at St. John Ambulance's London HQ, who handles all enquiries for air escorts, explained how the service operates. Not once since the service began in 1957 had a request for an escort not been fulfilled, and it was gratifying to learn that the service is now being expanded to cater for a new arrangement with the Automobile
Association of Britain to use the service. Our final lecture was at the BEA Training Centre, Heston, and given by Mr Sweet, the Senior Survial Training Officer. He showed us how to operate the oxygen cylinders used on airliners, how to put on life -jackets and inflate them, and how to use the inflatable baby's life-cot - which is like a miniature rescue dinghy - complete with identity light. We were shown the first -a id equipment carried by all airliners and were then put through the emergency evacuation drill - to slide down a chute from an aircraft. I arrived at the bottom rather inelegantly, I'm afraid.
But then, this would be an emergency of course
The SJ A ai r escort service recruits men and women members over 21 years old and particularly requires doctors and professionally - trained nurses for lightaircraft flight s. Anyone requiring an air escort (they pay the escort's return fare and out -of-pocket expenses) should contact Mr. G. Woodhill, Registrar, at St. John Ambulance HQ, 1 Grosvenor Crescent, London SWIX 7EF, phone 01 -235 5231 (office hours) or 01 -650 4489 (other times).
DR MARY - AIR
WING PILOT
BY DAY Dr. Mary Storrier has a part -time job in the Medical Physics Department of Newcastle General Hospital. But she knows that at night she may be called on at any time to fly urgent medical supplies to a sick patient or 'spare parts' needed in kidney replacement operations to anywhere in Britain.
This enterprising grandmother, who walks with a stick as a result of polio 16 years ago, is the only woman pilot in the two-year-old Air Wing of the St John Ambulance. She's part -owner, with three other friends, of a Piper Twin Comanche and the co-ordinator of the Air Wing's Newcastle group. 'Pilots are divided into geographical groups across the UK,' she explained. 'In the Newcastle group we have about 10 pilots and the use of three or four aircraft. Since the service began I suppose we must have flown some 14 or 15 missions from here, usually delivering kidneys urgently needed for transplant operations.'
Because there is an absolute maximum life for a kidney to be used in a transplant - 10 hours from donor to recipient - everything depends on the speedy synchronisation of everyone involved.
By Marjorie Barrett
The Organ Matching Service, based in Bristol, first alerts the Duty Controller at the St John Ambulance Flight Control Centre at Epping, giving details of collection and delivery points.
The Group Co-ordinators and the pilots, the weather man whose report is so vital for a safe flight, together with the aircraft mechanics who sometimes travel miles to open hangars and roll their aircraft on to the tarmac, are all part of the 'team'.
Then there are the Air Traffic Control Staff and the police, who rush the kidneys from the airfield to the hospital.
'We always have the utmost co -operation from everyone concerned,' said Dr Storrier.
'And in an emergency St John flights have priority over all civil flights.'
The scheme operates throughout the Continent and Scandinavia, so distances can be considerable. The volunteers - all the Air Wing's 109 pilots - often fly in poor weather conditions and almost invariably at night.
Apart from 'spare parts' for surgery, they can be transporting plasma, medical supplies
and corneas for re -grafting. It could also be life-saving equipment, or sometimes specialised medical personnel.
On these missions we always fly in pairs and usually both people are qualified pilots,' Dr Storrier explained. 'So far, I've done four missions, either as navigator or pilottwice to London, once to Glasgow, and once to Belfast. But I've been lucky. The weather was reasonable each time.'
She started flying eight years ago and has 300 hours to her credit. Because of her earlier illness she found she had some trouble, at first, persuading the Medical Division of the Civil Aviation Authority that she was fit to fly. 'But they were very helpful, and now everyone seems quite happy about it.'
'Most of my spare time goes on flying, but only once have I been a oouple of hours late for work after a St John mission and everyone was very understanding.'
Fortunately she has the whole-hearted support of her family; she has one married daughter and one grandchild.
The volunteers who fly the privatelyowned aircraft in the Air Wing - based at airfields from the Orkneys to Cornwallget £20 an hour flying allowance.
'It costs £15 to keep my Comanche in the air,' said Dr Storrier. 'But to this must be added general maintenance costs and landing fees which can vary from £2 to £ 15 from one airfield to another.'
Some of the 70 aircraft in the Air Wing are loaned by businesses.
Dr Storrier's plane has a maximum flying speed of 180 mph and is fully equipped for flying the normal air-ways. But it is not fitted with de -icing or pressurisation equipment.
Extremely modest about the risks she runs as a volunteer, she says: 'After all, it seems a worthwhile way to use one's flying experience.
(Reprinted from the Daily Telegraph)
80 SJA members on a recent air attendants course
Dr Mary Storrier at the controls of her Piper Twin Comanche Photo Daily Telegraph)
AT YORK
The special envelope (see this column August) for the Order's annual service at York Minster on October 12 will be issued as an official first - day cover with commemorative post mark Enquiries for the first -day cover envelope, price 20p each, should be marked 'First Day Cover and addressed to St John Hall, Killinghall, Harrogate, Yorkshire HG3 3BW.
THE NURSE
I hear that Divisional Nursing Officer Mrs. Janet Farley, of Winchester House Nursing Division, was chosen 'Nurse of the Year' in a competition organised by the British Heart Foundation. She is a ward sister at Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, Warwicks. Her prize was £700 of Cardiac equipment for the hospital and a £ 150 voucher for herself.
HONOURED
St John names which also appeared in the recent Birthday Honours list are:
Dr. L. R. Whittaker, Principal Surgeon, St John Ambulance, Kenya, received the OBE.
Dr. Basil J. Muir, Consultant Anaesthetist at the North Devon Infirmary and Divisional Surgeon, Braunton Ambulance Division, on completion of three years as Commanding Officer of 211 Wessex Field Hospital, RAMC, T A YR, Plymouth was awarded the OBE (Military Division).
Mr. P. E. L. Foot, CStJ, recently Chairman of the St. John Council for Plymouth, now a member of the St. John Council for Devon, Chairman of the Plymouth Devonport and Cornwall Trustee Savings Bank for nine years was awarded the MBE.
Area Staff Officer E. D. Haslam, of Birmingham Area, received the BEM. Mr.
AROUND and ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST. JOHN
BY THE EDITOR
Haslam, who came to England in 1950 from India, joined the Post Office in 1957 as a postman and was the first coloured man to become a supervisor. He joined the Post Office Ambulance Division in 1958 and was promoted to Area Staff in 1972.
EYE RESEARCH
The interest of the Order of St. John in eye diseases is well known through the work of its Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem. Less well known to members perhaps are the research interests of Profe ssor Dennis A. N orton, recently appointed SJ A Commissioner for the Northern Area of the new County of Avon. Profe sso r Norton, who is a pharmacist a nd physiologist is Head of the School of Pharmac y, University of Bath, and directs a team of workers engaged in eye re sea rch With s upport from the Medical Re sea rch Council he is investigating, in collaboration with colleagues, the treatment of the chronic eye condition gla ucoma One of the main objectives of this re sea rch is to devise better eye-d rop medication. which may be used le ss
frequently but with improved effect. Elderly infirm patients in particular would gain benefit from improved medication technique.
The Department of Health and Social Security has a lso awarded a £17,000 research contract to the Bath team so that they can investigate the effects of certain eye-drops and solutions when used by wearers of plastic contact lenses. There is concern about the way pia tics can absorb ophthalmic drugs. Some drugs, for example, used to reduce intra ocular pressure can be absorbed or bonded onto contact Iense and then released again when the lens is worn. This may produce over -concentration of drug in a restricted area of the eye, and some of the preservative materials used in eyedrops pose a particular hazard in this respect.
Professor Norton joined the Brigade in 1939 and has been divisional superintendent, corps secretary, corps superintende nt and co u n t y s t a ff 0 ffi c e r for t r a i n i n gin Birmingham, Stafford and Bristol.
1973 ANNUAL REPORT
The recently published 1973 annual report of thc Order state that results of profound importance have been achieved in research into the causes and prevention of trachoma during the past 20 years, first in the Order's Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem and later in Africa. London and Ir an.
Trachoma is still the greatest single cause of blindness in the world today. According to the World Health Organisation 400.000.000 people are amicted by it and of th ese 2.000,000 are totally blind.
Dru gs have now been evolved which greatly reduce the threat of blindness from trachoma and trials conducted in Ir an encourage the hope that it may be possible to
Professor D A. Norton Ifar left)
Area Commissioner, County of Avon with members of his ophthalmic research team at the University of Bath IPhoto· Bath University). See story EYE RESEARCH
rid the world of this dread disease.
'The principal object of these trials', thc Order's report states, has been to define and test methods of treating blindness caused by trachoma. This has necessitated more knowledge of the pathways to blindness and has helped to solve the problem of why some people with trachoma go blind while others do not.
'It seems that an important factor is the degree of exposure to reinfection and different methods of applying drugs are being examined. A fair degree of prevention can be obtained by treatment with ointment, but frequent applications are needed and the course is long and difficult. Plastic devices are being tried instead, which can be placed in the eye and which release the drug over a period of some weeks. A drug in tablet form to be taken once a month by mouth also appears to give satisfactory protection; but it is still too early to say if this is the ideal approach.
'The two mobile pathological clinics provided by the Order of St. John for these trials have proved excellent for the purpose. They are being operated under the direction of Professor Barrie Jones, by the School of Public Health in Teheran which reports enthusiastically on them. The Order has also been able to provide the alaries of certain laboratory technical stafT to help in the re earch work at the In stitute of Ophthalmology in London'.
The work of the Order's Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem continued unabated despite setbacks caused by the outbreak of war in the Middle East. Patients continue to
IN N. YORKS
The Commissioner in - Chief Major General Desmond Gordon lIeft). on a recent visit to SJA North Yorkshire As well as inspecting county HQ, the C- 1Il C visited Ripon DiviSion Harrogate Division on duty at the Northern Boat Show , and members covering the York Races
HRH
The Duke of Edinburgh meets nursing cadets during a recent visit to Hitchin, Herts in connection with the Duke s award scheme I Photo N Herts Gazette)
arrive in great numbers from both East and West. Attendances totalled close on 67,000; admissions exceeded 2,600 and 5,714 operations were performed including 1.323 for cataract and 122 for corneal grafts.
Dealing with St. John Ambulance, the report says:
Overseas the strength of the Brigade in 47 Commonwealth and former Commonwealth territories rose to some 180,000 - roughly double that in the United Kingdom.
In Northern Ireland the Brigade continued courageously to carry out its merciful work. Virtually all members (2.500) performed first aid in riot situations and bomb incidenb Types of casualties dealt with ranged from victims of tear gas to all kinds of injuries including mass mutilation. Two members were awarded the British Empire Medal for bravery when giving first aid under fire in a riot in Belfast. Another received the Bronze Life -saving medal of the Order for trying to avc a wounded comrade: a third was
awarded a meritorious se rvice certificate and letters of commendation were sent to two Ambulance members for saving a child's life after a fire.
The Association Branch issued 168,335 first aid certificates and in addition a further 21.966 to uniformed members of the Brigade.
The need, on the widest possible scale, for a knowledge of basic life-saving procedures is becoming increasingly apparent, the report states. It points out that the Medical Commission on Accidents has stated that out of all unconscious victims of road accidents who die, one in five could have been saved if the first rescuer had known no more first aid than the need to turn the casualty into the recovery position. In recognition of this need, a 4-hour first aid course for the population at large based on essential life -saving measures was introduced in 1971 and during the past year the Association has been increasingly active
in extending this kind of basic instruction.
PLANE CR ASH
At the end of a day 's motor racing at Brand's Hatch recently a light -plane crashed in the public car park of the course, fortunately avoiding a stream of departing race -g oers. No -o ne was injured, but two SJA ambulances and members on duty at the track were very quickly onto the scene to prevent any risk of fire from the plane's fractured fuel tanks
Officials of Brand's Hatch wrote to Mr A. Medcraft, of SJA's Beckenham and West Wickham Division - he was the first SJ A man on the scene - thanking the Brigade for superb coverage.
SJA CARNIVAL
It has long been recognised. writes one of my contributors. that the St. John badge can be a means of introduction and he relates how hi s did just that.
He was holida y ing in Scotland and at the hotel in Edinburgh where he was staying a party of young Germans made an overnight stay. In the lounge in the evening their attention was attracted to the Order badge he was wearing. with no Brigade or Association embellishments. The Germans reco gnise d it as havin g somet hing to do with the Johanniter Order of their own country but of which they had only a passing knowledge. My contributor's German does not extend beyond a few g reetings but one of
SJA Derbyshire held a carnival at Kedleston Hall, Nr Derby, during June, by kind permission of Viscount and Viscountess Scarsdale As well as trade stands Divisions ran stalls and the 47th Light Regiment RA put on a display. All divisions participated in
MIND BENDERS
Find the first aid word or words in the clue. The number of in the answer is given. To get yo u used to the idea. I'll give you the first answer.
CLUE: Two girls on your knee (3.4).
ANSWER: PAT ELLA. O K ?
I. Famous poet (4)
2. River is on (6)
3. Dad with one n a tent (6)
4 belongs to Susan, that's obvious (7)
An swers: up ide down next rage. No cheating. are at boltom of
the visitors spoke English so they had an interesting conve r sation, particularly about exchange visits. about the Order of St. John and its kindred body in Germany.
AFLOAT
0/0 A. W. Osborne who wrote about Hoddesdon Combined Cadet Divi sion's boating actiVItIes in the April R eview (Cadets Ahoy!) sent us this piece, written by his wife:
We are weekend camping on June the first to teach our cadets how to sai l but without a doubt before Saturda ys out some children will learn how to bale. We m ake our camp near the water's edge do hope the knats don't bite, it s hould be lights out at half past nine but the cadets are up half the night. As Saturday dawns they're up with the lark for a wash and a tent inspection, after breakfast at eight they take to the boats under the trained instructor's direction.
We have lunch at one, aren't they having fun. then it's back on the water they go; they paddle away for the rest of the day promoting the carnival by pre-selling programmes and raffle tickets, keeping half the takings for their own funds About £1,600 profit was made (Photos:
but by evening they're getting quite s low
We've a Disco that night, oh what a sight they look in their jumpers and jeans; they sway to and fro but are quite glad to go back to their tents and their dreams.
On Sunday they're tired and their poor old bones ache they crawl out of their beds and they blink when breakfast is over they head for the short which is forard? which is aft? they can't think.
On the water once more. you can hear their old jaw
as they're sai lin g along on the breeze
As true sa il ors mu st they stop for a crust but are soo n in the boats without tea.
As four o'clock comes its time to break camp
everyone is sad but no doubt
there will be a next time, if it can be done
'cause we feel it's been worth it; we've had lots of fun.
CASUALTIES DAY
Casualties Union Day is on Sunday, October 6 (from 1O.30am) at the Rugby Football Union Ground, Twickenham, Middlesex. admission 13p.
Everyone is welcome to take part in the stretcher loading, blindfold bandaging and visitors' diagnosis contests. This year there will again be a 'bottle stand' - so bring along all the bottles, large and small. that you can, leaving them at the entrance gate for collection.
MY LOOKOUT HEDGE
The following piece. by 13 -y ear -old Wendy Thomas of Branksome Combined Cadet
Division. Poole, Dorset, gave
refreshing reminder of the countryside
working at my London desk:
I did my 'Lookou t Hedge' a hundred yards from our tent. In my lookout hedge were fern (bracken), sloe, nettles, Queen Anne 's Lace, periwinkle, blackberry, dock leaves, dry sticks, red campion, bedstraw and finally rape. On one of the blackberry leaves was a snail. It was brown, fawn and white in a spiral pattern. It is not moving now. and I think it is asleep. The gentle breeze has made a small gap in the hedge
Cambridge Eastern Gas Combined Division's recent first-aid course, sponsored by Eastern Gas Board , secured at least 10
members and they're hoping to form
nursing division
, two RAC members who attended the course, with the instructor and the Divisional Surgeon
An Automan resuscitator is presented to Blackpool Ambulance Division by Mr Joe Gibbons, President , Central Bowling and Social Club. Thanks. (Photo: J. E. Gallagher, Blackpool)
Sg!.
and [ can now see some chickweed. There is a bird flying over the hedge and a bee on the Queen Anne's Lace. There are some gnats and midges flying around as well as many flies. Some other birds are flying across the hedge now and a fly has come from a fern leaf onto my arm. I can see another snail on the sloe bush. It is grey smudged and not as nice as the one under the fern which is by the sloe bush. It is orange but has now fallen ofT the bush by the breeze of the wind. Another fly has taken a quick fancy to me and is tickling my arm. A couple of seagulls fly over the hedge with a blackbird or a rook. When I stand up and look very closely through small gaps T can see tall grass and ivy. On some of the nettles and fern is cuckoo spit which helps the greenfly's eggs to hatch. Through the ferns there is something blue. It is only a flip flop shoe though, with a grey snail on it. I've just seen a cabbage white butterfly and two more snails, one on some fern and the other on a blade of thick grass. A fly is now buzzing around me. Flies are flying all around the hedge. Sounds of birds can be heard coming from the hedge; maybe they've decided to make a nest but I wonder what bird it is, because I don't know. Look! What's that [ wonder. a greenfly or baby grasshopper? It is a grasshopper because it has just jumped on to a fern and is now jumping on to a blackberry bush and he is camouflaged because I can't see him any more. A bird has just landed on the sloe but my dog Sandy barked and it flew away.
A couple of flies are flying around the sloe and over the hedge but they have now gone. Here comes another cabbage white butterfly or maybe it is the same o ne as before. It has landed on a Queen Anne's Lace flower, and as I stood up to have a closer view it flew away. Over the hedge is a cow, I know as it has just 'mooed'. Another little bird is here, hopping in front of the hedge instead of flying over. A fly has just followed me from the hedge to th e tent where I have come to count my words. Oh dear, I haven't done enough. Let's go down and see something else. Ah, here is what I've been waiting for, a beautiful coloured butterfly, but what is the proper name? I'll find out in a minute. when I get back to the tent, in our big Countryside Life book. When I get to the tent I can't remember what it was like so I go back with the hook, and it is now easy to find. The butterfly is the Small Tortoiseshell.
NEW MINIBUS
I hear th at a new Coventry chari ty, the Hospital Saturday Fund's Charitable and Welfare Trust, made its first gift of a new minibus to SJA Coventry recently. The vehicle was handed over to Area Commissioner T. E. Atherton by the Trust's chairman Mr. Harry Clarke.
WAISTPAPER
Latest idea for saving paper for charity - or losing weight, which ever way you care to look at it.
Bexley, Kent. slimming club members are saving a much newspaper as they are losing weight. (Who takes the Sunday Times?) In the first two weeks of this paper-weight idea, they've saved 1501bs. of newspaper. And I hope they all feel better for it.
This 'waistpaper' is going to Welling Ambulance Cadet Division, I hear, to help towards buying a new ambulance. AN AMBULANCE FOR ...
AT RA N DO M
Camping honeymooners
My last officia l duty before coming on holiday was to visit and inspect the Bucks and East Berks St. John camp in the Isle of Wight, where r spent a most enjoyable couple of days. The nearly 300 campers were. of course. mostly cadets; but there was a strong contingent of young adult members, mainly ex - cadets, who planned and organised a very active camp programme based on ideas and experiences that they had accumulated in previous years. As well as producing a duplicated camp 'daily' which they sold for a penny, and a first class programme of evening entertainments, they ran a series of group projects from which all campers could take their pick. 1n addition to various aspect of first aid training and casualty simulation (which included how to act and react correctly as a casualty. as we ll as make - up). there were courses in elementary self-defence (in charge of an ambulance member who was a Judo Black Belt). motor mechanics, basic electricity, and a wide variety of handicrafts including the making of nesting boxes, nail -and thread pictures. piggy banks from papier mache balloons. plaster of Paris coats of arms, ornaments from sea shells and stones. and corn dollies from drinking straws!
In thi way, the camp became a hive of purposeful activity each morning. and all the campers. whether young or old, were very obviou Iy enjoying themselves. Even more delightful to me was the discovery that eight members of the 'camp promotion team' had within the past year become four married couples: one coup le had on ly been married five days before camp started and were
(contd. from page 1)
spending their honeymoon working very hard to contribute to the camp's success.
Adventure - adventure
I was very thrilled to read the report sent in by l ain Cameron, leader of the St. John party of ten young adults chosen from all over the country. who recently spent nine days on a Three -in -One Adventure Holiday at the Tan Troed Adventure Centre in Brecon. 'Three -in-one' described the basic activities which were planned for the group - pony - trekking. sailing and canoeingbut by the end of their time they had extended it to 'six -in -one' by adding archery, orienteering and caving to their programme.
I hope it will be possible for a fuller account and pictures of this splendid venture to appear later in the Review, but meanwhile I must quote the final comment in lain Cameron's report: '[ feel that Youth in the Brigade ,nllsr be given opportunities to take part in adventure courses similar to that at Tan Troed. They would have a really first class holiday. and at the same time acquire that extra experience which would be invaluable when their skills as first-aiders are needed during watercraft expeditions and camping Better still, let's have a St. John Centre of our own.'
Be seeing you!
This year has been outstanding for the large number of St. John vi itors from overseas that we have had the pleasure of welcoming in Britain, especia ll y at the Chancery of the Order at St. John's Gate, at
St. John Ambulance Headquarters in Grosvenor Crescent and at the St. John House Club. To myself personally it has been a special joy to meet again several of those who entertained me so hospitably and made me welcome during my African tour last year: but I know that I'm speaking for us all at Headquarters in saying how immensely we welcome these contacts, not only with old friends but also with those we haven't met before. It's so much easier to feel personally and. we hope. helpfully involved in both the problems and the achievements of those whom one has met and grown to know as friends than it is when contact is limited to the exchange of correspondence and the receiving of annual reports. important though the latter most certainly are.
This applies all the way down the line, and is equally important to good relationships within counties and areas. In my years as a Commissioner and a County or Area StafT Officer I particularly valued the informal occasions when I could drop in to Divisional meetings or to the firesides of officers and members. and 1 wish we could all do this more often. But as far as Headquarters is concerned, whether you come from the other side of the world or merely from one of the more distant counties of England, I hope you'll never hesitate to make yourself known to u when the opportunity arises - not only officially and by appointment, but when you're in London with a little time to spare . or staying at St. John House Club. or at such events as the tea-party held at St. John's Gate after every Investiture of the Order. Be seeing you!
(Above)
A recent 307-mile sponsored walk from Birkenhead to Plym outh was accompanied (not on foot) by Cpl. T. Prince (left), of Merseyside's Bromborough Eastern and Port Sunlight Division (Photo: Reg Murphy Wallasey)
Durham County Brigade rally at Raby Castle, by kind permission of Lord and Lady Barnard. (L. to R) Miss Barker, Lady Havelock - Allan, Brig. Walker, Cty Director, Lady Barnard, President, Dr. A. Burns, Cty. Commissioner, Lady Starmer, Dr. Hall, Cty. Surgeon, Mrs. Gwens, Cty. Supt (Nl. and Mrs. Taylor, Cty Nursing Officer. (Photo: N. of England Newspapers)
(Below) Norwich: the Lord Mayor hands over the keys of the BRCS s goodwill shop to Mrs Joyce Hyman, who will run the shop for county SJ funds. (Photo: Eastern Daily Press)
Lowestoft Division s new ambulance is dedicated and the ceremony concluded with the presentation of a cheque for £300 for the ambulance fund
ADVENTURE activities are becoming an integral part of our most days we hear of something concerning the g reat outdoors and too often·it relate s to an accident. Thi s shows the risk in such activities, but without the ri sk they would not be as popular as they are. These 'activities'. as I term them, are those classed as outdoor leisure pursuit s. such as: climbing, mountaineering , fellwalking, camping and ski-ing. Each activity has its own particular hazards which have to be accepted by the participant.
How can we in St. John use such activitie s? Adventure is sought mostly by young people, people St. John needs to attract. Adventure activities could be used as an incentive to join the Brigade, whether as an adult or as a cadet. We mu st offer more than just straight first aid to young people.
St John is regarded as a na tional and an international youth organisation, as well as catering. for adults. Youth organisations shou Id offer their mem bers every opportunity to experience life at its widest. To achieve this goal some organisations use cash to attract leaders and instructors, but St. John is a voluntary se rvice and due to this has fewer specialists. The one way to acquire such specialists within the organisation is to train them ourselves by
ADVENTURE AND ST JOHN
Is this one answer for recruitment?
organising courses for those who show such potential. Training courses are a lread y on the British market for every aspect of outdoor educat ion at such places as Glenmore Lodge and Plas y Brenin. With a nucleus of instructors we could set the ball rolling and hope for a snowball effect. From such a beginning. a new aspect of St. John work could s pread nationwide. In today's world of technology the training of skills is rated extremely high. We are trained at sc hool, at work and in leisure; our minds are being continually orientated towards skilled training. Adventure activities provide skills and a new, exciting challenge. Some readers will now be saying: 'Well, what about us that are not so young?' My answer to the not-so -young is that they will find adventure activities just as exciting and profitable. and it is from them that the younger member s of our organisation will learn many of their ski ll s. Everyone in St. John must be aware that the number of our recruit s is declining. We must find so methin g that will attract new members. We lack number s in the 16 -25 years age range. It is to this age group that we should tailor much of our activities so that we can utilise their vigour and specia li st ski ll s. Adventure activities may provide one
doctor s. nurses and rank s from ambulance mcmbcr to area secretary. Our specialists include an air / sea rescue surgeon, an urban rescue disaster officer, a mountain leader, a you th leader. two surveyors and two teachers.
We work together as a team, for adventure activities is the world of the specialist not of the divisional officer or the superintendent. 'It is the specialist that runs the show, not the highest ranking officer" is the thought ever present.
Our training programme mostly includes
THE HORROR OF
FLIXBOROUGH
An explosion which shook everyone
solution to the problem of recruitment.
Would such a policy work nationally? believe that it would, as I have seen it work locally. In Northumberland (No. I Area) we have set up our own rescue team. This came about because of the following facts:
(a) A general lack of rescue facilities in the area
(b) A nucleus of outdoor activity interest in St. John
(c) The serious recruitment situation in the area
The outdoor interest concerned work on the local fells, crags and mountains. Some of our members were already active outdoors, and it was their awareness of the hazards that led them to form the rescue team. In the Brigade we are trained to give assistance to the general public in all situations. So what about outdoor activities as well as fairs, races, cinemas, parades, etc? An accident on the fells can havc far worsc consequences than the same accident in the town or on the showfield. A broken leg or ankle on the fells can mean death. Our Brigade work must follow changing times and adapt to new areas of popular interest.
With these thoughts in mind our rescue unit was formed from Brigade personnel between the ages of I Rand 40 . They include
outdoor activity work. although we do also train for urban disasters. We have now been training for seven months and the visib le effects are:
(a) We work together as one team
(b) We have united as a social group
(cl We have all learnt new skills
(d) We have gained a new recruit to the Brigade. a 21 -year-old man: reason for joining, the rescue unit
(el We form an efficient liaison between most of the divisions of the area
(f) Something has been formed which is providing an incentive for cadets to join the adult divisions
(g) WE ENJOY OURSELVES
Through our enjoyable activities we hope to provide a skilled rescue unit that will be of use to mankind. With the correct organisation I believe that St. John can make great use of these activities. We serve all mankind and not just urban mankind.
HUMB ERSIDE, SOUTHERN AREA, report on the involvement of SJ A personnel following the nypro explosion at Flixborough. Nr. Scunthorpe. last June.
The people of Scunthorpe are well accustomed to hearing loud bangs coming from the local steel works. but the magnitude of the noise from the explosion on June I. 1974 , and the huge amount of broken glass resulting from the explosion. left the people of the steel town in no doubt that something of a very serious nature had accurred in the vicinity.
r was out of town on St. John business when the incident occurred and immediately hurried home noting that a huge amount of black smoke was bellowing into the sky from the direction of (he Nypro Works.
A few minutes after arriving home a BBC news flash. although incorrectly giving the venue as Swinefleet. indicated that much damag.e had been done and that a state of disaster had been declared.
Bearing in mind that an arrangement existed whereby the police would call out voluntary organisations in times of emergency, I decided to telephone the local police station to otTer our help. The station
sergeant took the call. consulted his superior and advised that we should stand by for instructions.
During the next ten minutes or so I endeavoured to contact as many of our people as possible by telephone.
Several minutes later the call to turn out came from the police and leaving my wife to answer the phone, I went by car to pick up members and take them to the stricken factory. Other member were picked up by Divisional Officer J. Budworth. Cadet Superintendent A. Foster, who made his own way. wa s the first of our people to arrive. closely followed by two members from the Barton -on Humber Ambulance Division who were on tand - by duty with the County Ambulance Service. who directed them there.
Nine members from the Scunthorpe ursing Division reported to the Scunthorpe General Ho pita!. where nearly a hundred ca ualties were received, most of them injured from flying glass.
The Scunthorpe Division's ambulance and crew reported to the County Ambulance Station. from where they were instructed to go to Am cotts village and assi t with the
evacuation of some elderly people. The Scunthorpe ambulance members had not been on the scene very long when they were joined by seven members from the Goole Division.
Within one and a half hours of the explosion there were almost two dozen SJ A personnel at the scene to assist with rescue work, but fierce fire prevented any attempts at rescue.
After waiting until late that evening, our members left the scene and went with the County Ambulance Service to some of the outlying village to see if anybody required their assistance or if they could help with the evacuation.
Our thanks go to the St. John Ambulance personnel from Lincoln City who offered as istance with both per onnel and ambulances.
Although our personnel were unable to give a great deal of help due to the circum tances, the exercise however provided an opportunity for testing our callout sy tem. and much experience was gained from it.
T.
Cunnane
County Duty Officer
Brian Davies, Ambulance member
SJA personnel at the scene - but the raging fire prevented rescue attempts. (Photo: Grimsby Evening Telegraph)
EVERY DAY FIRST AID
_ an easy-to-understand series of advice that will help YOU to cope with FAMILY ACCIDENTS
FALLS part
six
by Dennis Clark, MBE, FRCS
LAST MONTH, in part 5 of Family
Accidents. we discussed the sort of injuries to be expected from severe violence, which implies that we have to 'assess' the severity from what we are told and what we can see. Our first interest, naturally, is the condition of our patient, the presence of priority injuries and pain, its position and degree. While we use our eyes we also obtain a 'history of the accident.
Take the case of Uncle Jack who, after his lunch, had for years skipped across the level crossing just in front of the 2.0pm down train to return to his work on time. 'It only goes past here at walking pace,' he used to say to justify his conduct. Well, one day he misjudged the train's speed. It hit him but he was thrown clear. I came on the scene by car to find Uncle Jack, lying on his back, safely on the side of the road with two people who had dragged him there. He was in great pain. 'It's in my back,' he said, 'between my shoulders.' When I put my hand there he objected strongly with 'It shoots round my chest.'
I hardly dared to shift him but] did notice he could move his arms and legs. We got his feet together and a bystander held them while J held his head straight, exerting a gentle and constant pull on it. So long as we could hold him still his pain was eased. I soon heard the history: the train had hit him a glancing blow chest-high in the middle of his back - of severe violence. The diagnosis - 'fractured spine'.
The ambulance was summoned and the legs immobilised with a figure -of-e ight bandage at the ankles and broad bandages round knees and thighs, while I kept hold of his head the whole time even when the ambulance team skilfully moved Uncle Jack 'in one piece' on to a stretcher, not allowing any twisting or bending. Only when the head was supported on either side with firm pillows did I release my 'head extension'. I sent my report to the hospital and later enquired about the patient. The X - ray showed fractures - not of the spine but of three ribs close to the spine. My diagnosis was wrong! But was it?
From the first aid point of view I was right.
Any casualty with pain in or near the spine from an accident that could have broken it must be treated for fractured spine. Uncle Jack had had the correct first aid. Let us see what might have happened if the sto r y was different: if it was not Uncle Jack and a lorry instead of a train. Suppose, instead of a heavy blow. Jack had been thrown out of a vehicle, fallen downstairs on hi s buttocks, fallen from a height to land on his feet, or on to his head in a dive. With the spine bent and jerked, as it could be in one of these accidents. one or more of the vertebrae could easily be crushed, broken. or mi splaced. So remember, pain in the back together with the history of any of these accidents is enough to make you diagnose a fractured spine.
SPINAL INJURIES
Muscle strains due to slips, twists, or liftin g heavy objects also cause back pain, often severe, but they are not the result of the kind of accidents li s ted above. Nevertheless, refer these sufferers to hospital too It is very difficult to se parate the le ss seve re, though more usual. spi nal fractures from the dangerous ones in which the spina cord is dama ged. This cord, remember. is a lon g extension of nerve tissue from the brain, conducting impulse s to and from all parts of the body from the head down to the feet. If the spinal cord s severed the muscles below the level of injury become paralysed and the se nses of touch, pain. heat and cold are lost. The bladder and bowels empty automatically, uncontrolled from the brain The higher the injury the more dangerou s it is because more parts of the patient are
arfectecl. Injury to the lower spinal cord gives paralysi\ of the legs and upsets bladder contrnl. At the level or the higher rart of the chest thc rio muscles 10 e the rower to l'xpand and brc<lthing is hampered. In the lowcr p:lr t of th c neck the arms are involved as wcll. In thc higher part of the neck the ncrves controlling the 'diaphragm' are includcci and orcathin g movements stop a Itogct her.
All rnunci this s pinal cord, the bony s pine is n firm tLioular protection made of verteorac. with gristle between. a
mohile suprorting column delicate at the top and robust at the bottom. Once it is broken, any movement can be dangerous to the soft nerve cord /f olldle 0 casual y with WSI)(Jeted fmctllre of the spil1e as if they \1'('1'(' ill dire peril.
It is difficult at an accident to recognise signs of fractured spine other than pain. D o not wait for them. You may notice the head nskew, held rerhaps by the patient's hand s to prevent painful movements. You cannot hc 'lure of numbness in the limb s and it is even more difficult to be certain of paralysis
FROM CYPRUS
FOR FIVE NIGHTS (midnight Sunday July 21 to 6pm July 26) three Oxfordshire Divisions - Carterton Combined, Freeland and Hanborough, and Witney - were on duty at the Brize Norton RAF Base when evacuees from Cyprus were arriving. During this period some 3,000 people representing 30 nationalities went through the base while the St. John Divisions were on duty.
A report on the operation by Mrs. Shirley H ealey, Deputy County Superintendent, says: 'It is difficult to enumerate all the many jobs our people took on. Perhap s the best thing is to describe the scene on Wednesday night when Lady Moyra Browne and Miss Puckle came to give encouragement and stayed on to work.
'As the first plane of the evening brought over 150 evacuees we all did what we could to alleviate the misery of people who had left England for a holiday - people like the Cypriot family who had saved for years to go home for a visit. After being in Cyprus for only two days the fighting started and they were left with nowhere to stay They said they would never go back. Then there was the young couple whose baby son had slept through four days of bombing and s hootin g only waking to eat. He still slept and they were still able to smile, although the y had no proper footwear and outer
'We tried to raise a few smiles SJA members welcome a young mother and children from wartorn Cyprus (Photo' Alan Walker, Whitney)
clothing. The only belongings they appeared to have was the baby's teddy bear.
'We comforted, gave refreshments, looked after children, tried to raise a few smiles and in many cases just listened to tragic cases with compassion.
'But the operation was not without its lighter moments. Our Brigade County
Secretary. who has a wonderful tan, was twice alTered clothing by other helpers who mistook him for an evacuee. The Carterton
when the casualty is dazed. So suspect the worst and treat it. R emember to prevent movement of the sp ine. Use the g round as your sr linl. Lie the patient down on hi s back if movement is needed at all. Hold the head stil l with a gent le pull on the neck. Keep the legs together, if necessary as we did with Uncle Ja ck. Cover with a car ru g and await the ambulance.
If the casualty is unconscious you r treatment will depend upon the breathing. But that is the subject for another article.
Divisional Superintendent, a burly policeman, was seen walking around the air terminal with nappies in one hand and baby powder in the other looking for takers!
'I feel the words of the Freeland and Hanborough Divisional Superintendent su mmed up everyone's feelings,' concluded Mrs Healey. 'We may not be having much sleep but our moral is at its highest. We realise how worth while our training has been and we know St. John are needed.'
BRIGADE FINAL STANDARDS - IDisappointing'
A DIGEST of Surgeon-in-Chief Col. R Ollerenshaw comments on competitors' standards at the 1974 Brigade Final Competition follows:
Dewar Team Test. Bandaging tending to be sloppy and ineffective. Insufficient pressure to control haemorrhage. The best teams were very gentle and considerate.
Perrott Team Test. Priorities often neglected haemorrhage untreated while suc h things as name and address were collected. One team applied a steri le dressing over a stocki n g. The red road -safety triangle was a mystery one team tried to use it as a splint, but found it too flexible.
White Knox Team Test. Only one team
boarded the stretcher properly and effectively. The pile of timber deliberately included some unsuitable pieces. Examination was generally not good, and there was too little attempt at communication with the casualty. The best team was excellent, but lost marks through running out of time.
Dunbar-Nasmith Team Test. Fractures when diagnosed were insufficiently supported. Signs and symptoms were inadequately sought. The standard of treatment was generally good.
Nursing Individuals. Too often the card was not read accurately or intelligently. The patient's comfort was often ignored. It is not
enough to say that hands are to be washed: they must be washed, and this takes time. Ambulance Individuals. Histories were often inadequate, and reassurance of the casualty was lacking. Available and suitable equipment was often not used. Pressure on a bleeding point must be immediate and adequate. Six people laid the casualty with the nose - bleed flat on his back.
General comment by the Surgeon-inChief. It is a matter for continual wonder that comments such as these should be necessary year after year. This is not the difficult stulT. Surely finalists can get it right?
Quote of the Day. Ring the hospital and tell them your wife's name and sex.
WATCH THOSE PLUGS
from R.
Blackburn, Divisional Superintendent
I should like to point out to readers that the home - made portable spotlight shown in the article Ambulances and their Equipment (part 2) by Brian Rockell (July Review) is of a dangerous nature due to the L3amp 240volt plug top which is fitted.
Anyone picking up this spotlight in the dark could plug it into the 240V mains supply despite the depicted warning and risk a fatal electrical shock due to the lack of earthing and low voltage wiring used. A 12 volt vehicle plug should have been fitted instead. Otherwise r found the article of interest and look forward to simi lar items in future Reviews.
Bridgewater. Somerset
A MIRACLE OR fro m J S. Marshall R. Blackburn
I was interested in B. K. Wallace's letter (Review, Dec. 73) - I've only just seen it - especially his reference to 2 Kings, Ch II. v. 19 -22. I would suggest that water which, if drunk by pregnant women wou ld cause them to miscarry, must contain soluble lead salts. lf sa lt (sodium chloride) is put into this water. insoluble lead chloride is precipitated and the supernatant water (after settling) would be lead free.
Westcl{r(-o l1 - Sea J S. Marshall
MY FIRST FIRST AID
from Mr s. J. M. Mercer, County Superintendent (N)
I was most interested to read (June Review) Mr. Dane's letter about the series of cigarette cards entitled First Aid as my mO ther has a full set of these cards and they were in fact my very first introduction t o the subject prior to becoming a cadet in 1943. Tenterdel1. Kel1t Jeanne Mercer
WHAT WE'RE DOING
from W R. Dun w oo d y, D ivisi o n a l Officer
The article' A Fine Story - so let's tell it!' (Review February 1974) in du ces me to blow our own trumpet a little, because I think our D ivision has a lot of which to be proud.
Caterham Division, in existence for over 75 years. is the oldest Division in Surrey and one of the oldest in the country. It was started in 1894 by Alfred Riley, who was a stern disciplinarian but nevertheless very popular with his men. He was not prone to accidents but prone to 'finding' them. If there was an accident in the district. you could be sure that Mr. Riley was there! Since his death we have had four other superintendents. including the present one. Of course in Mr. R i ey's time we did not have modern ambulances and equipment such as we have today. Transport was a four -wheel wicker litter that two men pushed or pulled. Today we have twenty members in the men' s division and the same number in the nursing division Our cadets. a combined ambulance and nursing division, has a membership of about thirty -s ix.
Our nursing members hold two Long Service Medals and application has been made for three more. while we are proud to have two Serving Sisters.
Four of our ambulance members hold the Long Service Medal and five a re Serving Brothers. One member holds a letter of commendation from the Commissioner -in - Chief. and another the Meritoriou s Certificate
Our duties are many and varied. As well as local duties. over the past few years we have been called to London duties which have included Trooping the Colour. the Lord Mayor 's Show. Biggin Hill Air Show and the Royal Wedding At the Trooping of the Colour in 1972 our unit was stationed inside the grounds of Buckingham Palace R ecently we have also been on duty at Kempton Park race course. Local duties include football and rugby matches. fete s. charity walks. sports meetings. etc. These duties are covered by both ambulance and nursing personnel. In addition our nursing member s perform regular duties at two local hospitals. at a day -centre for house -bound and
READ ERS VI EWS
Readers' views and opinions, which should be sent to the Editor, although published are not necessarily by the Editor or the Order of St John and its Foundations. Although readers may sign published letters with a pen -name, writers must supply their name and address to the editor.
a busy week
VICTOR BODGER of Chester Division tell s us of a week 's divi sio nal activities.
Saturday
We attend a Point -to - Point meeting held on the boundary with Wale s. Wrexham and Chester divisions together provide a Landrover ambulance, another ambulance, a first -aid caravan and nine radio on. each ambulance, a base set continuously manned, and SIX walkie -talkies at the jumps. The Landrover ambulance remain s in the centre of the course until called by radio to a jump , the other ambulance conveys patients to the local hospital, remaining in radio contact.
Photo A sh0:-Vs personnel with walkie -talkies waiting by a jump. Notable casualties: I Jockey with compression, unconscious.
Sunday
We attend a local show -jumping gala. As with mo s t dutie s of this kind there are few casualties. but those that do occur are serious.
Photo B shows ambulance members with walkie -talkie by one of the Jumps. Later a girl was to fall suffering a crushed fracture of the lumber vertabrae.
Photo C shows Chester division 's ambulance en route to the casualty; the nur se attendant radios base giving detail s of her destination.
handicarped people. at nursing homes and assisting the blood transfusion unit when it s in the district; they a lso run a medi cal comfo rt s depot.
As the Re view article says. all of these duties are carried out after members have done their normal day's work. Then, of course, there are the ambulance duties themselves. We have a crew of two men on duty everv evening and all day Saturday. and very often a nur si ng member with them. We are also involved in the County Major Emergency Scheme, whereby certain members are available 24 -hoursa -day in the event of an air crash (Gatwick) or rail mishap, etc.
Our material assets. I imagine, could be the envy of man y a division.
We hav e a fine headquarter s. It consists of two large ga rages on the g round floor and above them a large duty room (which we all use at times). a sligh tl y sma ller room for nursin g member s and at present cadets (but large enough to hold classes or lecture s up to 30 people) There is also a kitchen and toilet. But in the very near future the cadets will hav e their own room which is being constructed from an adjacent air raid she lter. W e have a BMC ambulance which is extremely well equipped with first -aid kits, automatic oxygen apparatus, Entonox and suc tion apparatus. Provision has also been made in the ambulance should we have to carry an incubator for a prematurely -born baby . The ambulance ha s two radios. one for Surrey Ambulance Control and the other for the St. John wavelength. We have a mobile first -aid unit which is a caravan built to our own specifications and acquired by a very generous donation from the mother of one of our older members. Our other vehicle is a long wheel -based Land - Rover equipped as a light cras h - rescue ambulance. which is also used to tow the mobile unit. The Land - Rover also carries two radios.
At the time of writing we have received duty requests for personnel at various functions for the next 3 month s.
Among the 'odd' tasks we have been asked to help at were : two yea r s ago during a power cut a veterinary s urgeon opposite our headquarters was about to perform a caesarean section on a bitch, so we supp lied him with li ght from our vehicle: mother and babie s survived and all was well! At a horse show a horse sustained a severe laceration of his leg and the personnel on duty assisted the veterinary surgeon to repair the poor creature.
As a side-lig ht. the difference in the cost or transport today compared with the 1930 s is hardly creditable. In the 1930s thi s Division charged one s hilling per mile and even this was often waived in cases of hardship Local residents could also ensure a trip to hospita l (as a patient) as often as necessary on the payment of half-acrown a vea r! What will be the real cost in ) 974?
K (1l1ley. SUITer
W. R Dunll'oody
Tuesday, Wed. and Th u rs. Races. Brigade personnel man a first -aid tent to provide cover for Injury to the crowd. They also render first aid to the jockeys but the Local Authority provide two ambulances for this purpose.
Photo I? shows the crowded conditions. almost spilling over into our post, In whIch one sometimes has to work. Many thousand s of people are within a hundred yards of the tent and it can take up to a to walk three hundred yards. Personnel carry walkie -talkies so that we can be in constant touch. The base set is manned by a nurse who came on duty in spite of having an operation only 10 days previously.
Tn the previous year an incident occurred and Brigade personnel. who were at a vantage point. directed the ambulance by radio through the less dense traffic. so avoiding an eight-lane queue and a long delay.
Sunday
The Division provides a tent, ambulance and radiOS A contlOuously manned base is in touch with cadets with walkie-talkies situated at vantage points around the course. In this way adults are free to render first aid while the cadets can concentrate on mctintaining communications. When several mishaps occur in the same race. adults pass details to the ambulance crew , who establish priorities.
Photo E shows the first aid tent, it's a windy day, and the Divisional ambulance tent and ambulance belong and are maintained by Chester DIVISion. The radios are owned by St. John, Cheshire, and are loaned free of charge to any division. The ' no charge loan' ensures that the fullest use is made of the radios.
Photo A .l E , DT
NEWS from SCOTL AND
me di eva l H osp ita ll ers, committed to be the serfs a nd s laves of our lords t he sick and to do a ll we can to a ll ev iate human suffering: and. a lt hough of different beliefs, we are all Chr is tia ns a nd a ll equa ll y under t h reat in an in c reas in gly mate ri a listic and atheistic world.
Second ly th ere are quite a number of people who are membe r s of both Orders.
Third ly there has al ready been fruitful collaboration in England: for some years the Sovereign Order ran an Order of Malta D ivision of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.
W e all want common action to be taken fur t her. How will this be done? I think it shou ld be recognised by us that the British Association of the Sovereign Order is quite sma ll - the Order is, of course, very strong in Catholic countrie - and js already committed to cha ritab le projects which make
OVERSEAS
heavy demands on its members. On t he other hand a large proportion of the Knights of Ma ta live in Scotland or in the far north of England and we shou d, therefore, have beller opportunities for working together than elsewhere, though collaboration can only ever be on a limited scale and perhaps confined to certain geographical areas. It will be for individual members of both Orders to get together and think up plans, perhaps under the aegis of our own regional commitlcss and associations, since there is no structure comparable to our own. And the policy of the Priory of Scotland and the local committees must be to encourage local initiative by fostering contact, particularly on the more social occasions.
I would like to see Knights of Malta invited. as a matter of course, to all our get tOl!cthers. For the closer members of both Orders come to one another and the more often they meet. the more likely it will be that something will emerge of benefit to us and ahove all to the sick.
J.R. S. SOUTH AFRICA SJA member Anne Mabaso (left) and Red CrosS
ORDER INVESTITURE July
251974
CHAPLAIN
The Rt. Rev. Anthony Paul Tremlett, Lord Bishop of Dover (Kent)
The Rev. Canon Joseph Weston Poole (Warwicks)
COMMANDER (B r oth er)
George Dewhurst Chesworth, DFC (Worcs)
Prof. John Kenneth Addison Beverley, DSC, M D, RSc (WR Yorks)
Nicholas George Whichcote Playne (Lincs)
Major Hamish Stewart Forbes. MBE. MC (London)
COMMANDER Sis e r)
Kakia Maria. Miss Pfister. SRN, SCM (London)
OFFICER (Bro t he r )
George Mawson (Co. Durham)
Walter George Hart (Warwicks)
Colonel John Cecil Hewitt, MD. FFARCS. FFARCSI (Army)
James Edward Cotton (Lancs)
Thomas Samuel Hurley (Warwicks)
Lt. Col. David Cecil Weeks. MB. ChB. MFCM (RAMC)
Cdr. Robin Danvers Penrose Gillett, RD, RNR (London)
Walter Stansfield, CBE, MC, QPM (Derbys)
Lt. Col. Henry Quartus Hutchings, MB, ChB, FRCS (RAMC)
Harr) Raymond Dick (Lancs)
Lt. Col. Francis Ernest Ashenhurst, BOS (RADC)
Herbert Frank Cobbold Ereaut, MA (Jersey)
Lt. Col. Richard Kenneth Wingyett Webber (J of W)
Roy William Shiret (London)
Maj. Edward Walter Moyle Magor (Cornwall)
Charles Fisher Donovan, MB. BS. MRCS, LRCP (Birmingham)
Lt. Col. Peter Alan Henderson, TD, MB, BS, MRCS, LRCP. DObst (RAMC)
Col. Robert Price. TO, MB. ChB (Army)
Col. William Stewart Young Mackie, OBE, LOS, RFPS (Army)
Lilian Clara Charlotte, Miss Duckett (London Trans)
SERVING BROTH E R
The Rev. David Leonard Hart (Birmingham)
Prem Nath Rampal. MB (Lanes)
Ian Alister Campbell Blue. DFM. MB. ChB (Cumbria)
Capt. Harold Robson Conway. RN (Sussex)
David John Cheeseman. BSc (Surrey)
Eric Michael James Godfrey (Birmingham)
Harry Tolliday (Lines)
Leslie Edes Pickersgill (British Rail)
Arthur Stanley lenwood (London)
Edward Tisdale (Birmingham)
Alfred George Wall (Herts)
Frank William Warren (British Rail)
Cyril Williams (Cornwall)
Duncan Franklyn Bayley (Birmingham)
James Pall anI (Leics)
George William Wade, BEM (Hants)
Edward John Whitthread (Lanes)
Clive Thomas (Herefordshire)
Gilbert Hardcastle. JP (WR Yorks)
Herbert Roland I farris (British Rail)
Frank Douglas Hine (Birmingham)
Alan Charles Miles (Kent)
John Leonard Hercoek (Lincs)
Arthur Rcnshall (Lancs)
George Alfred Gregory (Derby)
Sidney Leonard Ashford (Birmingham)
Brough Fletcher (Bucks)
Lawrence Peter Hughes (Cheshire)
James George Newcombe (London)
Percy Root (Yorks)
Richard Flint. J P (Lancs)
Frank Leonard Leeson (Leics)
William St. Clare Pattinson (Berks)
Kenneth Charles Frederick Batson (Bucks)
Frederick Lovett. REM (Co. Durham)
Terence John Mundin (Staffs)
Walter Alfred Hoadley (London)
Joseph Snowdon (Herts)
Lt. Cdr. George Brooks. R N (Kent)
Emrys Percy Thomas (British Rail)
William Thomas Francis Newman (Plymouth)
Denis Robert Keirle (London Trans)
GeofTrey Hyman (Derbys)
Ean Manfred Moore (Isle of Man)
Horace William Pepper (Lines)
Terence Edgar Barwell. M B. BS. M RCS, LRC P (Cornwall)
Harry Frederick David Dymond. BSe (Hants)
Reginald Ernest Packett (London)
Stanley Henry Meech (Hants)
Kenneth Charles David Steen, MB. BS, MRCS. AKC, MRCGP (Here'shire)
Michael James Mardon (Leics)
Roland Alfred Cleeve (Hants)
SERVING SISTER
Leila Patricia. Mrs. Bickham (Here'shire)
Dorothy Phyllis Rope. Miss Cook (Birmingham)
Doris Mary. Mrs, Schmorhun. SEN (Bucks)
Jessie. Mrs. Backhouse (WR Yorks)
Emmelille Manon. Miss Pendray (Cornwall)
Josephine Noel Lilian. Mrs. Bunday (Devon)
Doreen Mary. Miss Snelling (Birm'ham)
Eileen. Miss Broadhead (WR Yorks)
Joan
Annie. Mrs. Ravey (WR Yorks)
Winifred. Mrs. Carr (London)
Celia. Mrs. Prideaux (Bucks)
Mary Northwood, Mrs. Varcoe (Cornwall) Sybilla Margaret. Mrs. Williams (Dorset)
News from Divisions/Centres
When the Duke of Edinburgh's groom was thrown from a dogcart at Penrith driving trials earlier this year he was trea ed by 0/0 Kath ly n D. Wilson with Dr Todd (left!. from Workington. (Photo: Cumberland Newspapers)
Pleased as Punch Viscount (Chairman. SJ Council ) and Viscountess (County President) Kemsley with some of the 59 cadets who they enrolled recently at Leicester HO
Recruiting in Croydon. Coulsdon and Purley Division members used a Resusci-Ann on a Furley litter borrowed from HO
DEVON - 4 ambu ance and 4 nursing cadets from Exmouth divisions made their debut on Westward TV recently. They were supposed to be part of the audience watching the recording of the programme 'Young Eyes', w hi ch was being presented by Phil Easton and Gina Rowse.
Concluding an interview with a man on Han g Gliding', Gina then mentioned th e possibility of accidents and remarked how few people know what to do in an emergency. Suddenly Ph il fell to the floor , apparently in a faint. while Gina tried to rouse him. calling 'What do we do?'
This was the cue for Cadet Sergeants Norma Tucker and Andrew Hayward !O rush forward from the audience. With the camera still turning Norma gave first aid and Andrew commented on the treatment be1l1g given.
Compere Phil was duly revived and then examples of bloody wounds. previously made up. were exhibited. The other cade s made brief appearance and the programme was shown on telly a fortnight later.
LEICS. - At the recent NatIonal Coal Board divisions' annual inspection Miss Mabel Freer. former county secretary and a county staff officer. received the 5th bar to her service medal from Commander L. Lee who had just received hi s own 6th bar. 45 years' service. from the County Surgeon. Dr. A. R. Bradley. Mr. Lee went on to present service medals and bars to many well·known Brigade members in the area. A 'familv doctor occasion was the presentation of a bar to Divisional Surgeon Dr. A. Torran ce. of Desford Colliery Ambulance DIVi sio n. and the se rvice medal to hi wife. Divisional Surgeon Dr L. Torrance. of Eilistown Colliery Nursing Division.
Surrey juniors have their own annual weekend camp. See report SURREY
SU R R EY For over 5 years Surrey has been running a county weekend camp for juniors (8 to II yea r s of age). It has been found that this is better than mixing juniors with cadets at cam p as it is then possible to fully cater for younger interests
Thi s year's camp was held on the Bexhill slopes, with plenty of games. nature trails fossi hunting in nearby cha lk pit s. a visit to a railway preservation society, and spo rt s. including a tug of war between parents and adult camp staff. when parents visited camp on Sunday afternoon.
Campe r s and staff numbered 104 just about the maximum for a weekend sueh as this. The camp charge. Friday night till Sunday afternoon, was £ 1.50 a head. Surrey has its own camping equipment.
WILTS - Quadrilateral duty: Members from Corsham Melksham Westbury and Warminster Divisions and two Area Staff Officers (Cadets). Mrs M R. We ston and Mr. G. W Primmer. provided first aid cover at Keevil, Wilts Airfield on the night of July 12/ 13 for the midsummer dance in aid of Steeple Ashton Village Hall funds at which Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen and the Mark Stevens show were the main en tertainers.
Two Brigade Ambulance s from We stbury and Melk sham were in attendance, also a caravan provided by Warm inster Cadet Div Supt Mrs. P Urquhart. Over 2.000 people attended the event and two required First Aid However non medical assistance in the form of directions !O the toilets, emergency repairs to dresses and lighting of the entertainers' tent was provided. Another aspect of 'ready when needed!'
OBI TUARY
Captain Robert George Evans, MBE KSU, JP, Chairman of St John Council, Clwyd South, Priory for Wales. County Commi ss ioner 1949 - 1966. Died July 4 , 1974 in Wrexham
Redhill and Reigate Nursing Division have been given a new meeting room by Mr. Kenneth Brewer (3rd from left!. and family. in memory of his sister, Miss Molly Brewer secretary of the division till her death in 1958
Dr A. Torrance (left) and his wife Dr L. Torrance. both Leics, Div Surgeons with the colour party at recent inspection. See report LEICS. (Photo: Peter Jackson) Bright girls - Sidcup nursing cadets who won the recent S- E Area first aid quiz. Mascot McTavish seems to be enjoying the situation (Photo: Kentish Times)
won quite a few), Southgate juniors and cadets after London No rthern Area
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
ADV E RTISEMENT MANAGERS
Denn is
REVIEW CROSSWORD No 9 ( 74) Comp il e d by W. A. Potter
ACROSS:
I Ai r remaining in the lungs after a full expiration. (8). 5. Superior part of the alimentary canal. (6). 10. Vessel forming an arch in the chest. (5). I I. Used for mopping - up the operation field. (5.4). 12 Muscular layer of the heart. (10). 14. Broken rail is making of untruthful fellow. (4). 15. On which one stands to be reprimanded? (3). 17. Position along a meridian is without restraint. (8). 20. Let ox run wild to afTord high praise. (5). 22. Internal fixation for fractured bone. 0). 23. Bandage giving firm, elastic support. (5). 25. Plot to interest greatly. (8). 28. Turn nut for 252 gallons of wine. (3). 30. Means of propulsion on water. (4). 31. Reason why one has a soft touch ? (4.6). 34 Each aim is to produce localised anaemia. (9). 35. Call up correct in the early part of the night. (5). 36. Jabber to nurse and doctor. (6). 37. Micro -o rganism with broken nail in the earliest stage. (8).
DOWN:
I. Concerning charitable gifts for the kingdoms. (6). 2. Malignant tumour ending in deep unconsciousness. (7). 3. Made a pla y from the story in its dead arm. (10). 4. Cold and chilly state of severe prostration. (5). 6. Waste product of metobolism excreted by the kidneys. (4). 7. Vulgar food regimen for invalids. (3.4). 8. Rebel cut into rounded prominence of a bone. (8) 9. Discharging infected ma t ter. (8). 13. Animal requiring 26 Down for suture material. (3). 16. Serous membrane of the abdominal cavity. (10). 18 . Violently angry like a baby? (2.2.4). 19. Many in a continuous loud noise. (3). 21. Process of scapula forming a joint with the clavicle. (8). 24. Sy mptom suggesting spread of throat infection through the eustachian tubes. (7). 26. Tug back an intestine. (3). 27. One painful lesion of the toes for a fabulous animal. (7). 29. I n ill health. (6). 32. Doctor and prim a te provide sterile surround to the operation area. (5). 33. Liver sec;'c tion aiding digestion of fats. (4).
Grand Prior Awards for Carol Ford and Laura Wolf. Coulsdon and Purley Division from Mrs , M , Baker , ASO About 70 guests celebrated Slttlngbuurne ami
A Anatomical Teaching Models
AT RANDOM
by Watkin W. Williams Deputy Commissioner-in-Chief
' ARE YOU a good Public Relations Officer? ' These are the openin g words of the editorial in the July issue of The Call , th e excellent monthly magazine of the Priory for South Africa. And the writer goes on to say that if you think thi s que stion doesn ' t concern you , please read on , bec a use if you belong to St. John in any capacity , then you are a mo s t important PRO for an equally important or g ani s ation. Every time you appear in uniform , every time y ou act or speak on behalf of the Order or of St. John Ambulanc e, y ou are being judged as the St. John re pr es entati ve for that occasion. Your appearance and yo ur general approach to people and situations are the c rit e ri a by which the casual ob server forms an opinion of th e or gani s ation you represent.
The c a s ual ob server know s remarkably little about us, and the little he know s comes from the things we do and say. a nd th e s pirit and manner in which we do and say them. Personal modesty is a virtue when it involves keeping silent about one s own acts of courage, skill or self-sacrifice: no one admires the braggart. But to be il e nt ab o ut the fact that the whole of St. John ' s service for th e re li e f of s uffering is entirely voluntary and unpaid is a fal se mode s t y that can do a grave disservice to our cause. It is not enou g h that our flag -day emblems bear the words A Volunt a ry Se rvice ' : if we were more positive in making thi s fa ct cl ea r, th e n our friends , acquaintances and bu sin ess collea g ues might see in a new light the many ho ur s th a t we s pend, not only in actual first aid and other duties but also in keeping up to date , attending in structional meetings and , more often than not , paying our incidental expenses out of our own pockets.
cO l1 ti l1 ued o n p 11
EXCITEMENT IN NORTHERN CANADA
by N. C. McClintock, Secretary General of the Order
THE OLD ADVICE 'Go west young man' is out of date. Today the excitement is up north. the far north of Canada. Here, from the 60th parallel northwards right up to the Pole lie s a vast territory hitherto unknown almost unexplored, where now quite s uddenly g reat things are happening. Earlier this year I was invited to go and see this area for m yse lf.
If you look at a map of Canada you will probably not find Resolute B ay. For like so much else in these northern areas it is quite new But here in the snow and ice of Cornwallis Island, in latitude 75 degrees North, is the fourth busiest airport in the whole of Canada. Hardly a moment passes but some plane is not landing there or taking off.
The reason for all this is oil - the life blood of the industrial world. Eve r ybody has probably heard of the great oil field on the north s lope of Alaska; but now oil is being found, and other minerals too, right across the top of Canada and up amongst the islands to the north.
All this new activity, from Fort Smith in the south to Tuktoyatuk in the Mackenzie delta to the north, poses great problems for St John. And the e nerg y and the imagination with which these problems are being tackled deserves the admiration of everyone. The St. John Council for the North West Territories was created only two years ago, on St. John's Day 1972, but already they are doing all the things you would expect and want them to be doing. In the settlements, in the mines, with the steamers on the Mackenzie river and in the capital city, Yellowknife, St. John authority in matters of safety and of first aid is already an established feature of life. First aid manuals have been printed and
distributed in the Indian and Eskimo languages: and instruction by film strip is already well advanced.
But the Council have thought of something more that needs to be done and have quickly taken on this extra task North of Yellowknife virtually all movement is by air. and across this vast territory the skies are constantly filled with aircraft of all sorts from modern jetliners and Hercules freighters down to a multitude of singleengined little buzz -abouts. Which is fine But if one of these planes has to come down anywhere other than in the very few scatte red settlements it is in real trouble. It can be down in snow and ice and sub-zero temperatures and the crew will have little chance of survival.
The plan is to establish across these Barren Lands, as they're called, and the Arctic islands to the north of them, a network of cairns stocked with everything a marooned party would need to keep them alive and fit for several days. Every pilot flying over the territory will carry a map s howing the locations of these cairns and if he has to make a forced landing he will try to mak e it near a cairn. And then, when he is reported missing, these will be the first places to be searched.
On June 18 we established the first of the se cairns at Port Leopold. This is a bleak and barren spot on the north -east tip of Somerset Island, an ice covered bay beneath a towerin g cliff, which is dignified with the name of a port only becau se it gave shelter one winte r to a British Naval expedition searching for Sir John Frankl in But it now ha s a further distinction. For here this year the banner of St. John was flown for the first time north of the Arctic Circle.
the Canadian Armed Forces are fully merged: a ll th ree services wear the sa me uniform usc the same ranks, and serve under a joint command.
From Port Leopold we fl ew across the Barrow Straits to Beechey I s land. The Straits themselves were free of ice and we could look down and see families of whales. six and eight in a group, swimming a long below us. At Beechey I sland we had intended to land on the ice in the bay, but a Polar hear had conven iently gone across it just hefore oLir arrival. and lookin g at his track s our pilot reckoned the snow was a little too 'loft and deep to land. So we put down on the spit instead. This is a wind ,;wept ridge. sloping sharply upwards and with a 100 ft. sheer drop down one side. Disregarding the wind, we landed straight urhill and came to halt within 100 yards. The take off downhill was even faster. Beechey Is and was the forward base for the exploration of the Arctic by the Naval expeditions searching for Sir John Franklin during the last century. and here one day in 1850 no less than ten ships were ancho red in the bay. But now it is as barren as Port Leopold. H ere, however. are the graves of
In the cairn we placed a box bearing the emb lem of St. John. Its contents had been most carefully thought out. There are concentrated food rations sufficient for one man for 40 days: a stove and fuel: first aid and medical stores; tentage and survival blankets of the type developed on the space programme: an ice saw and other tools; huntin g and fishing gear; signalling equ ipment, which includes the most modern flares for night, which go up to 2000 ft. and stay there for five minutes; and a signalling mirror for day use. A radio is impracticable, as its batteries would not stay serviceable.
With us to estab li s h this first cairn was the Bishop of the Arctic, Bishop John Sperry , and after we had built and filled the cairn he dedicated it in a short but memorable ceremony - shor because Port Leopold is not a place to hang around in when the wind is blowing. But we all felt very proud of our Order and grateful for being a llo wed to share in the inauguration of this new and imaginative project. which carries our story and our endeavours anothe r step further forward.
The contents of each cairn will cost about 450 dollars. which the Council has to find. But once estab li s h ed they will be a permanent and va luabl e feature on the map and the authorities will see that they are regularly inspected and restocked.
With us at Port Leopold was the President of the St. John Council, Air Marshal Hugh Campbell: and also the Commissioner of the Brigade. who is the officer commanding the Canadian Armed Forces in the North. Bri gGeneral Andy Fulton, who is known throughout the North as Andy, probably because he ooks far too young to be a General. He is really a sai lor by trade. but
three of Franklin's men who died in 1 and the monument commissioned by Lady Frllnklin and erected to Sir John 's memory by my grand father twelve years lat er. I am h appy to know that these will now be put and kept in order.
Sir John Franklin sai led from England with HMS Erebus and Terror in 1845 to complete the discover y of the North West Pa ssage. All but a few hundred miles of this pa ssage were already known and no unusual difficulty or danger was expected. But he and his men were never seen again and for the next eleven years one expedition after another se t out in search of them. This is one of the great heroic sagas of the Victorian age. a tory of tremendous courage and endurance by the crews of the Naval and other expeditions. both British and American. which took part. Bit by bit the geography of this Arctic archipe la go was stitched together and we now know that after a very successful first season Sir John Franklin sailed south from Beechey Island and into a cunning Arctic trap; and then the door closed tight behind him. In the area near King William Island, an area peculiarly difficult to reach by sea. a stream of heavy
Polar pack ice debouches from McClintock Channel. It never melts; it is quite impenetrable. and a ship caught in it is doomed. Sir John Franklin died in 1847 and thc following year the Erebus and Terror were abandoned and the ships' companies tried to make their way southwards into Canada on foot. But scurvy broke out among them and not a man survived. Flying in clear weather over the area today the whole great stage of this tragedy can he c lear ly seen: P eel Strait, the channel down which Franklin sai led to hi s doom. and the great Polar pack in which he was engulfed. Mercifully. men no longer need to explore these dangerous seas in sailing ships. All is now mapped. every detail of the topography is known, and today we cruise along them comfortably by air. But below the Arctic is still untamed. The climate is still the most severe and cruel in the world and danger is never more than a moment away. This is the scene in which the development of the North has suddenly been ordained and we can be proud to know that St. John cairns will help to curb the danger when it strike.
OVERSEAS CONFERENCE - First Aid Community Training
Brig. Gen. C. J. Laurin read a paper setting out the historical background and subsequent development of the Canadian experiment known as First Aid Community Training for Safety (FACT S) It had been demonstrated that, in Canadian circumstances, widespread safety -oriented first -a id training had led to a substantial drop in the accident rate, both on and ofT the job. Calculations had shown that a I to 3% saving in overall injury costs would cover all training expenses including workers' salaries during training. A sho rt course (4 hours) had been developed, consist ing of work books illustrated by brief films. This could easily be applied to any language and even for illiterates.
The success of the Canadian Orillia project. where a 30% saving had been demonstrated. had led Work mens' Compensation Boards in the remaining Canadian Pr ovi nces to underwrite similar intensive training.
Mr. Coles, the Association Secretary, exp lained how the scheme had been adapted for use in the UK and the way in which the related research was being cond ucted The basic plan was a 'before and after' study within a community. Professor G. R. C. Atherley. H ead of the Safety & Hygiene Department at Aston University in Birmin gha m, has agreed to take charge of the r esearc h necessary to mount a comparable study in the UK based on
intensive first -a id training carried out by St. John Ambulance
The aim was to train as lar ge a proportion as possible and 30 to 40% out of the 20,000 population was envisaged. Calculations on the effect of this training would be ascertained up to 12 months after completion. Indu stria l and home injuries would be included in as complete a form as possible.
Co-ordination with local General Practitioners was essential to assist in this survey and a questionnaire would be prepared to enable relevant information to be compiled. A factory survey, currently being conducted in an engineering works, was nearing completion. Attitudes to first-aid and training were measured and comparisons made between trained and untrained groups. The pilot scheme would be completed at the end of August 1974 The community study would be carried out in Staffordshire in a three year period. This project will be commenced early 1975. The results of this research would be distributed when completed.
Que tioned by delegates, Gen. Laurin explai n ed that training was carried out in company time by either St. John personnel or by company instructors trained by St. J ohn. An 'E mer gency Certificate' was i sued. A sma ll charge was made which helped St. John but saved sma ll firms the expense of film. material. etc. A refresher
course would only be needed every three years. Several delegates suggested that in their countries the 4 - hour course would be insufficient and a refresher needed more frequently. It was stressed that the popularity of the project with trade unions and workers compensation boards was an incentive to companies to adopt the scheme. It was also agreed that tangibre and obvious statistical evidence, perhaps on film, could do much to impress companies even if the figures referred to another country. It was hoped that the World Health Organisation. which had been supplied with information, might produce a report in due course. It had taken 5 to 6 years of hard work. including several approaches to every Compensation Board in Canada, before they became convinced of the val ue of the project The turning point was probably the support of the medical profession.
It was reported that in Hong Kong all factories with more than 200 personnel had by law to provide first-aid cover from their own employees. trained by St. John in company time.
Finally it was generally agreed that the Canadian results so far were overwhelming and that the economic value was the most effective way of presenting the project to industry. Enquiries regarding the research could be directed to the Department of P ychologica l Studies, School of Occupational Behav iour, York University, Toronto. Canada.
Mr. McClinto ck beside the first cairn Beechey Island: the party at the memorial to Sir John Franklin and his companions
The Rescuers
A recommendation for awarding the Life Saving Medal of the Order - as with other life-saving awards - is that the rescuer must have ENDANGERED HIS OWN LIFE.
So we are asking the fundamental question of all life saving:
WHY DO TH EY DO IT?
SKY - HIGH RESCUE
29 -YEAR -OLD Ken Porter a boilermaker with a South London marine engineering company, attended an intensive 4-day first aid course organised by SJ A's London District on April 16 thi s year.
MOUNT AINEERS, it is often claimed, climb mountains because they are there. For the challenge, in other words. But why do people endanger their own lives in an attempt to save others? What prompts, for instance, a non-swimmer to leap into deep water in an attempt to rescue a drowning person? Is it instinct - or a reflection of self-preservation? The press refer to such a person as a hero: ie, a brave man. The dictionary defines 'brave' as someone ready to confront danger. But are they at the time of the action?
It is often assumed that a person has no fear when they attempt to save a life. In the Review we shall try to analyse the thoughts of those who have knowingly risked their lives and - with luck perhaps - survived.
Here is our first true life rescue story. Readers who have been through similar traumatic experiences are invited to send their rescue story for publication.
Rescuer 1
I RESCUED A MAN. Afterwards I received a certificate from my employers. I heard glowing accounts of what I did. But I have never found an answer as to why I did it.
As a result of war service and subsequent operative treatment I was left with restricted breathing , so much so that I could not follow my occupation and found light work as a first -aid attendant. I am fully aware of my disability and physical limitations.
Now to the incident. A man rushed into the first -aid post where I worked saying: 'You'd better get down to the boilerhousea fellow's on the floor. From the fumes.' I immediately thought of asphyxia and tore down to the boiler house.
I have little recollection of the actual journey, which took about two minutes; only that I was thinking over asphyxia and the treatment I might have to perform on the victim, whoever he was , and who I assumed
would have been got out into the fresh air by the time I arrived.
So imagine my surprise when I got there to find the boilerhouse closed , with not a sign of life anywhere. I wrenched open the door to be met by a cloud of vile fumes - and through the haze I saw the unconscious form of the attendant on the far side of the building
I was alone in a deserted part of the works. No immediate help was at hand. And I knew full well of my own phy sical limitation and the danger if I went in there. Those facts were absolutely clear to me.
My mind said: 'Yo u 're a bloody fool if you go in there.' But this was immediately followed with 'If you don t , he'll die .' I went in, fully conscious that the Occupational First Aid textbook says that a rescuer can only remain conscious in such conditions for the short time that he can hold his breathbut that he may wish to accept the risk involved Whoever wrote that chapter knew what he was talking about, for I soon learned that you cannot hold your breath and drag an unconscious body any distance. But after two attempts I got him out into fresh air, commenced emergency resuscitation and got him breathing again. Then I ran for help collapsed and woke up to find myself in the next bed to the boilerman - in hospital.
My wife, who is a trained nurse was and still is furious with me for going into that boilerhouse alone, knowing that the odds of surviving were so heavily stacked against me The action was against all teaching and by luck I collapsed outside and not inside the boilerhouse. It was a stupid action, but why did I do it?
Was it an act of bravado? - There was no one present to impress. Was it because the man was a friend of mine? - At the time I didn't know who he was.
Was it because it was my job? - Not for one moment I assure you.
Was there a cry for help which prompted me? - No he was unconscious - and for
all I knew he could have been dead
Although I do know that If you don't, he'll die ' flashed through my mind, which seems to indicate that in such situations one automatically assumes there is life.
Was it then that I felt no fear? - In fact, I was terrified. My efforts to drag the body up the incline to the door were in frantic desperation and bordering on panic - to get out of the fumes.
Why then did r do it? What prompts a person to knowingly endanger and often throwaway their own life in an effort to save another?
No doubt some will quote beautiful sayings about laying down one's life for others. I had no beautiful thoughts and it could well have been my frantic effort for self-s urvival that got the pair of us out alive
The nearest that I can get to an answer is that I could not face the prospect of ha ving to live with the thought that I had watched a man die without making some effort to save him. So was I really more concerned with my own conscience than with saving his life?
I just do not know.
Asked if I would do it again, I would answer I do not know I am sim ply a human being and human beings do some unpredictable things
Looking back, two things about the incident stand out. I. That I never doubted for a moment the efficiency of emergency resuscitation , although at the time I had never performed it on a human being. 2. That once committed to the rescue there was never the slig htest thought of leaving him. r just had to get that body out. It seemed an obsession. It was a case of sink or swim , together. Thank goodness we managed to swim.
Since that day many years ago I have re suscitated another person and have carried out emergency resu sci tation, without s uccess, on seve ral other people, but in these cases I was never in any danger; I had everything to gain and nothing to lose w.
At 11.45 am on Saturday , May 18 - a month later - a seriously injured steeplejack was trapped on the top of a 180 ft. chimney where Mr. Porter was working. Workman heard shouting and Mr. Porter , with three firemen volunteered to try and get to the injured man by climbing a ladder on the outside of the chimney. This nerve -racking experience took about ten minutes but the worse part came where the ladder finished three feet below the top of the chimney and it was necessary to scramble up the rest of the way Mr. Porter found the injured man lying on a 15 inch wide ledge, supported by a second steeplejack, and suffering from severe internal injuries. At this stage the injured man was unconscious Knowing that one s lip would send them to certain death Mr. Porter assisted to support the man until he recovered consciousness. A little later the man became deliriou s and was difficult to control. To sooth the casualty the rescuers chatted and told jokes Meanwhile, a police radio message had been sent to Bi ggin Hill Air Show from where a air-sea rescue helicopter flew immediately to the scene and the casualty was lifted ofT the top of the chimney and taken to hospital, where he underwent emergency abdominal surgery.
On June 20 Mr. Porter was presented with SJA 's Meritorious First Aid Certificate by Lt. Col. J. Coates, Director Association , London District.
( Left ) The chimney which the steeplejacks were demolishing after the rescue The rescue pany are here coming down the ladder.
(Above) The naval helicopter winching down a crew-man to help lift-off the injured steeplejack on parapet on left.
( Ph otos: London Fire Brigade )
The Meritorious First Aid Certificate being presented to Ken Porter by Lt Co l. J Coates
ciation. (Photo : Post Office)
THE UBIQUITOUS ASPIRIN TABLET
75 years after its introduction, Britain consumes 2,000 tons of this drug a year
by H. C. Stewart, DL, MD, FRCP Depllly Director General,formerly Chief Medical Officer. Association Branch
'DON'T WORRY - I'll be all right, I'll just take an aspirin.' How often have we heard these or similar words? Every day thousands of people rely on aspirin - for their headaches, toothaches, earaches and for many other aches and pains. It is said that, as a nation, we consume 2,000 tons of aspirin each year! This means 6,000 million tablets, or two tablets a week for every man, woman and child.
This drug is taken in far greater quantities by the public than any other available substance. And considering the vast amounts involved, it is remarkable that it is such a trouble-free drug. Two events of great significance occurred in 1899, the final year of the last century, so different in their nature and in their impact on our lives. One was the start of the Boer war and the other was the introduction of aspirin as an analgesic which anyone could buy over the counter. 1974, then, is the 75th anniversary of the introduction of this drug for our aches and pains, one which many would think was indispensable.
Aspirin is one of the salicylates and in many respects it is the most effective. Intere st in these drugs started in the 18thcentury when willow bark, which contains salicin, was used for fevers as a cheap substitute for imported cinchona bark from which quinine was obtained. The reason for trying it medicinally in the first instance was because both willow trees and agues occurred in marshy places and it was for long considered that where a disease was found the remedy would also be found, provided by a beneficent Nature. The word 'ague' was in common use in past centuries, meaning a fever coming in periodical fits accompanied by shivering. This description would suit a number of febrile conditions, especially malaria, which used to be
commoner in this country than it is now.
Before the advent of the powerful antiinfective agents, first the sulpha drugs and then penicillin and the other antibiotics, we had to fight any infection we might catch, and the only help that could be obtained was from good nursing, suitable light and nourishing food, while the doctor treated our symptoms, our pains, coughs, temperature and other things, as they arose.
Patients were usually given a bottle of a salicylate mixture which by removing their aches and pains, and reducing their temperature, did as much as any drugs then available could do to help fight these infections. For the rest, our body's defence mechanisms had to get on with the job.
Aspirin and the salicylates are particularly interesting because of their many actions and effects other than as analgesics for aches and pains, or as temperature -reducing drugs. One of the most interesting and beneficial effects is the anti -inflammatory action that sa lic ylates have. It enhances the analgesic or pain killing action of these drugs, in certain circumstances, and is why they are better in dealing with inflammatory pains such as toothache and earache and in rheumatism than are phenacetin and paracetamol (panadol).
[n rheumatoid arthritis, which worries so many of us in the later years of middle age, the aim of drug therapy is to relieve pain and muscle stiffness and to suppress inflammation. There are many drugs avai lable for this purpose but it is generally accepted that the first choice is aspirin. A high dose is needed, which may cause tinnitus (buzzing in the ears) or indigestion, reasons why some people have to change to another drug. Alternatives are phenylbutazone (butazolidin) but this is more toxic than aspirin. The third choice is
pocket. When very young if I started coughing or sneezing much, he would produce these, but always took some himself - just in case!
To sum up, aspirin is an ubiquitous drug. Few of us have a bathroom cupboard which doe s not contain it in some form or other. Soluble aspirin has some advantages over the ordinary tablet as it should be quicker absorbed and thus act more promptly though those who do not tolerate aspirin well may find that this preparation makes little
difTerence. Aspirin is a valuable drug, quite safe for most of us, and a drug we should find difficulty in doing without. Certainly, if we had to switch to an alternative we should often be worse rather than better off. Some readers may wonder why I'm writing about aspirin, when St. John personnel are so often asked for it on public duty but are not permitted to provide it? The reasons for thinking it worth writing about are the basis for this article. As far as the other problem is concerned, except in a few very special circumstances, only a doctor may prescribe and administer drugs to a patient. He is trained and able to take this responsibility, but what the individual takes from the bathroom cupboard is his own responsibility. Taking any drug is a calculated risk, like crossing the road, and it will always be that way. For healthy people the taking of welltested drugs carries little risk Writing this in the gloom of electricity cuts somewhile ago has given me quite a headache Where's my aspirin!
indomethacin (Tndocid). Prednisolone, which is related to cortisone, is superior to the last and to aspirin in the more severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis. However, these drugs can be much more toxic and disturbing to the body in the long run, which is why a s pirin is preferred for those who can tolerate the necessary dosage.
Aspirin, like many drugs. can cause indigestion, as it is an irritant substance and thus like many other useful drugs should not be taken on a completely empty stomach.
Aspirin is also a common drug in causing a s thma, and can aggravate blood loss in the faeces. It is normal to lose some red blood cell s in this way and in rather more than half of those taking aspirin this los s may be increased. but it only happens at the time the drug is taken and does not persist afterwards. The amount of blood lost is of little importance to the average person and will make no difTerence to their state of health unless they are already anaemic or prone to anaemia due to considerable regular losses of blood as from piles, or in women who lose more than usual at their period times, or for other reasons.
Aspirin has been much used for gout to reduce the pain and inflammation, as it can increase the amount of uric acid got rid of in the urine. It is present in the aspirin gargle which has been used frequently for various types of sore throat and after removing tonsils. Salicylic acid, which is very closely related chemically to aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid), is an ingredient of corn paint which is made up in collodion, because it has the power of softening hard skin and is thus an ingredient of many powders and ointments app lied to the skin.
People do not become addicted to aspirin as they may to many of the more dangerouS drugs. I had an uncle who, [ remember, always carried a bottle of aspirin in his
NO -ONE could ever refer to London District's annual cadet camp as a washout. But this year, on Friday August 9, that's what nearly happened
The 250 cadets from throughout London who arrived at the camp in Totland Bay, Isle of Wight. on August 4 were soon thoroughly enjoying life under canvas despite the dull weather, as organised by Lt. Col. R A. Payne, the commandant, and his 60 adult helpers.
On Friday, August 9 - the weather was still dull but fine - the camp was visited by the C -in -C, General Desmond Gordon, accompanied by Col. H. Lewis, Commissioner for London, and Mrs. D. Hoadley , District Superintendent Nursing.
But as soon as the inspecting party had left, down came the rains, a real deluge. Flooding on the camp meant that 60 cadets had to quit their tents for the night and sleep in the dining marquee, with the tables being used as a dry floor
Lt. Col. Payne said he had not known such bad weather conditions during the 12 years London District had used the site. But reports from the young campers indicate that this temporary washout' only seemed to add to the fun of living without a solid roof over their heads.
(Left) Sun at camp (L to R ) Gen Desmond Gordon. C- in - C, Mrs. Hoadley and Col. H Lewis Commissioner for London (Above) With cadet campers
The weather is still fine for the inspection But one chap (left) seems prepared for anything anything
ST JOHN STATUTES 1974
The new constitutional instruments, the Royal Charter, Statutes and Regulations of the Order of St. John - which have been prepared over the last 2 years by a committee under the chairmanship of the Bailiff of Egle and on which Sir Ralph Hone is the legal member - have just been published.
New members of the Order are automatically supplied with a copy of these instruments, but for other members they are available from St. John Supplies Department, St. John's Gate, Clerkenwell, London, EC 1M 4DA, price 40p a copy.
DAME FOR LONDON
T am sure everyone will be delighted to learn that SJ A London District's Superintendent of Nursing, Mrs. Doris Hoadley, has been made a Dame of the Order of St. John. Mrs. Hoadley, District Superintendent (N) since 1963, has been a member of the Brigade for 33 years.
A Londoner by birth, Mrs. Hoadley lives in Norbury, SWI6, and her husband Walter handles public relations for London District.
POP DUTY
Following the David Cassidy pop concerts at White City earlier this year, Western Area (London District) took adequate precautions when they were faced with first-aid duty at six afternoon and evening pop shows at the BBC/TV Shepherds Bush studio on August 12 to 17. The shows were part recorded in the afternoon to an invited audience, and televised live at about 6.20 pm with film excerpts from the afternoon show.
Western Area, with the assistance of the London Transport Corps, S- W Area, and Surrey's Weybridge Division, supplied a mobile unit and at least three ambulances
AROUND and ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST. JOHN
each evening, completing more than 900 duty hours and treating over 150 casualties, 14 of which were taken to hospital.
The highlight of this exhausting week was on the Saturday afternoon, when together with BBC production staff a number of SJA personnel and police who had helped during the week were invited on stage for the final song of the farewell performance by the Osmonds
FAR EWE LL NORA
On July 22 DSO Miss Nora Moore MBE finally took her official leave of London District Headquarters at a small party in the District HQ.
To honour the occasion the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Group Capt. Gordon Pirie CBE. DL, JP, who is also the Commander of London District, was there to make the farewell presentation.
He said - wearing his St. John hat albeit 'heavily disguised as the Lord Mayor' since he had to hurry off to another civic engagement he was happy to acknowledge all that Miss Moore had done for London District during her 54 years of service to the Brigade. A highlight of these
years was when she was awarded the MBE for her services during the flooding of Canvey Island in 1966; in 1967 she was promoted to Dame in the Order of St. John - the only one (Editor: it was recently announced that Mrs D. Hoadley, London District's Superintendent (N) now has that honour) in London District. When Miss Moore retired she was Staff Officer to Mrs. Hoadley.
Now Miss Moore was going onto the Retired List and the Commander said he was 'deeply proud' of all that she had done for St. John and asked her to accept a present - a radio - as a memento from all the people with whom she had worked at District.
After a short reply Miss Moore cut a cake (decorated with the badge of the Order) which had been made by a member of District staff, Mrs. M. Baker.
HELP F OR WI NG
I hear that one result of the article Dr Mary - Air Wing Pilot (September Review) when it first appeared in the Daily Telegraph was that within an hour of reading it the Westonsuper-Mare Aero Club had phoned an offer to put all the facilities of its airfield at the disposal of the Wing.
And the article I wrote on the Wing's activities for the Telegraph Magazine in July
HOW
' S THAT!
BY THE EDITOR
produ ced a donation of £500 for the Wing from a lady whose father had been a member of the Order.
Thanks everyone.
IN KENYA
Dr. Tudor Powell Jones, Deputy Principal of Caerleon College of Education and Chief Ed ucational Adviser to the Order of St. John in the Priory for Wales, who is still more widely known for his stimulating lectures at the Nottingham conference, recently spent six weeks as guest lecturer at the University of Nairobi, I hear.
During hi s stay he met many members of St. John Ambulance in Kenya and on Au gust 17 he gave an afternoon's training session on 'ways and means of improving teaching technique' to an audience which included Mr. James Foster (Deputy Commissioner), Dr L. R. Whittaker ( Principal Surgeon), Mrs. Anne Everard (Principal Superintendent (N» and more than 20 St. John training officers and lay lecturers. including representatives of the police. fire brigade, railways and industry, It 's nice to know that St. John benefits in this way when any of our specialists travel the world on other projects,
SJ A I N THE SUN
WE'RE HERE!
IN THE ISLANDS
As mentioned earlier, Deputy Commissioner Derek Fenton (London District) and his wife recently won a competition sponsored by the Evening News.
Now back in London, Derek reports:
The holiday was first class in every respect. Trinidad and Tobago has a charm of its own. Although industry there has justifiably increased in recent years, particularly oil, the country has retained its scenic beauty - its miles of sandy beaches where pelicans and gulls far outnumber human beings - and above all the charm and hospitality of its multi -racial people. Tobago is an is land paradise and brought to life everything we could wish and hope to experience on such a holiday.
St. John has been growing in these islands for the last 23 years. Immediately on arrival in Trinidad we were met by Francis Williams -Smith (Director Association) and
3. An
4 Fi sh and friend combine, to make
An swe s: - - are at bottom of next page No cheating.
his wife Annesta, and the following day by Dr Val Massiah (Chairman, St. John Council). Receptions were later held in the temporary headquarters in Port of Spain and a few days later in San Fernando. In Tobago we were met by Mr. Val Martin (Chairman, Tobago Branch of St. John Council) at the airport. The following day there was a reception and inspection at Scarborough, arranged by Corps Supt. Mrs E. Sandy.
Three new Leicester (Co-operative) nursing cadets - the Gurung s sters from Katmandu , Nepal. (L , to R.) Sudhu , 13 ; Supt. Miss Helen Wilford Miss Br adhan, their aunt ; Lata, 14 ; and Madhu , 11 ( Photo Peter Jackson)
It was interesting to hear from Dr. Massiah of his ambitious but realistic p lans for develo p in g St. John activities in Tri ni dad and Tobago. Among these are the building of a new central headquarters on the perimeter of Port of Spain; the doubling of the Brigade membership of 700 in the next two yea rs; and the intensive programme of extending training for motorists, housewives and young people, apart from the important task of setting up Association Centres in the statutory services. Already schemes are under way for training young people in a wide range of practical subjects apart from first aid and home nursing The emphasis on training the younger members is to be app auded, and Dr. Step h en Blizzard (P r incipa l Surgeon) is considering sound ideas on how to retain the cadets on promotion to adult divisions. Let us hope that Trinidad and Tobago will succeed where others have often failed.
The recently appointed Commander, Mr. Ignatius Ferreira, Deputy Commissioner
Surry: Dorking cadets form a guard for Brigade member Garry Butson (he helps train their band) and his bride Ann Winkley. Best man was the bandmaster ; the bride s brother is also in Brigade
Ken Gill and Mr. Arthur Bentley (PRO) have many new and interesti17g plans for St. John and we all look forwaro to hearing the outcome of them in due course
LAST AID
(Being all that a reader can remember of his wartime first aid course).
Haemorrhage
Blee ding fing er: Apply bandage and wind round and round until giddy
Bl ee ding from tr unk : Apply tourniquet. Loosen if patient appears to be coming in half.
Bl ee din g n ose: Apply thumb to lluse firmly and extend fingers fanwise.
Ble e di ng nu isan ce: Apply toe to lower vertebrae.
MY SLlP'S SHOWING
There seems to have been a gremlin at work on the captions of the two SJ A Feltham photographs which appeared in the August
AT RA N DO M
Review, So to put the record straight the picture on page 10 shows a new transit vehicle for the use of the Combined Cadet Division, not an ambulance. And on page 23
the sponsored walk was to buy an ambulance for Feltham Combined Division, not the Cadet Division, Gremlin exorcized, I hope.
Every little helps was the caption was sent with
Here s Div Supt Lancaster nursing cadets Elizabeth Mabson - she does duty at a race - cir c uit near Carnford - when she was asked to enter a stock - car race after driving the ambulan ce onto the track. Looks formidable (as the French say). doesn she? - Wonder how the other cars fared ?
Blee ding interna ll y: Try giving ice to suck. If that does not work, try another patient.
Foreign body in eye
Notify Aliens Department immediately.
Drowning
Try Victor Sylvester's Method in strict tempo.
Shock
Ascertain cause. If very shocking, summon rest of squad,
General
It is usually considered unwise to attempt first aid unless the patient is too far gone to stop you,
SEMINAR
SJ A London District, Association Branch, are organising a 2 -day lay instructors seminar at Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, SW 15, during the weekend December 14 and 15 1974, The seminar, open to qualified lay instructors only (please supply date of certificate with application), costs £7 residential and £5 non - residential; applications - dealt with on a first come first served basis - to London District Association HQ, 29 Weymouth St., London, WIN 4DR (envelope marked SEMINAR) before November I 1974. Have a good talking weekend, M I ND BENDERS (ans we rs) I. Cells: 2 Spin e: 3 Humerus ; 4. Car -p -al bone
The writer of the article concludes: 'St. John needs money - St. John needs people. It is only by publicising the extent of your work, so often taken completely for granted, that the public can become aware of these facts. Only when a mutual understanding between St. J oh n and the pu blic has been achieved can we accept that the goals of our public relations effort have been fulfilled' Thank you, South Africa, for sounding this clarion call so clearly It's a call to which we can best respond by ensuring that every single one of us, all the time, is an effective PRO for everything that is done by the whole of St. John,
To Canada
The Superintendent - in-Chief is away throughout September on an official visit to the Priory of Canada, a visit which I know must be giving all the greater pleasure both to Lady Moyra and to her hosts since Canada was her home during the period from 1931 to 1935 when her father, the late Earl of Bessborough, was GovernorGeneral. In addition to numerous receptions, dinners and other less formal gatherings, her programme includes attendance at the Eastern Canada S1. John Conference at Halifax. Nova Scotia. the Western Canada St. John Conference at Winnipeg, Manitoba, a meeting of the Executive Officers of the Priory in Ottawa, and, finally, what looks like being a three days' gala programme in Montreal: she will also conduct six Brigade inspections - at Halifax (Nova Scotia), Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), Doakstown (New Brunswick), Saskatoon and Regina (both in Saskatchewan) and Winnipeg (Manitoba)
Anyone who has experienced the very real charm of our St. John friends from Canada when they have come over here will have no doubt about the warmth of welcome and generous hospitality with which Lady Moyra is bcing entertained, and I'm sure she is enjoying every moment of her trip. I hope we s hall have news and picturc of <;cveral of these events in later i sues of the Rl'l'iell '.
By the sea
The Times recently reviewed a report entitled Retiring to the Seaside, giving the results of a research project undertaken for
(contd. from page 1 )
Age Concern, in which a geriatric consultant is quoted as saying that health and welfare services for elderly people in seaside towns are strained to breaking point, Bexhill and Clacton being mentioned as extreme examples,
The report continues: 'Though the need for services is acute and though rates are very high, the provision of health and social services is quite inadequate for the large numbers of elderly people living there. The home help and meals -on -wheels services are well below the national average and as a resu lt a very heavy burden falls on the often under - staffed home - nursing service, and upon the general practitioners.'
Of those who move from big cities to the seaside when they retire, the majority do so for the sake of their health and to get away from dirt, noise and traffic. But it's all too common for able -bodied couples in their sixties to be tragically unaware of what their needs and their limitations are likely to be in ten or fifteen years' time, when their joints are less supple and they can no longer cope with a large garden, carry in solid fuel for open fires and do the extra dusting that these entail, or walk - often up and down hillto the nearest shopping centre or even the nearest bus stop, And if they move to a place where they have no real roots, with no relatives or old friends near enough to help in time of need, their situation is made infinitely worse by the acute loneliness suffered by the survivor when husband or wife dies.
This is a situation of which many S1. John members are already fully aware and which they are trying to alleviate. But there is scope for far more help than we giving at present. and I'm sure there are at least some divisions whose members' time is not fully occupied by other forms of Brigade duties and who could bring happiness into the lives of many who are elderly, lonely and infirm.
Much help of this kind, such as keeping gardens tidy and doing little jobs about the house, could - with some encouragement and advice about the right approach - be given by cadets as part of their qualification for Special Service Shields (an incentive to community service which is sadly neglected by far too many cadet divisions).
Despite Shakespeare's statement that 'Crabbed age and youth cannot live
together', the occasional presence of youth can bring sheer joy and balm to the aged, Here is a ready-made project for divisions planning to enter for the Keith Joseph Cup for Welfare, and I warmly commend it to them, especially - but not exclusivelythose who live in seaside places.
At HQ
Headquarters has lately been suffering a serious shortage of secretarial help. The summer holiday season always presents a difficulty, but that difficulty becomes more acute when there is already a shortage of permanent staff, 'Temps', even at their best, are of little use because they're here today and gone tomorrow, they have no background knowledge of, or interest in, what they are writing, and their salaries and agency fees are prohibitive.
At the moment. the Brigade branch is short of a typist, the Overseas branch's parttime secretary has no further assistance to deal with any extra pressure of work, and the Chief Officer for Cadets and Brigade Training is somehow surviving on a succession of 'temps'.
If any of you know of anyone with any secretarial talent and a willingness to use it in the service of St. John, provided that she receives a good working salary but doesn't expect to get rich quick, it's always worth while encouraging her to contact Mr. Laurie Hawes, the Deputy R egistrar and S taff Manager at St. John Ambulance HQ, 1 Grosvenor Crescent, SW 1X 7EF (telephone 01.235.5231), who will be acutely interested!
My own secretary, Margaret Cotton, is at present on holiday, and by the time that you read this she will have returned from her honeymoon as Mrs. James Crawford; and if all goes according to plan I shall have had the great joy of going to Co. Down for her wedding and the special privilege of being met by car at Aldergrove airport by the bride' I'm sure that you will echo my good wishes to Margaret and James for many years filled with blessing and happiness; and if any of you have cause to feel that my correspondence has got a bit behindhand during September, I can promise you - on Margaret's behalf as well as my own - that we shall lose no time in catching up with the backlog.
Buy a gift helpTlie
St.
In the service of mankind
How many ti mes have you heard the words: "St John Ambula nee assisted ? It doesn't matter who they helped. It doesn't matter where: on the roads, on football grounds, in theatres or hospitals. It is just accepted that members of St. John were there fulfilling the centuries old aims of their forebears, the Knights Hospita,lIer of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, by relieving suffering and distress without distinction of race, class or creed.
With the rapidly rising population of our world the demand for the voluntary work of St. John increases daily. So too does the cost and present day prices place a heavy financial burden on the Order and its Foundations merely to maintain their standards of service to humanity.
For this reason new and up-to-date fund raising methods have to be adopted to gain the financial support which is so well deserved and so desperately needed.
In introducing our first ever Mail Order Catalogue of Christmas Gifts and Cards I would earnestly appeal to you, and to your many friends to whom I hope you will show it, to make good use of this scheme.
Please be generous and thank you.
The 2 -page introduction to the new St John Gift Catalogue, printed above , shows some of the work of St John Ambulance together with a letter from the Lord Prior explaining why we have added this idea to our existing methods of fund raising.
In these busy times Christmas shopping by post from the comfort of our homes, is surely a welcome innovation , particularly with the useful discount on goods our agents have arranged for the benefit of the supporters of the Order of St. John and its Foundations.
You can forget crowded shops, parking meters , cumbersome parcels - save the expense of frustrating travel and spend more time on your considered choice. The cost is probably less in the end and at the same time you will be helping the Order and its Foundations to raise urgently needed funds.
There is a section in the catalogue illustrating Christmas cards ,
diaries etc., but do not let this deter you from using throughout the whole year for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings or whenever you require a rather special gift. There is something here for everyone. All items are made to an extremely high standard and many are produced especially for us and cannot be obtained elsewhere. All gifts will reach you carefully boxed or parcelled, ready to be wrapped, and prices include postage.
We need your co -operation to ensure the success of this new venture - so please try to persuade your friends to join in as well. And don't forget to tell them that they can obtain free copies of the catalogue from St John Ambulance Headquarters, 1 Grosvenor Crescent, London, SWIX 7EF.
Geoffrey Meek, Director Public Relations
EVERY DAY FIRST AID
- an easy-to-understand se ri es o f ad v i c e t h at w ill help YOU t o c op e w th FAMILY ACCIDENTS
FALLS
by Dennis Clark, MBE , FRCS
\ JP
blood, vomit or saliva, or due to misplaced ton g ue or tis s ue s of the throat. So important is the need to recognise any obstruction to the breathing passage (the Airway) that some people remember the PRIORITIES as ABC (Airway, Bleeding and Consciousness) instead of BBC (Breathing, Bleeding and Consciousness).
When we fir s assess the severity of an accident we need to recognise unconsciousness immediately. Consider anyone lying still, moving irrationally or even mentally fuddled after a head injury , as someone with impaired consciousness. That is enough for you to get the ambulance. Anyone not moving needs attention to the airway and breathing. Noisy breathing froth at the mouth, blueish lips or finger nails , mean dangerous obstruction to the airway and the recovery position with an extended head must be used Absent breathing or failure of the recovery position needs mouth -
On Raising Funds .
..
to- mouth re s u scitat ion
When breathin g has received attention, bleeding is the next priority. Wounds of the scalp bleed profusely at first but as a rule the blood loss is not dangerous to life. Usually the wound is hidden by hair and blood clot.
Under first aid conditions surgical cleansing with haircut and scalp shavirrg cannot be done. So cover the wound with a clean dres s in g and take to hospital urgently. In fixing yo ur dressing exert pressure around the wound, not on it, for the skull may be dented like an eggshell hit with the bowl of a s poon, or driven inwards like the eggshell fragments hit with the edge of the spoon, and there may be a foreign body in the wound.
Make a rin g- pad to put over the dressing and under the bandage, but a cupped hand over the dre ss ing can be u sed temporarily. Keep your eye on the breathing the whole time. We will need to discuss causes of unconsciousness again but there are some
tips you can pick up now. Do not bother to learn all the stages of unconsciousness Just think of normal consciousness, abnormal consciousness (if a casualty talks nonsense or acts irrationally) and unconsciousness (if there is no movement and no response) Report actual happenings such as the re spo nses to ' Wake up!' or 'Open your eyes' or Put out your tongue' and other simple commands. Bec ause the casualty's condition will change by the time he gets to hospital, write down the events and responses with the times they occur, just as you record the pulse rate.
Remem ber th at an unconscious casualty needs constant tending. Stay with him until you hand on to someo ne qualified to take over your re spo nsibilities . One final warning: a drink will only drown an uncon sc iou s person, so stop anyone who suggests it.
I N THIS SE R IES of articles we have discussed the many differences in the effects of falls. Take head injury for example; we mentioned Toddler, in our first article, falling on to her head and sustaining a mild concussion. But what about William cycling downhill at a mad pace and looki n g round to see whether you we re fo ll owing? He went straight into the back of a parked lorry with its tail flap down and some metal projection on the side board went into his cheek. William was in a bad way; unconscious, face bashed in and a broken jaw.
I t was a good thing that the lorry driver, about t o get in to h is cab, was a keen St. John man and saw what happened. He immediately reached for his first aid kit from the cab and directed one of you to get the ambulance, pointing out where to find the nearest telephone.
Then, while opening his first aid kit, he took a good long look at William. As you were n uniform he told you to notice that William was not moving his limbs which were entangled in the bicyc le and that his b r eathing was noisy. While he spoke he gently cupped William's head in his hands and turned it so that blood escaped outwards from the mouth and face. Then he showed you how to open and app ly a large wound dressing to the cheek without touching the steri e surface. After cutting off excess bandage he next directed you in moving the entang led arm and then the leg from the bicycle. Before you even realised it, Wil liam
was In the recovery position. injured cheek downwards and the blood now clotting escaping without obstruction to breathing.
The driver, satisfied the head was supported, selected some c lean gauze from his kit. wrapped it round his finger and clea r ed b lood clot out of William's mouth, gent ly inserting the finger under the upper cheek and sweeping the clot forward out of the mouth from the lower and damaged side.
By this time the dressing on the cheek was soaked, so another large wound dressing was applied over it and secured by tying the
bandage round the head. Excess bandage was cleverly used to support the jaw. Then the driver checked the pulse rate, breathing and state of bleeding. He spoke to William but got no response
Looking at his watch he wrote a quick report which he handed to the ambulance men when they arrived
I n these examples is the essential first aid for head injury. The immediate serious effects are: unconsciousness due to brain damage and obstructed breathing due to
HEAD INJURY
IN UNCONSCIOUS PEOPLE
Airway blockage from the tongue
Severe face and jaw injury airway blockage from tongue and blood
USE THE RECOVERY POSITION
SPARTICUS RIDES AGAIN
At Haltwhistle, after 80 miles, 40 to go. It's chocolate timeand confirmation sheet to sign
via Shiremoor, Seaton Delavel , Cramlington , Bedlington, Guide Post and Morpeth , was against a head - wind all the way. Poor Sparticus
SPARTICUS (an ambulance member of Northumbria No I Area) , after a stupendous opening victory over the Lyke Wake Walk , turned his attention recently to the small matter of a 120- mile cycle ride in aid of SJ A Northumbria's Co -ordinated Action Group (COAG).
Leaving Newcastle at 6am Sparticus rode his 5 -gea r stallion as it had never been ridden before, for which thanks should go perhaps to Cadet Ian Kirtley who valiantly accompanied him for the first 30 miles of the ride. It certain ly seemed as though the gods were against him from the start, for at about 7am the heavens opened and the wind god blew with all his might. The ride to Belsay,
After saying farewell to Ian, Sparticus battled bravely on despite continuous offers of a lift from his motorised support group. Progres s through Stamfordham and on to the Military road was helped by singing praises to the gods of Mount Olympusand dirty songs. On the Military road itself the wind decided to change direction, to blow head on again. And this caused the s li g ht set - back of having to peddle like to get down the banks.
All g ods are tempted by evil and Sparticus' tempter was in the form of support co-driver J' otTering frequent lifts, but good shall always triumph over evil so Sparticus rode on ig nori ng these fiendish blandishments.
At Haltwhistle, after a near miss with an on-coming van at 38.765 mph, it was a halt for chocolate time, and then to start back for Newcastle along the A69. The ride back proved relativel y free of problems , except when a nurse kept trying to knock Sparticus off his stallion by throwing pieces of Kendal mint cake at him.
Newcastle was rapidly approached, with the honoured stallion reaching a top speed of 41 mph as Sparticus overtook an Imp with a blue light on the top of it. But there was no so und of wailing sirens
On reaching St John House, Northumbria's Sparticus took hot beverages (non-alchoholic, of course) followed by a hot bath, after which he was ready for another adventure.
Oh, by the way - just for a laugh Sparticus did his ride (which swelled COAG's funds) in top gear (fixed).
'tI.nyone UNCONSCIOUS or DIZZY after a HIT HEAD or A FALL ON THE HEAD
GETTING A QUART OUT OF A PINT POT
This adventure holiday just grew and grew
THE ST JOHN contingent - La members from all parts of England - converged on Abergavenny Railway Station at 6pm on Saturday July 6, to take part in a 9 -day adventure holiday at Tan Troed Adventure Centre, Brecon. The last 20 miles of the journey to Tan Troed was completed by coach.
On arrival at the camp we found tented 'villages' (each village accommodating about 50) and to o n e of these we were a llocated as a group. A short briefing from our village leader and then to the stores to draw our bedding. s leeping bags and anoraks - was followed by supper. There was a standard daily routine. Packed lunches (which we had to make ourselves) were p r ovided between 8 and 8.30 eac h morni n g. B r eakfast for our village was 8.40 a n d we were ready to set off for the day's act ivities a about 9.4S It is interesting to note that on the first day, everyone was up. washed and n the packed-lunch queue by 8 o'clock. By Friday morning it was a diffe rent story : roUing straight out of bed most of us arrived to make our lunch at about 8.20!
Last meal of the day was at 6.15pm, un ess a n evening activity necessitated us bei n g ready fo r about 6pm (The young and energetic St. J oh n contingent - with pangs of hunger late in the evenings - were soon successful in finding a local hostelry serving sausage and chips until a late hour!)
We were fortunate with the weatherwith rain on only two days and which did not interfere with our activities.
'Three- i n-one' described the basic activities p lanned for our group - ponytrekking sailing and canoeing. Before the end of the holiday, however, our group had extended this to 'six -in-one', with members also taking part in archery, orienteering and caving. These extra activities took place in the evenings and on the free day midway through the ho liday.
Pony -trekking
On the Sunday morning we met our deputy village leader, Alan, who took us to the stores for our issue of hard hats. Wearing our yellow hats and black/yellow anoraks we looked like a working party for 'McAlpines' - only the shovels were missing.
mount - according to our size. As our heights ranged from Sft 2ins to just over 6ft, it was amusing to see the different styles adopted when, for example, we rode through low hanging branches.
For all but two or three of us, this was the first time we had ridden a horse - a fact sorely brought home to us in the evening after a long day in the saddle and the following morning as we sat down to breakfast. But by the end of the second day we had learned to stand in the stirrups when trotting - and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the countryside on horse-back.
Sailing
We were split into two groups of five and were assigned to two instructors. They took us sai ling in crews of three in Wayfarer dinghies. While one crew was afloat, the rest of us swam in the bay and practised in canoes. Only Stephen Ames (from Suffolk) had done any sailing before, so the rest of us were again starting from scratch.
On both days the wind was ideal - in fact the instructors said we had the best sailing conditions so far in 1974. On Monday evening our sailor Stephen crewed for an instructor in a race while the rest of us started archery.
By the following afternoon, however, the instructors considered that six of us were sufficiently experienced at sailing to take out the 2 - man Gulls by ourselves. We enjoyed this so much that we spent our free day afloat. progressing from the basic rudiments to racing and steering without a rudder. Even though sailing was a little more complicated than our other activities, it proved to be the most popular.
Arc h e r y
This was the first of our evening activIties and one of the few totally new to our party. Tn archery aiming is far more difficult than it looks - at least, it appeared to be for some - for by the end of the evening we had only receded 10 yards from our original 2S yard firing line!
Orienteering
Canoeing
Court Farm, Hole -in -the - Wall, Foy, Rosson -Wye is in a really picturesque setting. It is a converted 16th - century farmhouse overlooking the River Wye, about 4 miles outside Ross -on - Wye, and more important to us it is the canoe centre.
On the free afternoon, however, four of our group progressed with the bow, being able to hit the target at 80 yards. Although the rest of us did improve our aim. much of the time on the archery field appeared to be spent, not on instruction and firing. but on recovering arrows, which persisted in flying over the target! (There were no budding recruits for Robin Hood from our group, other than, perhaps, John Sutton. from Somerset).
Our group was delighted to be invited to take part in the first ever orienteering organised at the camp.
The course consisted of three checkpoints, covering a distance of about 7 miles (as the crow flies). on the peaks of Pen Tir Cefrr Moel and Mynydd Llangorse (all about ISOOft). To add to the fun and arouse the competitive spirit, we made the course into a race. Thus we set off in pairs, at three minute intervals, armed with a map, compass and the three grid references.
It was fairly wild country and quite rough going underfoot - especially for those of us without boots. (Although not mentioned in the brochure. we would advise any future visitors to take a pair of good strong walking boots).
This was one event in which previous experience in map reading was an asset, and we found it great fun. (We understand that orienteering is now to be added to the recognised activities of the centre).
Caving
The four of our group who did not go sailing on the free day spent the morning caving. As they had no previous experience, they were not allowed in the deeper and more dangerous caves. They all thoroughly enjoyed their venture - including the highspeed Land - Rover journey across the fields to reach the caves
Apparently the main difficulty once inside the caves was climbing through the small crevices and openings. Malcolm Prideaux (Devon) told me that it was intriguing to see what shapes their bodies could be twisted into to squeeze through narrow openings.
Rugby
On Thursday evening there was an extra entertainment for many of the camp residents - a rugby match. The teams: SJA and the French versus Tan Troed Tigers (The Staff).
At the stables we received the only instructions we were to get on riding. We were introduced to the front and the rear of ihe horse, and for good measure told h ow to start and stop. Then we were issued with a Afier (he Du(cil Order had 10 cancel a summer camp for members from (he European A lIiance of Orders of S( John (ilrough lack of support, it was arranged for the English group of yo ung SJA m embers go (0 a camp ill Wales. The group leader. lAIN CAMERON, (ells us how (hey enjoyed the alternatil'e holiday.
The staff often challenges lads at the camp to a game of rugby, and we were no exception. We were able to muster 6 players - or should I say 6 who would play - and with a bit of persuasion we were able to make the number up to IS with some French lads who were also in camp. Against overwhelming odds - the stafT included an ex -All Black international a 4times Welsh discus champion, and a number of University players - we were only narrowly defeated by 2 tries to nil. The Tan Troed Tigers had less to roar about in the showers than after their last 44 to 0 victory!
On the Friday morning, we were taken on the SO miles journey by coach to be greeted on arrival by an instructor and shown to our tents. For the remainder of the morning we were free to settle in and have lunch. In the afternoon we changed into boating gear and went to the river bank for our first canoeing instructions.
Friday's session was basically to get us accustomed to the canoes and the water. This took the form of having races, forming rafts - bring the canoes close together and holding adjacent canoes - and having people run up and down the fronts of canoes, and even doing press-ups on them!
Inevitably we had a go at capsizing other people and vice versa.
Canoeing on Saturday and Sunday comprised an L8 miles journey (in two stages) down the River Wye. Nine miles were covered each day; on Saturday a coach took us upstream in order to finish canoeing at the centre, and on Sunday we started at the centre and canoed 9 miles down the river and then returned by coach. To round off our instruction there was a canoeing demonstration on Sunday evening showing the different types of canoe for racing, slalom courses, etc.
With mainly fine weather, canoeing proved a really enjoyable way of seeing the beautiful countryside along the course of the Wye - and we were all sorry when this came to an end.
O h er ac iv it ies
Various other amenities were available both at Tan Troed and at Court Farm. There was a disco or a film show most evenings, and facilities were provided for volleyball , football and table tennis. In good weather there was also the opportunity of a hill walk up Mynydd L1angorse. A coach was available to Brecon for a visit to the swimming baths or for shopping and sightseeing.
At both centres there was a coffee bar which appeared to be open most of the day, apart from meal -times.
Extra canoeing or swimming could be carried out on Lake Llangorse, in the shallow bay between the jetties, without supervision. However the stringent safety precautions prevented people being out on the lake or on the river Wye without trained instructors.
C O NCLU SIO N
The safety precautions on both camps were very good - life jackets were worn all the time on the water - even by the trained instructors. There were three rescue boats on Lake L1angorse; no sailing boats were allowed out when these were unmanned. So even when we did fall in the water there was trained help close at hand.
There was a very friendly atmosphere at the camps, largely due to the staff being most obliging and helpful. Many of them were students either on holiday or about to start work, and so were similar in age to ourselves. As many of the camp residents were young, the staff seemed to appreciate having an older party such as ours to instruct for a change.
In recommending the Adventure Centre to other parties, such as cadet divisions or young adults, we do so not merely because it provides a good holiday , but because it can give excellent practical work in a number of s ubjects for the Grand Prior's Badge. Much of the syllabus of the Boat Work and Canoeing badges is covered during the week, and the orienteering provides really first class practical work in Map Reading. In fact r feel that orienteering would be a most interesting subject to add to those in the list for the Grand Prior's Badge - or at least to incorporate into the Map Reading syllabus. Another subject which we touched upon was International Friendship! A French party
came to the canoe centre with us , and we remained together for the rest of the holiday. It was amazing to see how much our French improved during the week, due to attempts to converse with our companions. While we were at Tan Troed an article appeared in the July St. John Review about just such an adventure holiday. The article concentrates on the aspect that adventure sports such as watercraft and various expeditions are becoming more and more popular and thus demand a knowledge of first aid. The question is posed: Is this the field for our younger and more active member s?
I feel that youth in the Brigade must be given opportunities to take part in adventure courses similar to that at Tan Troed. They would have a really first class holiday, and at the same time acquire that extra experience which would be invaluable when their skills as first - aiders are needed during watercraft, expeditions and camping activities. Better still - let's have a St. John Centre of our own.
CADETS AT WORK
Mirja (lett) helping a handicapped child with pony riding
IS - YEAR -OLD Mirja Durling, a cadet of Wallingford, Surrey, started to help at the Diamond Riding School for the Disabled in 1973 as part of her voluntary service for her Special Service Shield. Today Mirja (pronounced Miria - it's a Finnish name) is still helping at the school, cleaning stables and riding gear, caring for horses, as well as helping handicapped children to become horse - borne. I n the early stages it can take three helpers to keep a handicapped child on the back of a pony or horse. Mirja was at the school when it was officially opened by Princess Anne on May 13, 1974.
On cadet service, Mirja's mother, Mrs. Durling, writes: [ would like to make a plea
to adults of St John Ambulance - will you tell parents of cadets of the various things a cadet can do to augment their hours towards the Special Service Shield and certificates? And will you try to include cadets in more of your duties? It is very difficult to find voluntary work acceptable to SJ A for cadets. I was never able to find any such work for my son John, who has been a cadet for 6 years. With Mirja I've been lucky at the Diamond Riding School. I always think it is a pity. when there is a disabled person in their family, that a cadet's assistance with this person cannot be accepted. For I am disabled and my two children as cadets have been a great help to me
UNIFORM INSPECTIONS
from G. T. Clark, Area Superintendent 11 P e n seroso' (Readers'Views, July) revealed clearly that he is an experienced and enthusiastic competition man, and that is very much to his credit. But I think he should display a little more tolerance towards those he describes as 'middle-aged ex-service gentlemen attracted to the Order ', who come under his lash with respect to competition uniform inspections.
Firstly - if he observes their medal ribbons he may well note by their indicated service that many were St. John members before they experienced military service, and moreover many served in the rank and file of St. John for years before they attained their present senior appointments. Certainly there are quite a few in this category in my part of the country.
Secondly - not all uniform inspections are carried out by 'exservice gent lemen '. I myself have undertaken several, but I have no military experience. I have instead 43 years' St. John service from ambulance member upwards and I know what to expect.
r can assure 11 Pen se roso ' that a brand new uniform cuts no ice with me. and T always explain this when I conduct an inspection. My decisions are taken solely on its cleanliness and appearance and in the correctness with which it is worn in relation to other items of equipment. A nell' uniform can be carelessly adjusted and un - brushed. therefore as far as r am concerned a well looked -after uniform twenty years old can merit top mark s.
Strange as it may seem, I see that II Pen se ro so' hails from Bath, and when I judged this year's county competition uniform inspection in that part of the world - 10 and behold - Bath City Division won! Glollcester G. T. Clark
AND THE CHURCH
from Mrs. J. M. O'Neill
r was very interested in the August At R andom paragraph about bringing the Bri gade and local church congregations together - for my division has already made considerable headway in this field. Our first 'venture' was the dedication of our ambulance, which r hope will be reported elsewhere in this issue We invited representatives of the clergy of the three main denominations , and the ceremony was very impressive.
After this se rvice the local rector offered to conduct any service we wished. so well before June 24 I contacted him and he said he would make the existing evening Holy Communion Service on that day into a St. J oh n service for us.
The divi s ion joined in the service and the rector had even gained permi ss ion from the Bishop for other denomination s to take communion if they wished.
Since thi s event one of the clergy has contacted me to ask if there was a film about the history of St. John Ambulance - as they would like to show this at an evening service in lieu of the se rmon. I naturall y jumped at the opportunity and the required film has been ordered and will be shown at St. Faiths Church, Ha vant. at 6 30 pm on Sunday October 27 1974. Local divi sion s have been informed. but anyone else reading this is more than welcome.
I agree with Watkin Williams that connections between us and the local churches are a good thing, especially when we can make the service interdenominational.
Hal'al1l 1. M. O'Neill
ON DISPLAY
from Mrs. Angela M. Smith, Divisional Superintendent
Together with other local organisations, we were invited to enter a display to commemorate over 800 years of the Borou g h of De vizes.
I went to St. John's Gate where I was kindly loaned costumes and written descriptions of costumes with s ketche s, which I coloured and mounted on free standing boards
The costumes I mounted on window models and made heads to fit them. The costumes were: Knight of the Order , monastic dress. 11th
READERS VIEWS
Readers' views and opinions, which should be sent to the Editor, although published are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor or the Order of St. John and its Foundations. Although readers may sign published letters with a pen -name, writers must supply their name and address to the editor.
to 16th century; Knight of the Order, military dress, 12th to 13th century: Sister of the Order, Buckland sister, 12th to 15th century; and Nur s ing Si s ter, 1890 to 1920. The mounted sketches were of ambulance and nursing cadet uniforms, 1922 (the first cadets); ambulance cadet uniform 1974; and myself in officer's uniform 1974.
The S -da y display was very well supported by the public, who also made some very ge nerous donations in our collecting box.
Also on the displa y table was plenty of pUblicity material - and a member was on dut y there all the time from lOam to 8pm.
D ('l' i: es Angela M. Smith
COUNTY NAME STRIPS
from Miss J. Hayton, Divisional Superintendent
As a member of a division which has recently become part of a new county. feel compelled to express some protest against the unavoidable expense we have had to incur on new county namestrips for uniforms. At 18p per pair and at least two pairs for each member. a s ubstantial bill had had to be paid, which makes me question whether this expense should rightly be forced upon those divisions who happened to be affected by local government boundary changes. while others more fortunate have been spared both the expense and the nuisance value of stitching new strips into place.
If Brigade HQ were so sure it was necessary and beneficial to match St. John boundaries with those of local government. it would have been an appreciated gesture on this comparatively rare occasion if they had offered to issue replacement strips free of cost.
K('lIdol J HO I IOII
AID MAN
WREXHAM SJA DIVISION, under Mr. T. J. Hu g hes, formed a mobile aid unit in 1969 to provide a disaster se rvice for that part of Denbi g h s hire and to improve patient care at the Divi s ion' s increa s in g number of public duties. In fact. it also encouraged a closer working relationship w ith other divi s ion s in Denbi g h shire and the sur roundin g counties.
Unit
Our unit con s t s of two caravans co mpletely s tripp ed of conventiona l fittin gs and re cquipped with the followin g O ver head s torage space, wa s hing facilities. str etche r entrance. examination and treatment areas. Both caravans have conventional gas fittin gs but one ha s been converted to electricity with the addition of a porta hI e gene rator. so both are independent of fixed powcr s upplie s. Th e towing vehic le is a Land - R over ambulance conversion which on site acts as a rescue vehicle: it ca n also be used as a road ambulance W c are hopin g to add two road amhulance in the near future.
Communications are provided by a radio network operating on national wave - length, thu enabling us to work with any other divi s ion' s equipment. Two hand and three sho ulder scts. together with a 40 -foot extending aerial, g ive a wide operation range.
I n addition t o a very comprehensive firstaid kit our caravans have specialised sterile packs for intubation. s uture and cut down; infue;ion equipment is also available When our mcdical officer is in attendance emergency drugs are included. Oxygen and suc tion is provided by two Stephenson's minutemen We hope, howevcr, to provide independent s uction as the asperators on the se units have their limitation. Both caravans have Vickers folding bags and airways in case of emergencies.
Personnel
The unit is under the contro l of Mr. T. J. Hu g h es. our Divisional Superintendent, and Dr. Morgan. our Medical Officer. Three State Regi s tered nurse are responsible for the medical reception of patients in the ahsence of the medical officer and also for the equipment of the units. A transport officer is responsible for the ve hicl es Our divisional sec r etary is responsible for the radio equipment, together with co mmunication and inter -divisional liaison. We have two teams of amb ulan ce and nur s in g members. with the active cooperation of sen ior cadets. Bein g a quadrilateral division enab le s us to combi ne thc right amount of fir st aid and home nursing to the advantage of the patients. Althou g h it may seem th at individual member s havc bcen given specific duties. all members are trained to be int er -changeab le in their jobs.
FORWARD MEDICAL UNIT
SJA Wrexham has been operating one for 5 years
Duties
Arart from normal dutie s at which individual members or part of the unit is required. the whole unit was in attendance at no Ic s<; than nO duties in the year 72 -73.
Working of the unit
When arriving at thc location of a duty the caravan is cs tabli s hed. the base radio set heing left in the caravan with the aerial fixed to ite; side. One SR is left in charge with a nursing member. and a senior cadet to act as clcrk. If the duty r equires extra accommodation the second caravan or a tent is used. The establishment of members is then proportional.
The Land - Rover ambulance, with a radio. is e;tat ioned either with the caravan or at some strat eg ic point: This is crewed by the tran port officer and. if available, a second S R Th e remainder of the team is divided into scc tion s each section h aving a radio
All messages are directed through the base set. while dialogue between the portable sets is di sco ura ge d.
Should a n incident occur the section involved reque t a ny assistance they require.
Th e officer in charge can then direct other
members of sections and/or the ambulance to thcir aid. If the ambulance is required, on ar ri va l the crew wi ll relay information enahling a decision to be made regarding disposal. eithcr by direct transport to hospital. to the caravan for further treatment rrior to tran s fer to hospital. or for t reatm ent rrior to di sc har ge. All patients taken to ho s pital are followed up to give us feed - back, so important if high standards are to be kept.
Patients treated
As with any unit. our's treats a percentage of trivial injurie s: trivial. that is, r ega rdin g body area involved. But our members are instructed that all injuries are serious to the people involved.
eurogenic s hock to an elderly patient with a laceration can be equal to a severe fracture in a young, fit patient. As most of our work is in connection with horse trials and motor -cycle racing, the ratio of fractures is apprcciable. But most of them are minor fractures. It is our experience that no fracture is s imple. We do, however, have our s hare of open. complicated fractures, notably chest and head injuries.
During the season, carn ival s demand much of our time. and odd ly enough Morr is dancing (over enthusiasm?) produces the majority of patients at these events. Once 28 dancers were treated in one and a half hours, most of them being brought in on stretchers. It is impres se d upon our members that all unconscious patients, regardless of cause, a r e at air - way risk. A surp risin g number of medical conditions are to be found in the ranks of dancing troupes - congenital heart diseas e . epilepsy and diabetes have come our way.
LAUGH WITH DAN, THE FIRST
D. Symes Dil'isionol Nursing Officer
NEWS from SCOTLAND
THE PRESENT economic crisis affects us as a charity just as much as it does everyone e lse Roarin g inflation, high interest rates, shortage of credit and the collapse of the stock market - these may well throw the best thought -out schemes into disarray and make it very difficult to plan rationally for the future. There are of course no easy answers to our difficulties and it probably would be better if this sort of discussion took place when the situation becomes clearer over the next eighteen months or so. But I think that meanwhile there are three things that we should keep in mind
The first is that in a crisis of this sort there are bound to be casualties and it is for the help of all unfortunates that we exist. We are never more needed than when people are being improverished and thrown out of work.
WALES
Isle of Wight camp
On a beautiful mid - August day 156 officers and cadets arrived at Stoats Farm, Totland , to spend 8 days on the Isle of Wight for their annual camp The Commandant, the Chief Training Officer for Wales, Mr. J. P. Harries, welcomed everybody at the official opening at which cadets from all parts of Wales including Dyfed, Glamorgan, Powys, Gwynedd were represented The mornings in camp were devoted to specialised training sessions in camp craft , map reading, casualty simulation, with an examination at the end of camp.
On Sunday the camp was inspected by Colonel Webber, Commissioner of the Isle of Wight, followed by a service conducted by Rev. V. Pilott, a local chaplain. Trips for campers were arranged to Ryde,
At th e best of times the welfare state cannot cope with all the medical and soc ial problems that exist in our society and it is not lik e ly to perform any better when its se rvice s are being st retched. We must, therefore. keep a proper sense of responsibility and recognise that in these times we have a special and important role to play.
Secondly we must not worry too much about what will happen to u s: many times in the history of the Order of St. John the world ha s expe rienced crises of this kind - and hoth the world and the Order have survived.
We are a Christian Order and should pay especial attention to the ur gi ng of Christ not to pa y too much attention to future needs Tomorrow will take care of itself; our job is to care for today.
Thirdly, we must really try to resist the well - meaning but s hort -s ig hted temptation to ' put money by'. What r hav e to say is a per sona opinion and one I have touched on in the past. Of course when a particular sche m e has been planned it is right and proper to put aside the sums need ed to pay for it: but 1 hear occasionally of moneys tored in deposit accounts for 110 particlllar purpose in the belief that this action is prudent.
W e are not a family or the state - we are a charity and s hould be putting our cash to the best use, which in a period of innation means spending it. Saving with no end in view shows little faith and anyway reduce s the force of our appeals to the public. We shou ld spend or commit to future spending every penny we ge t a nd then beg for more That is the Christian and also the economica ll y wise thing to do.
Newport, Blackgang Chine, and b y boat around the Needles. Among visitors to the camp were a g roup of officers and cadets from Ventnor Division and the Asst. Chief Com mi ss ion er for Wales assigned to Cadets, Lt. Col. E. R Nanney - Wynn.
M eet Dan
IN THE early hours of the morning 76 - yearold Dan Connolly from Newport is a familiar sig ht at the Royal Gwent Hospital , Newport.
For three nights a week he spends between s ix and seven hours at the hospital in his capacity as a member of St. John Ambulance, helping out in the wards, the operating theatres, casualty department, or wherever he is needed.
But Mr. Connolly takes it in his stride. He has been a member of St. John Ambulance for ove r fifty years, ever since he left the army after the first world war, and he proudly wears his long se rvice and Serving Brother medals from the Order beside the six army medals he gained from serving in two world wars.
As a ve r y fit and healthy 76 -year -old Mr. Connolly can be see n regularly at Newport Speedway as a member of the St. John Ambulance team and at many other local events.
When he joined the St. John Ambulance Brigade there were so many enthusiastic members he had to wait hi s turn to go out on a job with a first - aid team.
Over the yea rs he has seen his fair s hare
of gruesome acc ident s and injuries that would horrify and up se t most people.
H e was in Bristol during the fir st air raid in the seco nd world war, he has been on the sce ne of car crashes and indu strial accidents, and he ha s watched young drug addicts brought into hospital time and time again, only to finally be brought in dead. But all the time he has had to keep calm and cope with true professionalism
'As lon g as you have a job to do you are all right', he said.
'T he depression comes if you are just standing about not allowed to do anything'.
During the air raid in Bristol he remembered that two nurses with him had been so horrified by what was happening they felt there was nothing they could do to help H e told them just to get on with the job and not think about it otherwise they would be in a worse state then the casualities.
'A sc hool had been bombed, but if you had thought about it you would have gone off the deep end', he said, 'You must forget the individual and treat it as a body. I know it might sound callous but that is how it is'.
Mr. Connolly has never been one to sit about doing nothing. He started work in the pits when he was 12 , although officially marked down as 13, and during the first world war spent part of his time with the early Air Corps. After the war he joined the railway as a fitter, with a brief spell in the Ro yal Engineers during the second war, and only retired when he was seventy,
Now he ha s a job as a lollipop man
And great grandfather Mr. Connolly earns nothing but praise from fellow members of St. John for his lifetime service to the community through first aid.
OVERSEAS
SOUTH AFRICA
Pielerse
Divisional Superintendent
Jesshop. (Photo : Daily News and Sunday Tribune)
Dan Connolly , 76 , has been riding a bike since he was 10 __ Photo: South Wales Argus)
Divisions/Centres
n' s new a mbul a nce was d edi cate d rece ntl v a ft e r a tri -d enom in a ti o n a l se rvice d urin g w hi c h th e R o m a n Ca th o li c pri es t <; !1nk e ve r y authoritiv e ly o n th e wo rk of th e Rr iga c.ic. held a St. F a ith s C hur c h. H a va nt. S ee R EAD E RS VIEWS
OBITUARY
Mi ss Elsie Gladys Marshall. Joined Brigad e in 194 8 a s Count y Secretar y continuing to 197 0 a nd th e n beca me Secr e tar y to th e J o int C o unt y Co mmitt ee a nd liai so n to F.WDH W essex until h e r d ea th o n Sc rt e mh e r 20 19 74. Offi ce r Si s ter o f th e Or de r
Dr Alexander M. Pollock, Sur geo n. Tunhrid !!e W ell s Ambul a nc e Di v s io n 1928A7 Om ce r of th e Order. Di ed Au g ust 3 19 74. Gun - shot wounds, ammonia b urns and fain ti ng we re the resul o
VISUAL AIDS
REVIEW CROSSWORD No. 10 (74) CompiledbyW.APoner ACROSS
I Greek snake the editor took firmly in hand. (7). S. Bad ague fit leaves one exhausted. (7). 9. A salary increase to get out of bed. (S). 10. May precede spots. burn, and stroke (3). I I. Palindromic doctrine. (S). 12. Garments manufactured from a coarse, cotton fabric. (6). 13. Physique for games. (8). 16. A condition treated by chiropodist for fruit. (5). 18. Glands discharging their secretions through ducts (5). 21. Pain in the hip and thigh often due to herniation of an intervertebral disc. (8).22. Variation of lease for classroom or studio. (S).24. Card appearing before it is inflammation of the heart. (8).26. Little devil's performance produces a collision. (6).29. Drug used to contract uterus and check haemorrhage at childbirth. (S).31. Assume a recumbent posture to deceive. (3).32. Tremulous sound (5).33. Strange pairs in analgesic. (7).34. Superlatively wealthy with chest from Rhode Island. (7).
DOWN:
I. The French form of major epilepsy. (5.3).2. Foreigner has a spleen. (5). 3 Inflammation of a lung (9). 4. Do the directions combine to give the amount of drug to be administered? (4). S. Di sease in which no s tructural change can be found in the affected organ. (10). 6 Complete answer to the addition. (S). 7. Trap an ardent spirit. (3). 8. OtTer temptation. (6). 14. Musical sounds produced from wrong notes (S). IS. Antibiotic which may be nice in pill. (10). 17 How unpleasant events happen. (S). 19 Fever affecting the fibrous tissues and often permanently damaging the heart valves. (9).20. Thrombocyte. (8). 23. Disorder clears tough. outer coat of the eyeball. (6).25. Bury the body. (5). 27. Nimble age about 49. (S). 28. Rent secretion of the lacrimal glands. (4). 30. Opening a centre to general practitioner. (3).
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD No.9 (74)
ACROSS:
I. Residual: S. Gullet: 10. Aorta: II. Gauze swab: 12. Myocardium: 14. Liar: IS. Mat: 17. Latitude: 20. Extol: 22. Pin: 23. Crepe: 2S. Intri gue: 28. Tun: 30. Oars: 31. Hand lotion : 34. Ischaemia; 35 Ev.ok.e: 36. Needle: 37. Germ.inal.
DOWN: I. Re.alms: 2. Sar.coma: 3. Dramatised: 4. Algid: 6. Urea: 7 Low diet: 8. Tubercle: 9. Purulent: 13. Cat: 16 Peritoneum: 18. Up in arms: 19. Din: 21. Acromion: 24. Earache: 26. Gut: 27 Uni com: 29. Unwell: 32. Dr .a pe: 33. Gall.
The SJA Mliiti /Iledia Appraisal Panel, which comprises doctors, nurses, firstaiders alld l'is1lal aid experts, is one oj the officially appointed panels oj the British M edi ca l A ssoc iation, its reviews being published in the SMA 'Illforlllatioll'.
III 1972, the Guide to Films and First A id was published (available from Supplies Dept. 35p pills postage). Soon it is hoped to publish, wi th th e kind assistallce of th e British Life Assurance Trust, a co mprehensive multi -media guide to material 011 .fi rst aid, nursing and allied topics.
FIRST AID FOR THE HORSE 16mm films. Hire, £4.40 each part.
Town and Country Productions, 21, Cheyne Row, London, SW3 5HP
Part I: First Aid for poisons. digestive disorders. colic laminitu abrasions. wounds. etc.
Part 2: First Aid for bleeding , puncture wounds, eye injuries and sp rain s. etc.
The panel considered these excellent films which cover their subject with authority: they clearly state the principles of fir st aid and both instruct and interest the viewer; furthermore , they cover new ground.
Strongly recommended.
Audience: Although primarily for rural areas, you ng farmers' clubs and those interested in riding, these films also have value to St. J ohn members attending race meetings. etc, and to all St. John cadets. For St. John first aid meetings as a topical 'fi ller' .
IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOU
16mm, colour; 10 minutes. Hire £20
EMI Special Film Unit, 2/4 Dean St, London, WI V 5RN
Thi s film shows the technique of emergency re s u sc itation with the object of enabling la y per so nnel to act correctly in a cardiac arrest emerge nc y in the absence of anyone medically trained
The panel conside red this a good film that attains its objective of teaching the public at large that the technique of emergency rcsu citation may eas ily be learned. It differs slightly from recogni sed tC[lchinp. in the number of he a rt compressions and lun g inAation s.
Audience: Suitable for exhibition to the general public.
LEPROSY
16mm, colour; 35 minutes. Free loan
Lepra, 50 Fitzroy Square, London, WI
Thi s film shows that leprosy is the lea s t well - understood of any major diseases. possibly because of association with m yt h o logy. Althou g h leprosy is increasing it can be controlled and cured by known methods.
Thi s film s aimed at students, to encourage them to choose lepr osy as their field of re sea rch. and to illuminate the problem of lepro sy to all.
The panel considered this an excellent film The panel 's professional members were unaware of some of the medical content of thi s produ ct ion and the whole panel was unaminous that the film s ucc eeds in helpin g to dispel some of the ignorance and superstition that surrounds leprosy. The film is up -to -date, informative, instructional and beautifully prod uced.
Audience: This film demands as large an audience as there is of universal interest.
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
MOORFIELDS EYE HOSPITAL City Road, London, EC1 V 2PD
Candidates accepted at the age of 17 years as student nurses to undertake an 18 month course in opthalm ic nursing.
On successful completion of the course awards of Moorfields Certificate and Medal are made. Comfortable residential accommodation
ALL REVIEW READERS!
Due to the recent closing down of one London periodical wholesaler, and another in London and throughout the provinces which will cease to handle the Review after the September 1974 issue, some readers who have their copy delivered by newsagents may have difficulties in getting their Review.
The Review is still being handled by other wholesalers. But to ensure a GUARANTEED delivery of current and past copies by post we suggest readers order direct from REVIEW SALES, ST. JOHN AMBULANCE HQ, 1 GROSVENOR CRESCENT, LONDON, SW1X 7EF.
Annual subscription £2.50, including postage.
AT RANDOM
by Watkin W. Williams Deputy Commissioner-in-Chief
Wood Cottage, High Corner, Butl ey. Nr Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3QF Phone: Orford (SId 039 451 548. Editor Frank Driscoll.
l\OVE RTISEMENTS W Mayes Ltd
G9 Fleer St London, EC4 (0 1 ·353 444 7 and 4412 1
Price 20p monthly £2. 50 per annum, including postage, from Review Sales, St John Ambulance.
1 Grosvenor Crescent, London S W1 X 7EF
COVER:
Seeing eye- to eye in th e Brigade. 7-year old junior Jacky Mason. of Mid Glamorgan'S Penrhiwceiber Cadet D,v,s,on meets Commissioner Reg Riggs during the annual IJ)spectlon (Photo. John Wright. Aberdare Leaderl
THE FOUR WEEKENDS that have passed since last I wrote At Random have been full of stimulating and exciting events in my own personal St. John life. During the first weekend the Chief Nursing Officer and I paid a delightful VISit to Colonel and Mrs. Peter Hilton (respectively Commander St. John Ambulance and VicePresident for Derbyshire) on the occasion of their annual St. John Ambulance conference at Chesterfield. I was particularly interested to find that Derbyshire had been invited to end a St. John first aid party to attend the fortnight's camp of the local units of the Army Cadet Force, to maintain a round -the -clock cover of the camp's fir s t aid post and sick tent. The invitation was accepted with some trepidation, but those who attended came back with tremendous enthusiasm about the friendly relationship that they had established with the Army Cadets, many of whom met St. John Ambulance for the fir s t time and became genuinely interested in first aid training. Similar arrangements have in the past been made at Scout camps in other counties, to the mutual benefit of both organisations, but this is the first time that I've heard of our being invited to send a first aid party to an A.C.F. camp, and I ho pe that Derbyshire's pioneer contact with the A.C.F. will be further extended and developed elsewhere . (Editor: See Around and About, page 10). The second weekend was spent, as I forecast last month, attending the wedding of Margaret and James Crawford at Holywood, near Belfast, and it was the happiest forty -eight hours that I can remember spending for many years past. Not only wa [deeply touched at being treated almost as an honorary member of the bride's family, but it was wonderful to meet, amongst a va t gathering of family and
Cliff Rescue!
'I couldn't get up and I couldn't get down ... and the tufts of grass I was hanging to were giving way'
SJA GUERNSEY has been very busy this year rescuing people trapped or injured on the island's cliffs. Up to the end of August they had been called to 6 incidents, involving a total of 9 people and 2 dogs.
Typical of these rescues is the following report taken from the files of the Transport Department:
On Sunday August 12 holidaymakers from Guildford three found themselves in difficulties on the coast at Les TicIles, an area notorious for its dangerous and loose cliff face. The ambulance station was alerted shortly after 3.30 pm and a fiveman team led by Area Commissioner R. H. Blanchford were quickly on their way to the scene.
On arrival at the incident one man was seen to be about 20 ft. from the cliff top and in danger of losing his grip. Two others were on the beach 280 ft. below, one of whom was believed to be injured. The overall situation
was assessed and a radio call made req uesting the immediate assistance of the St. John Inshore Lifeboat.
Transport Corporal Keith Fothergill, equipped in a rescue harness, was quickly lowered to the casualty stranded near the cliff top. He assisted the man into a second harness and thence to safety.
Keith was then lowered to the two men on the beach, to examine and treat the injuries sustained by one of them. Fortunately these proved to be not serious, and all three clambered over the rocks to await the Inshore Lifeboat which had meanwhile been launched at Portelet Bay, some 5 miles to the west. In heavy swell, it was making its way to Les Tielles. On arrival, Transport Member Colin Bartie, the coxswain, skilfully manoeuvred his craft into position by using a surging wave and enabled the two casualties with Transport Corporal Fothergill to leap aboard. The craft then returned to Portelet.
The casualties, describing to their rescuers what had happened, said that they had descended the cliffs some distance away and scrambled along the rocks of the shore line. They then decided to climb back to the top. 22-year -old Peter Parsons, who was in the lead, got stuck on the sheer cliff face just below the level of the footpath. He said: 'I couldn't go up and I couldn't get down. 1 was clinging to two tufts of grass and I could feel them giving way. I shouted to the other two not to follow.'
Graham Reeves, 18, who was behind him, then missed his footing and slithered 100 ft. down the cliff to the beach, sustaining extensive abrasions to legs, hands and stomach. His partner, David Abrahams, also 18, safely scrambled down the cliff to help him.
The three casualties were taken to hospital for a check up, saying 'they were lucky to be alive .'
The two casualties and their SJA rescuer (white helmet) start wading through heavy surf to a rock from where they could be taken off by the SJA inshore lifeboat
The second casualty leaps for the boat as T Cpl Keith Fothergill prepares for his jump (Photos: Guernsey Press)
Here come the boys of OCHOS
RIOS
A TOUCH of the warmth and colour of the Caribbean came to Britain for 2 weeks during September when the fife, drum and bugle band of the Prospect Cadet Training Centre at Ochos Rios, Jamaica, which is run by Sir Harold Mitchell, a Knight of the Order of St. John, visited this country for the first time
Founded in 1956, the Centre trains 14 to 18 -ye ar -old Jamaicans academically and musically. and they are all SJA members who do pub lic duties with St. John in Jamaica The majority of the students leave the Centre to join the Jamaican government services; some go on to take degrees at Ame r ican universities; two have taken courses at the Royal Military School of Music in Eng land.
During their stay in Britain the 24 cadets, in yellow, black and red ceremonia l uniforms. played at St. John's Gate, the Tower of London. the R oyal Naval College, Greenwich. at Leicester, Bristol and in Hampshire
The Brigade
Open, Closed and Young Adult Divisions
THIS discussion was opened by the Commissioner -in -Chief, supplemented by the Deputy C -in - C on Open and Closed Divisions and by the Superintendent-in-Chief on Young Adult Divisions.
On Open and C lo sed D iv ision s the Dep.C -in - C thought it important to avoid any suggestion (eg by using the word 'versus') that there was a conflict between the two types of division . There were in fact two different kinds of closed divisions - those in public services such as the police or .1ationalised industries, and those in schools, factories and so on. Closed and open divisions should be complementary to each other, and closed divisions in the public services were a valuable source of lay
instructors. Members of open divisions, on the other hand, had much wider opportunities for extending their experience as first-aiders by working with people of a different age, sex or walk of life from their own. There was plenty of scope for both kinds of division.
In the general discussion of this part of the memorandum (which had been circulated by the C -in -C) the following were the main points developed.
(a) Members of closed divisions often found difficulty in complying with all Brigade requirements as their normal day -to -day functions were too demanding. In particular they were not easily available for public duties outside their own service. But closed
divisions should make every effort to ensure th at their programme of training and of service to the community was as nearly normal (ie s imilar to that of open divisions) as po ssi ble.
(b) In expanding th e ac tivitie s of the Brigade among th e ge neral population and getting open divisions sta rted the closed division s already in exis tence could give most valuable help.
(c) In Ni ger ia the aim was to get away from a ri g id demarcation between open and closed division s. In Malta too , it was hoped to abolish the distinction between open and closed divi sion s.
On Young Adults the Superintenden t-inChief said that the problem of how to retain membership of the Brigade when cadets became adults was universal and had been tackled in various ways in different countries. Thou g h Student Divisions had not solved thi s problem in Britain , the 'Cr u sader Divi sion' in Canada appeared to be working well. She felt that some thought ought to be given to the question of what would happ e n to the remaining (o ld er) member s of the Division s who might be too few to constitute a division if all the younger
members were formed into separate 'Young Adult divisions. It wou ld of course be impossib le to dispense with the services of these o lder people who have more free time to cover day public duties.
In New Zealand members of children's divisions, starting at the age of 8, carried on through all stages and progressively took the appropriate certificates until at the age of 19 they were fully nedged ambulance/nursing members. They were in combined divisions and carried out public duties as cadets without adult supervision. Tn the UK only cadets over 16 we r e allowed to perform public duties unescorted by an adult. Other delegates expressed interest in this system of continuous progression
Several delegates emphasised the importance of giving cadets more varied interests instead of concentrating wholly on first aid and nursing training. 'Outward Bound' type courses were suggested as one possibility. Reference was also made in this connection to the wide variety of subjects for which cadets could obtain Proficiency Certificates towards the Grand Pri or's Badge. Other subjects have recently been added to the list which is under constant revision.
Anothe r point discussed was the keeping together of family groups in 'quadri lat e ral divisions'. Opinion was divided on thi s, some delegates feeling th at the you n ge r member s of the family might wish for g reater independence among friends of their own generation. It was stressed that the formation of a combined di vision (whether adult. cadet or quadrilateral) did not imply that a ll sections would always train together. The adults and cadets wou ld in fact very se ld om do so; but they would benefit from the solidarity of belonging to the same unit , thus reducing the risk of wastage at the cadet upper age -limit.
Delegates a lso mentioned that cost of uniform discouraged parents from allowing their children to become cadets. The gene ral view was that - something ve r y si mple , eg shorts and shirts, with the St. John emblem, was all that was necessary. In Sri Lanka a rm bands alone were found sufficient and were universally recognised. Local fund r aising efforts can often raise money to pay for uniforms.
On Brigade structure generally, emphasis was placed on the importance of having adequate divisional headquarters and
secretarial services, though it was recognised that in the developing countries this would not a lways be pra cticab le at present. It was also important to ensure that information sent out from London to national headquarters in count r ies overseas (eg about training manuals, types of equipment available, etc) should be widely circulated among the Bri gade officers likely to be concerned.
The fo rm ation of combined divisions , whether adult men and women, boys and gir ls or all four (or any other combination), was a matter to be sett led locally as might be most appropriate to each co untry 's ci rcumsta nce s Ther e was already authority, in the rntroduction to Brigade Regulations , for making any necessary modifications to the R egu ations to adapt them to local ci rcum sta n ces. If however there were divisions composed of both sexes it was most impo rt ant that there should be an officer of each sex in the di visio n. In particular, expe r ience has shown that if there are only male officers, the importance is apt to be overlooked of ensuring that the nursing mem bers recei ve pr oper training in nursing and take their annual re -ex amination in nur s in g.
The march past begins
Bedfordshire SJA on parade
CORPS and Divisions of SJA Bedfordshire, under their Commissioner the Hon Arthur Lawson Johnstone, had a fine day for their annual parade at Ampthill Park on September 29, when they were inspected by Deputy Commissioner -in - Chief Watkin W. Williams a n d t h e Chief Nursing Officer Miss Rosemary B ai ley.
Presentations made by the Deputy C - in -C
included the Life Saving Medal to Ambulance Member Bert Lathwell, of Vauxhall No. I Division , for attending the wounded during a terrorist attack on Athens airport. ASO E. A Millward: certificate for 45 years B rigade service. Grand Prior badges : Nursing Cadets Cherry Channell, Susan Russell and Sharon Turner. Vauxhall Corps Surgeon D r K. N J. Pocock: Service Medal. Corps Officer R Hayward and Div.
Supt. D Cutts: Warrant s (Vauxhall Corps).
CSO A Nobl e: 4th S erv ice Bar.
After the presentations, the Deputy C-inC and Mi ss Baile y were eac h presented with a sma ll pre se nt from the Brigade in Bedford s hire by A/Cadet Mark Clark and N/Cadet Tracey Sedlier.
The da y was ind eed a St. John 'family' affair, the s ubject of the Deput y C-in-C's s hort s peech.
Chief Nursing Officer
Rosemary Bailey inspecting nursing members
The three Grand Prior badge winners (L. to R.l Cherry Channell. Susan Russell and Sharon Turner Well done. girls!
I KNEW
The Chief Training Officer of the Association recently received the following letter from a member of the stafT of Harrods, the London store: I would like to thank you and your colleagues for the time and patience you showed last week in training us in elementary first aid.
It did not seem probable that I would put th at training into practice so soon. but on Monday last at 7 am I was on a bus going to work when, at the junction of Lambeth Road and Kennington Road , a mini van and a Cortina were in collision and the driver of the van was flung into the road. On hearing the crash, I looked out and saw a man rolling over and over in the road. I jumped ofT the bus and ran over to him. He was not injured but unconscious.
With the help of a passer -by, I managed to get him in the approximate recovery position. He regained consciousness quickly and when the ambulance arrived he was able to talk.
Although what I did was insignificant, I KNEW WHAT TO DO , and I'd like all of you at St. John Headquarters to know that at least one of your pupils was able to repay a little for his training.
I'M HERE
Welcome to Natasha Browne, one of the latest additions to the St. John family, born on September 18, 1974. On behalf of readers of the Review we send our warmest congratulations to the Superintendent-inChief Lady Moyra Browne on becoming a grandmother and best wishes to her son and daughter -i n -law, Natasha's dad and mum.
SAW At the Scarman Tribunal held in London
AROUND and ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST. JOHN
recently to enquire into the Red Lion Square political demonstrations, Deputy Commissioner Derek Fenton (London Prince of Wales's District) and Area StafT Officer Rob ert Hutton (Surrey) gave evidence.
Following the evidence, Lord Justice Scarman paid tribute to the voluntary work of St. John Ambulance and its members, particularly at this demonstration as those on duty had earlier in the day been on another duty at Trooping the Colour.
Others expressed their appreciation of SJA. including a special thanks on behalf of the family of Kevin Gateley. the student who died in hosp it al after the demonstration.
WE REMEMBER
A new venture was tried in Kent in September, I hear. when some retired officers and members of the Brigade were invited to a get-together and tea at the Maidstone home of the Commissioner and Mrs. Percival. The only disappointment of the afternoon, however, was that the guests were unable to wander in the beautiful garden because of the appalling weather. But in a very short while the conversation was buzzing - with Brigade events over the years being recalled, photographs produced and the updating of information on friends ntMtM8fR, Ruad accidents can be !Ike YON!
BY THE ED ITOR
and relatives.
Durin g the afternoon the Commissioner, Mr. R. H. Percival, joined the part y and at one stage it was worked out that between them the 31 St. John members present had completed 890 years of service.
DOWN UNDER
A member of Kent's Westgate Division, Cadet Officer (R) G. T. Dixon and his wife are on a visit to their daughter and so n-inlaw. Mr and Mrs. P. Hawkins in Australia. Mr. P. Hawkin, an ex - member of the Westgate Division, is in charge of the SJA Barmera, South Australia.
Father -in -law Mr. Dixon has been joining in SJ A activities while on the visit. He has acted as a patient on drill night and attended a competition that took place on the bank of the Murray River at Loxton, where he was asked to present the award to the winning team. The casualties in the test were a water skier, who got into trouble and was brought ashore unconscious by the driver of the boat. and a girl friend who became hysterical.
On another occasion, Mr. P. Hawkins arranged with the local hospital for a practice emergency evacuation of the hospital. Mr. Dixon was one of the seventeen volunteers who took part as hospital patients. The Barmera mem bers, attending a drill night and unaware of the arrangements, were informed by radio that the exercise was on. and that patients had to be transferred from the hospital to the St. John Centre. The exercise was performed very efficiently, with blanketed stretchers being laid out at the Centre to receive the patients as they began to arrive in two ambulances.
When Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins (she is a Corp StafT Officer) are out on cases, Mr Dixon takes over the radio, for the whole of the amhulance service of South Australia is manned by St. John personnel.
Mr. Dixon and his wife are staying in Australia for nine months, and are due back in the UK on February 4, 1975
CRASH!
MIND BENDERS
Find the fir st aid word or words in the clue. The number of letters in the answer is given. To get you used to the idea, I'll give you the first answer.
C LUE : Two girls o n your knee (3,4).
ANSW ER: PAT ELLA. O K .?
I. Ro
2.
3.
4.
Answers:
GIFTS
I hear that members of Association & Brigade units in South Essex met at Southend -on -Sea Division's Headquarters on August 6 to receive gifts of equipment valued at over £ I ,000. This was made possible by a generous donation received from Mr. H. Langdon Dowsett, OBE, JP , who is President of the South Essex Centre of the Association. Mr. Dowsett and his father and grandfather before him, have long been connected with medical charities in the area and, in fact, the family can claim to have been concerned in the foundation of three major hospitals in the district.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. J. Bird, County Director (Association) for Essex, who was supported by Dr. M A Weller, County Commissioner, and Mr. E. A. Harris, Area Commissioner for South Essex. Unfortunately, Mr. Dowsett, the donor, was precluded from attending as he is recovering from a serious illness but the gifts were handed to Centre and Divisional representatives by Miss Irene Field, his personal assistant.
It was Mr. Dowsett's wish that his donation be applied to the purchase of everyday working or training equipment.
WHAT'S COOKING?
173 Norfolk cadets and staff were in camp at Holkam Estate th is summer , with cooking done over open fires
Seeing what s for dinner during the informal inspe c tion are (R to L) Mrs. G. Shaw, Dty. County President Brig. F P. Barclay County Commander and Commissioner and Mrs D L Lloyd Owen Coun ty Supt. (N). (Photo: Eastern Daily News)
THEY ALL KNOW HI!
Ross -on- Wye Ambulance Division 's first annu al ball was organised during September by Er ic and Wendy Jones, here greeting the cabaret star. TV's Diane Darvey of the Benny Hill show
Divisions were allowed their choice, with the result that items handed over ranged from resuscitation models to slide projectors, and blankets to ambulance tyres!
WITH THE ARMY
Div. Supt. (R) W. V. Savage and his wife, who is Area Nursing Officer, of Letchworth , write:
My wife and I recently spent a very interesting fortnight with the Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force at their summer training camp near Thetford, Norfolk. The area has several camps; we were at Wretham A, while Somerset army cadets were at Wretham B camp. The medical centre, which serves both camps, comprises a large reception hall , treatment room doctor's room bedroom, usual offices and telephone. We worked with the medical staff which included a medical officer, Dr. Kerr from Taunton, an ex-
with a £200 cheque from St. John in Dorset.
(Photo Evan Jones, Dorchester)
RAMC Sergeant Major, Mr. Ba iley fr om
Bat h , who was in camp with the Somerset cadets, a Ro ya l Corps of Transport driver with a Landrover Army ambulance, and an RAMC medical orderly.
Re s pon sible for the he a lth of about 840 Army cadets in camp, we were supplied with drugs , ointments , antibiotics, pain -relie ving and pla stic s kin sprays, etc.
We treated 562 patients - for stomach upset s , blisters, athlete's foot, stings, rashes, headaches , colds 'flu, burn s, eye infections, cuts, wounds, exhaustion, suspected fractures, one hair -line fractured skull, and one diabetic coma caused by the c hange of environment. After first -aid treatment some cases were se nt to ho s pital for X -rays, s uturing and observation.
We were on dut y at 8 am for sick parade; lunch at I pm , fini s hin g at 6.30 pm, but we were alwa ys on call.
It is a wonderful opportunity for anyone in St. John to be able to put their knowledge to the test and bein g at such a camp means an immense variety of cases, a mixture of
Worcester's Mr. George Chesworth member of the SJ Council and Association county secretary, is congratulated by Sir Gilbert nglefield , Chancellor of the Order, after being invested as Commander, St. John
first aid and home -nursing. There is something very heart -warm ing to see a boy hobble out of the centre with a relieved grin on his face, having been brought in very frightened and rather tearful with a suspected fracture.
We were taken to one of the battle training areas to see some of the boys and their officers getting ready for a mock attack; another time my wife was taken over the assault course. In all we had a most instructive and happy two weeks, making new friends, looking after the cadets and, we hope, maintaining the St. John reputation for service.
Hertfordshire and Somerset Army Cadet Force have asked that we attend again in 1975.
MIND BENDERS (answers) jUIll d '17 P iiUl1:l
Dedication of Preston Corps' first ambulance during the summer
other guests, so many St. John friends from both sides of St. George's Channel. Jt was a lso a very moving experience to see the magnificent way in which life goes on normally in the midst of all the difficulties and dangers that our friends in Northern rreland have come to accept as part of their daily existence, and to find - for example - that at the protestant church that I attended on Sunday morning, while the large congregation joined in earnest prayer for a peaceful and compassionate end to the strife in their own land, the main theme of their intercession was the victims of the hurricane in Honduras. Margaret and James have now returned from what I gather was a marvellous honeymoon in the western highlands of Scotland, and it's a tremendous relief and joy to me to have got my secretary back once more.
Raindrops
Then came a weekend which included two events, of which the first was the opening by Mr. Alfred Morris (Minister of State for the Di sab led), supported by myoid friend Bishop Trevor Huddleston, of the David Livingstone Hostel at Harlow, about which I wrote in At Random last Ma y. [t was a tremendously inspiring occasion which s howed what can be done by people who ca r e for the genuine welfare of those members of their local community who are deprived of their full endowment of health and stre ngth
The second event was the Bedfordshire County Review at Ampthill Park. with a sp lendid turnout of St. John members on parade and a trul y wonderful sup porting presence of man y distinguished friends of St. John from all over the country, the whole programme being covered by Anglia televi sion news cameras. It was a bitterly cold afternoon for Michaelmas Da y but the sun shone nearly all the time and much amu ement was caused when a passing raincloud threatened us and the band, playing a se lection of incidental music during the in spection. instantly switc hed to ' Raindrops keep falling on my head'!
For myself. the climax of the afternoon was when I was asked to present the Life Saving Medal of the Order in Silver to A I M Bert Lathwell, awarded in recognition of his gallant rendering of fir st aid under fire during the terrorist attack in the transit lounge at Athen ai rp ort last year. I was also immensely interested to pay a brief visit to Bedfordshire county HQ which must surely be one of the most historic of its kind, being lhe actual building described as the Interpreter' · house III Bunyan' s 'Pilgrim's Pr ogrc s'.
And fi n a II y , a n e x h a u s tin g but exhilarati ng visit to the Regional Training Day for Officers of Cadet Divisions at Cambridge, attended by at least a hundred
AT RANDOM
(contd. from page 1)
officers and prospective office r s from six counties - Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridge. Hertford and Bedford. The main theme was Livening up the Divi sio nal Programme '.
Although the event was described as a 'conference' under my leadership, what in fact I did, with the sp lendid co -operation of mem bers of the six county staffs, was to turn the whole gathering into cadets for the day and make them carry out, in sma ll groups, all sorts of activities which, having per so nall y experienced them, they could then take home and adapt with their own cadets.
It was a pretty massive exercise to ca rr y out with so large a number, but think they enjoyed it, and I'm quite ce rt ain they were livened up!
One of the best aspects of a tra inin g day of thi s kind is that it enables officers, o nce in a way, to let their hair down and get in volved in a little bit of 'co ntrolled lunacy' - N.B. emphasis on the word controlled! - and to discover it i a stimulating means of putting acros some really worth-while training.
At the end of the day T drew their attention to the fact that r myself had done very littl e all day except wander round watching them. ll 'hich is what eve ry good superintendent should be doing at a wellplanned dit'isional training evening. instead qf doing el'erything himself; but it's o nl y possible if he s pends a great deal of time beforehand in careful planning of the programme and in training his helpers and delegating tasks to them.
The other th ing that r pointed ou t was that in a programme which (excluding meal
ATTENTION-
ALL REVIEW READERS!
Ir anyone tell. vou they can't get the ReView. tell them the) 'rc not trYing At lea t. they're not trying the nght rlacc R EV IEW SALES, ST. JOH AMBULA CE HQ GROSVENOR CRESCENT. LONDO SWIX 7EF.
Annual woscnption IS (2.50. including po tage. Bull- orders (f, or more copies) ror Sl. John units in the U.K. 171' a copy. Including postage.
Wc\ ·c hcnrd rrom vnnous pans of the coun tr y that readers arc haVing dimculty in getting cop ie s through nCI\ <;age llt. 0 ORDER DIRECT FROM US.
times) lasted for four hour s they had only spent just ove r an hour watching and li steni ng, and the whole of the rest of the tim e they had been working in s mall groups - mo st of it not even discu ss ing but actually DOJNG and doing things that were novel, stimulating, purposeful, interesting and, above all, enjoyable.
Our magazine
I was very so rr y to read in the September issue of Crosstalk, the Red Cross counterpa rt of the Review , that it was ceasing publication with that number. The reason given was that the magazine had clearly failed in it s object of communication, because so few members su bsc ribed to it and it was being produced at a greater financial loss than was justifiable. Crosstalk was a good magazine, and the fact that it ha s now ceased to exist will be a genuine loss to the cause of vo luntar y work in· first aid, nursing and welfare which is very sa ddening to us all. For many months past, we in St. John have been faced with a problem similar to that which has faced the BRCS , and we have been trying to solve it in every conceivable way. At the moment, though still producing the Review at a loss, we have managed to redu ce that loss to a figure which we consider is justified by the benefits to St. John that our contin ued publication confers. But the future of the Review is by no means sec ure unless we can considerably increase the number of o ur su bsc riber s. Someone recently paid us an unsolicited tribute by saying that the Review is a quite outstandi ngly good magazine which no division - and indeed no member - can affo rd to be without, but that we are still suffering from the fact that for many years it was deadly dull a nd that during that time a vast numb er of our members simply wrote it ofT and have since then never bothered to find out what it is like today. I'm sure that it could be still further improved but without more subscribe rs and more contributors we can't car ry out th e improvements that we should like to int roduce.
With the sad disappearance of Crosstalk we have now become the only magazine of ou r kind in existence in thi s country and our survival as a means of communication has become even more important than it was before [t 's no exaggeration to say that that surviva l depends o n YOU who already read it making it better known to others who don't, and making a really determined effort to increase the number of our subsc ribers I f you sha re my view that this is something re a ll y worth while, ple ase throw your weight behind our efforts to increase our sa les as well as our readership, so that we may continue to provide a really useful mea n s of co mmunication between all members of the St. John family working in the Ser vice of Mankind.
Londonderry cadets Colin Willsher and Robert Burke re ce ive a plaque from th e Deputy Mayo r of Londonderry for the Commander SJ Birmingham before leaving Northern Ireland to join 10 other cadets invited by SJA Birmingham to their annual ca mp in N Wales (Photo: Londonderry Sentinel)
Retired : Dorset CSO Mrs Dorothy Booth , SJA member for 35 years , St John Council secretary since 1961 , and county secretary for past 10 years - with County Commissioner Major- Gen R J Moberly who presented Mrs Booth
EVERY DAY FIRST AID
- an easy-to - understand series of advice that will help YOU to cope with FAMILY ACCIDENTS
BURNS
by Dennis Clark, MBE FRCS
Minor burns
WE HAVE all had minor burns. We have all felt the pain and have seen the skin redden and blister. We may have been comforted by cold water on the burn. We may have applied a waterproof sterile dressing left undisturbed for five days and , if we did we know that a minor burn can heal without a scar .
We have all suffered from sunburn areas of skin , red swollen hot , itching and tender due to unwise exposure to sunshine. Most of us have appreciated the soothing effects of Calamine lotion and the benefit of a good night s rest.
Serious burns
These minor burns or scalds are suitable for home treatment. All others must be referred to a doctor even sunburns if they are accompanied by headache or other symptoms of ailing One or two examples will illustrate this point.
Toddier grasped the red hot iron while helping' Daddy at some soldering A shout went up and the hand was snatched away , but small area s of skin over the pads of the fingers and palm were white and dry The child, crying lustily ; allowed her father to put the hand under a gently running cold tap.
ot her parts of the body as well. That is why it is important to move severely burned casua lt ies to hospital quickly before t he full degree of shock develops. It also means t h a t careful fluid r ep lacement by sips of water ca n be a ll owed as a fi r st - aid measure in such cases.
(3) The third diagnostic point is to note the part of the body burned. In deep burns th e freely moveable parts (hands, limbs and eyelids) may be deformed by scars. A very sma ll burn on the eyelid is ser ious and on the eye a threat of b lindness. Burns of the mouth and throat threaten breathing and will be considered with chemical bu rns.
Treatment
Diagnosis
cold water to que n ch the fi r e a nd to r elieve pain even after h o t mate ri a ls, in c lud in g smoulde r ing c lothes, h ave b ee n re m oved In mino r home accidents th is me a ns im m e rs io n of t he burn in co ld wate r , in a b owl o r u nd er a cold stream from a ta p o r a r ece pt acle.
Cold compresses, app lied re p eate dl y, m ay b e used if mo re convenie n t. Wh ateve r t h e method, maintain coo lin g t r eat m en fo r te n minutes.
The ess ential fir st a id fo r s kin burn s fr om heat is illu str a t ed by the se e xampl es but further di s cu ss ion o f di ag nos is a nd tr ea tm e nt s w a nte d ( 1) In th e d iag nosis o f a burn di s tin g u ish bet ween 's urfac e burn s w ith redn ess and bli ster s a nd ' dee p burn s in vo lvin g th e w h ole s kin thi c kn ess w it h white o r c harred h a r d s kin or s kin co mpl et e ly d es tro yed , fo r d eep burn s he a l w th sc ar s. Burn ed ar e a s m ay not s h o w th e full d a m age imm e diate ly; s kin t hat oo k s n o rmal ma y, wi thin an hour o r so, d eve lop re dn ess o r bl iste r s a nd w h at was a pp a re ntl y a s urfa c e burn ma y later d evelo p nto full t hickn ess s kin d a m age.
(2) A seco nd d iag n osti c n eed is to d e te rmin e , if poss ibl e, th e e xt e n t o f the burn in ord e r t o e s tim a t e th e de g r e e of s hock li ke ly t o de ve lop la er. Sh o ck , a par t fr o m th a t du e o t h e initi a l fr ig h t a nd p a in, d eve lo p s la t e in b u rn ed s ubjec t s. It de p e nds la rge ly o n th e le ak age of b o d y fluid s o n t h e s urface o f th e burn s o r into t h e ti ss ues from th e bl oo d vesse ls. Th is co nd iti on is not co nfin e d t o burnt a re as but will occ ur in
The burn s were small limited to the pads, but the s kin was white , probabl y burnt through , and therefore might heal with a crippling scar A dry dress ing was applied and Toddler was taken to hospital quickly. The s e small burns needed hospital attention becau se resulting scars , which occur when skin is burnt through , could cripple the hand. Larger burns are sent to ho s pital becau se shock , proportional to the area burnt , can develop dangerousl y Take an example Grannie went to bed one evening with her blanket under her. She forgot to turn i off before going to sleep In the night she woke very hot and ran g her alarm bell. There wa s a s mell of singein g and , as s oon as the bedclothes were lifted, s moke appeare d The electric plug wa s pulled out, Grannie was remo v ed and water wa s poured over the now disconnected but s molderin g blanket and bed Safel y in another room Grannie was found to ha v e redne s s of most of the skin behind the calve s, thi g hs and buttocks w ith blisters here and there She was in pain but her general condition and pul se wer e good Tran sfer to ho s pital wa s arran ged by a ' 999 call for an ambul a nce. While waitin g, clean p illowslip s wet with iced water were applied to the burn t s kin. The se we re repla ce d b y a cl e an dr y s h e et as Granni e was tak en on a stre tc h e r t o th e ambulanc e.
(
I) Immediate treatment depends on the cause. 'Remove the cause', whether it be heat, electricity, or chemical agents, by smothering quenching or moving the ca use a n d t he casua lty apart. Heat burns require
(2) First -aid dressi n gs, beca u se t h ey a r e tempora r y, should be d r y a n d s m oo th Clea nl y launde r ed lin e n , pill o w slip s, o r s heets serve l a r ge burn s. I n di vi du a ll y wrapped, waterproof ste r ile dr essi ngs a re useful for smal l burns an d ca n re m ai n i n place for five days New pl astic b ags can b e used to encase limbs, hands and feet.
(3) Early t ra nsport
shock
Exercise joins old hands in new County
ON SEPTEMBER 28, the newly -appointed Area Training Officer of the new County of A von (Eastern Area) - which now incorporates the cities of Bristol and Bathwith the enthusiasm we h ad appreciated in all the years he was Divisional Treasurer and Transpo r t Sergeant of Bath City Division arranged an exercise primarily designed to bring together in a combined operation severa l divisions which had, previously , had no relationship in actual service Very bad weather made the exercise very realistic! Five ambulances from Br istol, Bath, Keynsham, Clutto n and Timsbury Divisions we r e grouped at Keynsham St. J ohn H.Q. which purported to be both a Central Ambulance Depot and a Casualty Reception Hospital.
I n the rural area around the following incidents were arranged:
I At a farm,
(a) A worker had fallen from a haystack when his ladder slipped and was lying under the ladder with a fractured collarbone;
(b) Nearby a tractor driver had fallen between his tractor and the trailer he was towing and had, as principal injury , a leg crushed under a tractor wheel;
(c) A distraught farmer's wife run n ing distractedly from one to the other.
2. I n a different loca ity, up a lane overgrown with nettles and brambles, two scrapped cars had been arra n ged in co ll ision with in one:
(a) The driver slumped over his wheel wit h a 'stoved - in chest';
(b) His front -seat passe n ger wit h hea d injuries inc luding a gross y -lace rated face from being thrown t h ro u gh the windscreen;
(c) A rear - seat passenger wi th a fractured leg.
I n the other ca r :
(d) The drive r w ith a pr o b able lumb a r spina l inju r y;
(e) His passenge r wit h a di sloca t e d shou der
In the undergrowt h di d th ey b ut know, was:
([) The pedestrian (who was th e ca u se o f the collision) unconscious a n d w ith a double fracture of the forea r m.
The p roper call -o u p roce d u re was set up , a sma ll but use fu l ma p -r ead in g exe r c ise brought ambula n ces to th e si t es, a n d in heavy rain and with m ud more t h an a nkl edeep - and, at the collision sce n e, br a mbl es waist high! - the casual t ies we r e expeditiously dealt with an d b ro u g h t to t he 'hospital' where all were p ut to bed and give n comp letely r ea listic t r eat m e n t (inc lud i ng bedpa n s, urinals a n d vo mit bow ls !) b y a
m ixed g ro up o f me mb e r s fro m se ve r a divisions. On e p atie nt o bli ge d b y thr owi
LAUGH WITH DAN, THE FIRST AID MAN
Germany s JUH cadets come t o Kent. Their Training Officer H err Oehrl IS welcomed by County Commissioner Mr. R H Perc val. (Photo: Kent Messenger)
Joining hands in Europe
The Brigade moves towards the Alliance of the Orders of St. John and the Common Market
WHEN T H E Commissioner for Kent, Mr. R H. Percival. welcomed members of Germany's J ohanniter Unfall Hilfe at the county headquarte r s last J uly. few realised that local SJ A history was about to be made. For the Johannite r cadets, from Yare! in Lower Saxony, were on an exchange visit with SJA members in Kent which was to prove so successful that it is hoped to make this an annual event in future. A permanent linking of hands. in other words.
The 12 German cadets, led by Herr Wolfga ng Oeh rl. Traini ng Officer for Lower Saxony were entertai ned by Kent cadets at their homes. visited various parts of the country. spent a day in London. which included St. John's Gate, St. James' Park and Westminster Abbey. and attended a mini rally at Ditton. Maidstone, whe re they met the Commissioner -in - Chief, Major General D. S. Gordon.
When the J UH members set off for home 8 Kent cadets went with them as their guests for 10 days. led by Deputy Commissioner Leslie Ashman and Divisional Officer Richard Fo rdham.
At Breme r haven the party was met by oflicers and parents of the German cadets
s tretcher s and how the y tran spo rted casualties while under attack.
On the final evening of the visit a barbecue was held at a local riding school. But th e evening s tart ed with riding for the whole party of ca dets, and a lthough some could ride well, everyone will remember the expre ss ion s of those cadets who had never ridden be fore , especially when the local band of sixt y pla ye rs burst into mu sic to the anno ya nce of the hor ses !
The importance of the visit was highlighted at the end of the evening when member s of the Order of St. John in German y the local Mayor, members of the JUH from far and wide, and members of the German Red Cross, and parents and friends - when they all gathered together in our honour and pennants, bearing the badge of the Johanniter Unfall Hilfe, were presented to the English party by the JUH cadets who had been their guests in England, and certificates of the JUH 's appreciation were presented to Mr. Ashman and Mr. Fordham by Herr Oehrl.
Herr Oehrl expressed his thank s for the hospitality hi s cadets had received in Kent
PR-CHAT
Stretcher competition for cadets from both countries in the woods of Friesland. (Photo: NordwestZeitung)
and hoped that divisions from Kent would in future be twinned with units of the JUH in Yarel and Bocholt. Deput y Commissioner Ashman thanked all those responsible for making the stay of the cadets from Kent
26 years ago we s t art ed a quarterly bulletin - and it ' s still going strong
such a memorable one.
The following day the English party left by boat for home - with farewells from the quayside on klaxons, flashing blue lights of a JUH ambulance, and cheers
German and British ca dets meet the curator Miss Willis in the Pr io ry Church. SI. John 's Gate and taken by car to Yarel, where they were received at the Rathaus by the Lord Mayor for a reception and lunch.
During their stay many excursions were arranged for our cadets, including visits to Hitzacker on the Elbe. Luneburg Heath, Oldenburg. Jaderberger Zoo and a circus. German hospitality was superb. Man y of the JUH members s poke English while those that didn't relied on sign language. Much fun was had over the language problem,
e pecially when a Kent cadet tried to order ausage and chips in hi s best German but in stead got five ba gs of chips, costing 5 mark s (about 80p)!
One day a stretcher-carrying contest was held in the fore st near Yarel and the Kent cadets took the honour s on th is occasion, with JUH taking seco nd and third place s.
Th e German Army, which was also exercising in the forest, joined in the contest and s howed the cadets their improvised
ST ALBANS Nursing Division
Hertford sh ire is wondering whether it can claim any sort of record for publicity.
Thi s year se es the 26th anniversary of its Quarterl y Bulletin, which gives news of divisional activities, what 's happening to members past and present, the programme for the coming quarter and other important SJA dates and information.
It has failed to appear only once in those ye ars and that was when the editor was ill with antibiotic poisoning.
The Bulletin was inspired by Miss Irene Davies in 1948. who had recently been promoted superintendent. One of her members was a young mum with two babies who consequently could not do much in the way of public duty However she could type - and talk - so Miss Davies reasoned that these two attributes could be an asset to St. John
The copy was duplicated at an agency and the Bulletin was sent by post , so there was no delay and people were sure of receiving it. (For the benetit of younger readers, we should explain that such a wonderful arrangement did once exist!)
T he copy was written and then subm itted to Miss Davies for sub -editing and corrections. She a lmost despaired of ever getting 'occasion' spelt correctly.
Circulation was to county and area staff, divisional members and the local newspapers. In time other peop le became interested and requested copies and when members left the district they liked to be kept on the mailing list. On average about 100 copies went out each quarter, including copies to various towns in this country and for many years to Adelaide , Australia.
It is still sent by post but mounting co st s mean keeping a strict eye on the mailing list, which is now slightly under 100.
I n the early days it was hoped that short but enlightening articles might be submitted by the medical profession (ie, the divisional surgeon and nursing officer) but these never materialised.
Nevertheless the Bulletin did fulfil its function of publicising the activities of the divi sio n ensuring a programme was prod uce d, and generally engendering a feeling of unit y and friendship among local S1. John members , which has been so appreciated b y many of its readers
The first editor remained in office for 18 years, and her spelling improved. Her husband 'volunteered' to help write envelopes The children , by now numbering three, graduated from tilling envelopes and licking stamps to the
dubious privilege of addressing envelopes. Since the tirst editor's promotion, the Bulletin has had three editors and continues to appear on time Over the past few yea rs reports on the ambulance and cadet divisions have been included in it.
Perhaps your division might like to consider starting a similar news -sheet?
One unexpected but important bonus stemmed from ours by sending a copy to the local paper. They hadn't a correspondent in the village where the Bulletin's editor lived and she was asked whether she would like to take on the job. This proved so successful that she is now a freelance member of the National Union of Journalists and of course the Brigade has a valuable publicity link with all the local papers. See how such things grow
Miss Davies, who started all this, went on to become county stafT officer (nursing cadets) and finally deputy county superintendent (nursing) - a post she held until forced to retire through illness. She became an Officer Sister of the Order. Readers will be sad to learn that she died on April 18 this year (1974), after a long illness borne with great fortitude. Her S1. Albans SJ A Bulletin goes on. R. B. T cso
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
It's a m i racle that it ha s surv ived
AT ST. JOHN'S GATE, Clerkenwell, there is a model of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which was made in Jerusalem in the 17th Century from olive wood , motherof-pearl, ivory and ebony (Fig. 1). The interior is as carefully and richly made as the exterior.
The original Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built by the first Christian Roman Emperor. Constantine. He wrote I ha ve no greater care than to splendidly adorn this holy place that not only the church may be more beautiful than all the others but even in its details may excel those of any city in the Empire'.
In AD 326 he sent his mother Empress Helena. also a pagan convert to Christianity, to Jerusalem to discover the place of Calvary and the Tomb
The conspicuous feature of the new
church was a rotunda over the Sepulchre surmounted by a great dome upheld by massive columns. Adjoining it on the east side was a cloistered open court. In this court was the traditional rock of Calvary. East of that was the church called the Martyrium where services were held.
Two rows of pillars on either side of the nave gave the basilica four aisles. The Apse
which Jesu s had been crucified.
What sti ll remains of Constantine's church in the present structure are the foundations of the Rotun da and part of the entrance and s tcps of the church.
For three hundred years pilgrims trod its halls in peace. but in 614 the Persians sacked the city and the main st ru cture was destroyed. I was restored a few years later by Abbot Modestus.
In 1010 it was again destroyed, this time by the Ca liph Hakim of Egypt.
[t wa rebuilt in 104 8 by the Emperor Constantine Monomachus during the brief period when it came under Byzantine protection.
The Crusaders. in I 144. were the first to reconstruct the entire shrine so that all was under one single roof, and the present church follows largely their plan. The Crusaders' church was consecrated in 1149.
Cathedral in 1899 The author was coming home after the First World War when he visited the cathedral and bought this postcard
was unusually at the western end, so that it lay in the direction of the Sepulchre. The church was entered through a covered portico. the atrium, and this in turn was entered also from the east through three portals reached by steps from the street.
Beneath the church was a disused cistern which later became and still is called the Crypt of the finding of the Cross, commemvl'ating the discovery attributed to the Empress Helena of the actual cross on
A Venetian woodcut of the Church of the H oly Sepulchre. made in 1647, shows that the model s an authentic likeness of the church at that period. However the illustration of the H oly Sepulchre in the foreground of the woodcut is symbolic, not factual. as it is located in the centre of the rotunda (Fig. 2).
The official history of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem commences with the capture of J erusalem by the army of the First Crusade in 1099. First to enter Jerusalem was that gallant knight and noble Christian. Godfrey of Bouillon. Duke of Lower Loraine. As soon as he saw that victory was assured he pas ed with three attendants to the Church of the H oly Sepulchre to humble himself in prayer at the tomb of his Saviour. Eight days after the capture of the city he was elected the first Chri tian King of Jerusalem. but preferred the humbler title of Defender and Baron of the Holy Sepulchre
Godfrey visited the hospital of St. John, where many wounded Christian soldiers were receiving devoted care and attention. H e was so impressed with the good work being done under the direction of the Blessed Gerard that he endowed it with property in Jerusalem. an example that was followed by many other Christian leaders who conferred rich gifts upon it.
With this upport, Gerard was able to reorganise the Order with S1. John the Bapti st as the patron saint in place of St. John the Almoner. and acquire for their convent the quare enclosure known as the Muristan. just below the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. and in which the members of the new Order of Ho pitallers took the three olemn vow of chastity, poverty and obedience. Thus the Order of the Ho spi tal of S1. John of Jeru alem might well be called the first born chi ld of the g r eat Crusade.
Three day after the fir t anniver ary of the cnrturc of Jeru alem, Godfrey died of a
4 The sword spurs cross and shield of Godfrey de Bouillon in the Latin sacristy of the Church of th e Holy Sepulchre
Plan of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre today fever and was buried in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
On page 2 of the Order's official history is a footnote in small print which reads : ' What are claimed to be the Sword , Spurs and Cros of Godfrey de Bouillon are preserved In the Latin Sacristy to the north side of the Church of the Hol y Sepulchre. A replica of his tomb can be seen in the former Cathedral of Boul og ne'.
The sword is of the Crusader period and has the chain of the Cross wrapped round the handle. His Cross, also called the Jeru alem or Crusader Cross, consists of five crosses, one large with a small cross in each quarter pointing outwards. With the sword is also his pectoral shield. The spurs are of ilver. (Fig. 4).
In ce lebration of the eighth centenary of the capture of Jerusalem and to glorify the memory of Godfrey of Bouillon who was born in their town. the Christian community of Boulogne, placed a replica of his tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Boulogne Cathedral. Over it is a painting of the Crusaders at the Tomb and Chapel of Angel. (Fig. 3).
rnscribed in Latin on his tomb is: Here lies Godfrey de Bouillon who conquered the whole of thi country for the Christian (continued ol'er/eaj)
Fig. 1. The 17th-century model of the church at St. John's Gate by JOHN E. DANE
Fig.2 .A 1647 Venetian woodcu t of the church
Fig3.A1919 postcard of the memorial to Godfrey de Bouillon erected in Boulogne
Fig
READERS VIEWS
WARTIME MEMORIES
from W. Gotch, PRO Northants
The enclosed photograph is of the statT of the Royal Naval Sick Quarters, Liverpool, in 1940 and with two exceptions all the ratings were St. John men of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve.
The Surgeon Captain, the senior medical officer , was recalled from retirement and the other doctors were RNVR , one of them being a Brigade divisional surgeon. The Chief Sick Berth Petty Officer and the three badge Leading Sick Berth Attendant were also recalled pensioners. The chief and myself, a Sick Berth Petty Officer, were sent with eight other men to Liverpool in December 1939 (just as we were expecting to go on Christmas leave!) to open up Sick Quarters there at the David Lewis Northern Hospital. The photograph is of our subsequent statT.
The sick quarters were later transferred to St. Paul 's Eye Hospital nearby, where it remained for the rest of the war Both hospitals had been evacuated by the civilian authorities as the y were in th e vulnerable docks area; in fact their chief business in peace -time wa s to deal with dock casualties.
The hospitals we e in the centre of the intense bombin g that Merseyside experienced and sutTered no little damage, fortunately without casualties among the staff. Most of the men came from the
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (cant.)
religion. Re st in peace. Amen'
At his death his brother Baldwin became the first King of Jeru sa lem and Baldwin was eventually laid to rest beside Godfrey, in a tomb of similar design. at the entrance to the Chapel of Adam. below Calvary. These tombs have long since disappeared and two stone benches now mark the graves of Godfrey and Baldwin
Readers' views and opinions, which should be sent to the Editor, although published are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor or the Order of St John and its Foundations Although readers may sign published letters with a pen -name, writers must supply their name and address to the editor.
Lanca s hire and Yorkshire districts, and as some of them were quit e young they might still be in the Brigade and read the Review, so thi s picture will re vive many memories Their old P .O . sends hi s be s t wishes.
The y were a grand crowd.
Northan/s W Gotch
PUBLICITY
from Mrs. S. McCarthy, PRO Warwickshire North Area
My committee have asked me to let you know of some of the ways in which we in the North Area are attempting to bring to the notice of the general public the valuable work of St. John and to attJact new recruits. yo un g and old, to join the Order.
EncJo ed are two bookmarkers, each with a short message, which we have had printed and are circulating to schools and public librarie s.
We are plannin g to hold a window displa y in a large store in the t ow n durin g Oct o ber, and also to organise a St. John g ift shop. For the s hop, we intend to use empty s hop premises or a store on the market and sell first aid equipment and other St. John novelties suitable for Christmas pre se nt s We hope to open our shop on Saturday s from mid -October until Christmas If this idea is a success, we could th e n
open more shops in other towns in the area. Obviously , any profit made from the sales of goods would be used to intensify the work of the St. John Divi s ions in the District. Nuneaton S. McCarth y
LEAD AND WATER from Major J. Schofield, Deputy Commissioner
I mu s t comment on the method of removing lead from water as suggested by Mr. J. S Marshall (September Review)
] consider the suggestion in his letter to be dangerou s . Whil s t accepting that sa lt (sodium chloride) will precipitate lead from so lution it is not so simple and safe as he suggests.
The following facts must be considered:
1) The World Health Organisation's upper limit for lead in drinking water is I part in to million parts
2) The Metropolitan Water Board has an upper limit of 1 part per 100 million , and water which has been in lead pipes for 16 hours will have a lead content of 3 part s per 100 million
3) The sol ub ility product of lead chloride predicts that the minimum concentration of lead which will be precipitated b y salt at 20 degree s Centigrade is 92 part s per million.
4) If excess sa lt is added then the insoluble lead chloride forms a soluble lead complex and therefore the supernatant liquor is hardl y likel y to be lead free.
5) Lead chloride is slightly soluble at room temperature and is very so luble in hot water.
H e rls J. Schofie ld
VISUAL AIDS
BREAST FEEDING
16mm, colour; 20 minutes. Free loan
Medical Film Librarian, John Wyeth & Bros. Ltd., Taplow, Maidenhead, Berks.
Thi s film s h ows the prime value of breast milk for babie s without inducin g a se nse of g uilt in those who do not breast feed. It portray s the importance of emotional relationships between mother and child.
The panel considered this a very good film that objectively portrays the pro s and con s of breast as opposed to bottle feeding. It is extremel y well produced with delightful photography of mothers and babiesint e r es tin g, informative and delightful.
Audien ce: Expectant mother s, midwives , health visitors , nur s es , etc.
Thi s film cove r s the wide activity range of the British Oxygen Company.
The panel cons idered this company promotion film to be a little confused and to co ntain the occasional rather tiresome flippanc y; it has no value in St. John training but, on the other hand, parts of the film dealing with the nature of the atmosphere are extremely interesting. It has value as back g round material.
Audien ce: Universal as a filler.
WITHOUT DUE CARE
nursing and allied topics.
A documentary on drug addiction filmed over 48 hours in the city of Port smo uth.
The panel considered this a tough , powerful film with a documentary technique entirely suitable for the subject material. The s qualour and degradation that drug addiction can lead to is well portrayed; this real is tic film carries quite a punch.
Audien ce: Could be sc reened universally to all over 15 years of age.
Thi s film presents illustrations of the va rious forms of the disease, arthritis, 's lipped disc', lumbago, gout, etc, and treatments now available.
The panel considered this a good appeal film that explains the work of the Arthritis & Rheumatism Council ; it also clearly indicates the nature of the diseases and the high proportion of our population that s utTer from them
Audience : Universal. Could be used by St. John audiences as a filler.
doe s n o t differ su b s tantially from the Crusader s tructure. but additions include a marb le covering to the rock of Cal ver y . a marble enclosure fo r the Sepulchre a bell tower a nd s undr y chape ls and ora torie s with elaborate dec o rati ons. remain s. although work is s lowly proceeding with th e re toration.
Th a t the c hurch has survived fire, ea rthqu ake a nd the vic i ss itudes of J er u sa lem' s turbulent hi s tory for so man y centuries is a miracle
Thi s film reminds hospital s tatTs of the need to follow careful and correct procedure s.
The panel considered it achieves its objective of reminding ho s pital sta tTs of the necessity of close adherence to correct procedures in the s urgical s ituation; it gives a salutary le sso n in what can go wrong and consequences ari in g from sins of omission.
TO HELP A CRIPPLED CHILD (1973)
16mm colour film: 31 mins. Free loan
New Zealand Film Library, New Zealand House, Haymarket, London, S. W .1.
Thi s film pr ese nt s etTective ways of helping disabled children in the home and the community.
Today. the Church of the Holy Sepulchre The dome ha s be en rebuilt seve ral time s th e present o ne bein g 100 years old.
Editor: There are / 11'0 models oj the Church oj th e Sepulchr e at St. John's Gale
In 1927 an earthquake left the church in a dan ge rou s co ndition and the British Mandator y Government ca rried out so me temporary sho ring. much of which still
Gild the\' lI'il/ b e on I'ie\\, lI'h e n {h e enlarged I17I1 Se ll;n of {h e Ord e r is com plet ed
M eall ll hile ca ll be see n by r eques t to th e Cllra{or.
Audience: Medical. nursing, hospital statTs and medical and nursing st udents Not s uitabl e for St John lay audiences
BETTER DEAD (1974)
16mm colour film; 16 mins. Hire fee: £2.25 British Temperance Society, Stanborough Park, Watford, Herts.
The panel considered it an excellent film from the po int of view of its s ubject material but inditTerent in respect of cinematographic values. It is also too long.
It clearly shows what can be done to help crippled children and a mplifi es the need for parental co -o peration.
Audience : Of value to all working within this field.
NEWS from SCOTLAND
The Prior of Scotland
THE DEATH of the Marquis of Aberdeen and Temair on September 13 brought to a close the most remarkable priorship since the reconstitution of the Priory of Scotland in 1947.
Under Lord Aberdeen's leadership from 1969 the priory has been perhaps the fastest growing and most exciting branch of the Order in the world, undertaking activities of a magnitude and variety undreamed of in the early sixties. It is of course true that the seeds of the stupendous growth of the last few years were sown before 1969, and that many men must share the credit for what has happened, above all the Chancellor, Sir Andrew Murray, who has throughout been the moving spiric but much depends on the personality and powers of leadership of the man at the top and Lord Aberdeen had exactly those qualities that were required of a prior at the time.
In the newspaper obituary notices his many services to the nation and to the North - East of Scotland and his benevolent approach as a landowner and employer have been de scr ibed: and it was some reflection of the regard with which he was held that the Memorial Service for him at St. Machar's Cathedral. Aberdeen. was attended by 1.000 people. including many members of the Order: every seat was filled and about 50 stood throughout.
I would prefer here to write personally, to descrihe what his leadership meant for us as members of the Order in Scotland during the five years of hi s priorship. He was deeply religiou s and he was not afraid of showing this - a matter of the greatest importance in a reli gious Order : hi s piety was unafTected but open and could not but inspire those under him. He was an immensely kind man who went to great length s to encourage those working for the Order He had the knack of always say in g the ri g ht thing and of giving the impression to tho se with whom he was talking that what they had to say was always of significance and importance. He was very shrewd. No -o ne saw more quickly through a weak case and his sound common-sense was a useful antidote to some of the wilder spirits. But he was also broad - minded and tolerant. always prep a red to listen to the other side and to be persuaded of a course of
The
action if he recognised that the arguments were strong.
At the same time he was courageous in s tanding up for what he knew to be right and positive in his handling of council and chapter meetings: the agenda was always efficiently worked through with none of that wastage of time and words that occurs under bad chairmen. He was the best of leaders in th at he knew how to delegate. recogni sed the quality in his subordinates and always lo ya ll y suppo rted them.
WALES
The inaugural church service of the St. John Ambulance Bri gade in the new county of We st Glamorgan took place in the presence of the Pri or Lord Aberdare. on Sunday afternoon. September 29
It was held in the Par ish Church of Swansca. and conducted by the Archdeacon for Gower. the R ev. Harry Williams. and the Rev Leslie Norman. the Chaplain to the West Glamorgan St. John Council. and Vicar of Christ Church. Swansea.
The congregation of more than 500 COJlsi s tcd of representatives of all the in the new county. including a large numher of cadet.. and many especiall y invited guests representing other vo luntar y nnd civic o rganisa tion s. A civic party. led by the M ayo r of Port Talbot. and including the Mayor of Neath. and Deput y Mayor of
Secretary as acting Director of Ceremonies.
The lesson was read by the Prior , and a forceful sermon was pre ac hed by the Archdeacon, who stressed the need for voluntary se rvice in the community.
After the service the Commissioner introduced a number of officers, other ranks, and cadets to the Prior at the West Door, and an informal tea was held in the vestry.
Cadet s to rescue
SIXTY West Glamorgan Brigade cadets are spea rheading an appeal for pop albumsto try and help Marc Kervin, the l6 -year -old muscular dystrophy victim who lost his collection of records and cassettes when thieves burgled his Blaenymaes home recently.
The cadets are members of the Killay and District Division Their appeal got ofT to a good start when several local churches joined in and asked for help during se rvices.
Marc and hi s family were on holiday with th e Muscular Dystrophy Group in Pembroke when the thieves broke into their home. After ransacking every room, they made off with most of Marc's albums, his record player and cassettes.
The theft meant heartbreak for Marc, who ha s been confined to a wheelchair since he was eight years old. He spent all his money on records and carefully built up his collection by buying a record every week.
In his turn he was exceptionally lucky in having by hi s side Lady Aberdeen who shared to the full her husband's kindness and understanding: her interest and encouragement made a real contribution to the advance of the Order.
Lord Aberdeen' s years as prior will be remembered as the most exciting in the development of the Order in Scotland and he was in these exhilarating times an ideal leader who will be greatly missed.
J.R -S
OVERSEAS
As well as replacing the stolen records, the cadets want to invite Marc to one of their socials to hear their own pop group, M ountain exercise
On the evening of Thursday August 1, a disaster exercise organised by Div Supt. Rod Collier, of Griffithstown, Gwent, was held on the mountain top above Griffithstown.
The scene was that there had been an explosion in a row of cottages, resulting in 20 casualties among inhabitants and passersby.
L1iw. was ushered to their seats by the church wardens.
The Pri or's procession entered by the West Door and consisted of a colourful and impressive display of dignitaries, who were led by the Order Standard and Brigade Colour. carried by officers of West Glamorgan. Following were a representative number of members of Chapter, including the Chairman of the West Glamorgan County Council and th e Pre sident of the St. John Council in West Glamorgan. After the Chapter procession came the Lieutenant for the county and the Hi gh SherifT, the Vice Chancellor of th e Prior y for Wales. th e Sword Be are r a nd the Prior. These were followed by the Bri gade Se cretary for Wale s. who carried rhe Prior 's Banner. the Chief Commi ssioner. and finally the Chancery
Taking part were mostly cadets and young adults from Griffithstown, Fairwater, Crosskeys and Cwmcarn Divisions , as well as members of the Air Training Corps. Casualties were scattered among the debris. They were very well made-up by Mr. Collier and his Nursing Officer Mrs Jean Staddon , who are active members of the Casualty Simulation Union and carry out a lot of this work for competitions in Wales.
The treatment of casualties, including bandaging, was of a high standard. The stretcher bearers had a tiring time on the rou g h terrain.
The object of the exercise, apart from reali s tic practice, was to get divisions working as one unit. The Commissioner of Gwent, Sqdn Ldr. E F. Oldland, who is very keen to encourage this type of training get -together , was on holiday at the time but was represented by CSO J. L. Harris.
Prior (centre) and Chapter of the Priory of Scotland at Lord Aberdeen s installation, 1969
Grenada
Against a Caribbean background the island s SI. Patrick s DiVision ready for inspection (above) at a rally during July In front is the Principal Superintendent (N) Mrs Betty Mascoll MBE. (Below) Cadets create the emblem of St John with Commissioner Pat MacLeish n the background
News from Divisions/Centres
HANTS - Every year SJ A Portsmouth area, with three ambulances from Portsmouth, Havant and Emsworth Divisions, covers the popular 3 - day Southsea Show.
This year an average of 30 casualties were treated each day and other assistance included helping to feed a newly-born lamb. With other organisations, the Brigade provided a gua rd of honour for the Duke of Edinburgh when he visited the show to present prizes to crews of the Tall Ships race.
6 cadets were with SJA Worthing 's float depicting a road accident , in a recent carnival. (Photo: Worthing Gazette)
OBITUARY
John Young Maine, 86, founder member Cheddar Ambulance Division in 1933; later Transport Officer. Serving Brother. Died September 5.
Miss Gladys Marshall, 73, Gloucestershire Brigade county secretary 1948 to 1970, Officer Sister.
Mrs. P. I. C. Storrer. Joined Brigade, Grimsby Nursing Division 1941; Cadet Officer 1953; ASO (N/C) 1959 ; County Staff Officer (N/C) Lincoln 1966. Officer Sister. Died September 19.
Plenty of action at a recent exercise by Preston Corps Penwortham and Hutton Divis ion (quadrilateral). It involved an explosion in a car park, and Div. Supt. George Darl in gton ensured there was a wide variety of injuries.
At Preston Corps' Gregson Lane Combined Cadet Division -{Ieft) President J. D. Cole and Dr. A G. Brown , Div Surgeon , present Batersby trophy, for cadet of the year, and President s trophy individual first aid
HANTS
REVIEW CROSSWORD No . 1 1 (7 4 ) ComplledbyW A POller
Across:
I. I nflammatory condition producing jaundice. po ss ibl y at hip s it e (9 ) 8 Learn incorrectly about the doctor becomin g a social worker. ( 7 ). 9. Begin the French alarm. ( 7). 10 Mixed poi s on with direction fo r pla s ma constituent aidin g pha g ocyto s is. (7). 13. Natural or a c quir ed abilit y to resist infection. (8) 14. Serb conceals palsy due to injury to the brachial plexus. (4). 16. Has a better arrangement for ventricular contractions (10). 21. Slow escape of fluid through a hole or fissure. (4) 23. Follow s 17 down in the tympanic membrane. (4). 2S. Fish and girl together cause food poisoning (10). 29. Virginia s treet of extremely great size. (4). 30. Complication of diabetes due to incomplete metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. (8). 32. Modified tapler used for immobilisation of fractures. (7) 3S Milk s ugar. (7) 36. Pus in the pleural cavity. (7). 37. Loss of power of movement by father and artist with gradual decline of fever (9).
Down:
I. Narcotic drug of addiction. (7). 2. Condition in which se pt ic matter is circulating in the blood -stream. (7). 3. Rever se it t o bronze the kin for a giant. (S). 4 The amended rate for opera tion s (7). 5 Ca r bohydrate food from the pa lm. (4). 6. Sport for the old explorer. (4) 7. Bird with tort icollis? (7). 11. Play quickl y with rest in post office (6). 12. Facial feature having no direction. (4). 15. Bab y with congenital defect of the interventricular se ptum (4). 17. Sen se o r gan supplied by the 8th cranial nerve. (3). 18 Chink between the vocal cords. (4). 19 Rib set crookedly in brown pigment. (6). 20. Be in poor health. from intoxicating liquor by the sound of it. (3). 22. In str ument used by orthopaedic urgeon changes law (3). 23. Hollow -c heeked in an attractive wav. (7). 24. I ris. ciliary body. and choroid. (4 ) 26. Describes the of german me as le s. (7). 27. Injuri es and morbid changes in tissues could be in soles. (7). 28. Re s ult of suppuration. (7). 3 1 A number t ake n in by dua l appearance of high nobility. (5). 33. Nutritiou s bean. (4). 34. Harve s t a wild pear. (4). Solution to Crossword No.1 0 (74)
Across I. Gr. as p.ed: 5. Fatigue: 9. A.ri se: 10. Sun: 11. Tenet; 12. Denim s: 13. Athletic: 16 A.com: 18. Exocrine: 21. Sciatica; 22. Easel: 24. Card iLi s: 26. Imp .ac t: 29. Ergot: 31. Lie: 32. Trill: 33. A s pirin : 34. R i.chc st.
Down : I. Grand mal: 2. A lien : 3. Pneum onia: 4 Do. se: 5. Funct io n a l: 6.
Total: 7. Gin: 8. Entice: 14 Tones: I S. Penicillin: 17. Occur: 19
Made of best quality tissue, limbs ca n be bent in any direction. Comes co mplete with 6 grotty triangular bandages; a large suitcase containing an in ert , sexless female dummy; and a co llection of funny (?) stories guarante ed to keep students awake.
PLUS thr ee handbooks:
D.I.Y Skin Grafting , Major Surg ery for Beginners and Contagious and Infectious Dise ases - Simple R e med ies.
SPEAKS!
Dont mov e I m a qu a lifi ed first -aider 'Yes, Dr Gorman learnt it all from me Hard luck! You haven t completed twenty - one years.
N.B Do n t leave this mode l nea r oth er Action Men (With acknowl edge ments o the crea tors of th e real Action Men and to Ma c and Brian Carman). ONLY £2 95! (Rcprodllcedli'om The II·nlTell.
ST JOHN REVIEW
To Review Sales, St John Ambulance, 1 Grosvenor Crescent, London, SW1X 7EF.
Please suppl y/re new* years subscription to the St John Review commencing with issue.
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
Anatomical Teaching Models
Seton Tubular Bandages are not only quicker to apply they're more comfortable ... more efficient . . . and more economical.
Tubiton Unbleached Perro type yarn -Water Repellent range -particularly suited to the needs of industry.
Tubegauz Bleached cotton - Standard Quality range - to suit all requirements.
Rayon - Hospital Quality
range - ideal for use where
A MERRY CHRISTMAS
AT RANDOM
by Watkin W. Williams Deputy Commissioner-in-Chief
THE ORDER'S SERVICE of Dedication and Thanksgiving in York Minster was memorable and in s piring - all the more so for the presence of our Grand President , Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret. A bitter wind kept the St John flags on many of the city's buildings flying freely; but the sun of York made brave efforts to add brightness and colour to the scene, even if it didn ' t manage to turn it into glorious summer. The nave of the Minster was packed with members and friends of the St John Councils for the Yorkshire Region and of Brigade members in uniform, and the use of the nave altar added considerably to the congregation's sense of involvement in the service as an act of worship.
After the solemn procession of robed members of Chapter-General of the Order , accompanied by Confreres of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and of the St John Councils for the Region, had taken its place in the central aisle, the Lord Mayor of York arrived in state; then the Dean and Chapter, the High Steward and the Archbishop of York, Prelate of the Order, moved to the Great West Door to greet the Lord Prior of St John and to await the arrival of Her Royal Highness accompanied by Her Majesty's Lieutenant for North Yorkshire. When Princess Margaret had been received, the trumpeters sounded a fanfare and the procession moved slowly up the aisle to the singing of the first hymn. The Cross, Sword and Great Banner of the Order were received at the altar by the Dean , who then dedicated the St John Ambulance Colours for the new counties of North Yorkshire and Humberside.
To the vast majority of those present, quite the most inspiring part of this wonderful service was the Archbishop's address. He spoke from brief notes, but he most kindly provided an outline of his address for publication in the Review so that his message might reach a wider circle of St John members than those present that afternoon. His hearers were left in no doubt that our Prelate possesses those qualities of 'granite on fire' that he attributed to our Patron Saint; and although cold print is inevitably less inspiring than the spoken word, I feel sure that some of that fire of inspiration will come through to those who didn't have a chance to be present but who read hi s address on page 3.
co ntinued on page 12
SJ Service atVork
THE ORDER'S annual serv ice of commemoration and rededication , attended by Princess Margaret, Grand President of St John Ambulance, was held for the first time in York on October 12.
More than 2000 SJA members from Yorkshire and Humberside , Great Officers of the Order and representatives from SJ A throughout Britain - together with the trumpeters of the Ro y al Corps of Signallers - made the service at York Minster a great spectacle Durin g the service the new colours for SJA North York s hire and Humber side were dedicated
The sermon, given b y the Archbishop of York Dr Coggan , who is Prelate of the Order of St John , was on a highly topical subject The following is an outline of his address
Our Order bears the honoured name of John Baptist. I revere that man. I had almost said I love that man but I hesitated Perhaps the words venerate , revere respect spring more readil y to mind than doe s the word love in connection with John Baptist.
F. W. H. Myers wrote of him : John, than which man a grander or a g reater , Not till this day has been of woman born , John like some iron peak, by the Creator Fired with the red glow of the rushing morn Archbishop Frederick Temple, father of William , was of that calibre. When he was Headmaster of Rugb y hi s boys called him 'A beast , but a ju st bea st' Someone more di scerning and perhap s more
Princess Margaret is wel comed at the West Door of York Minster by the Archb shop of York , D Donald Coggan
charitable spoke of him as 'Granite on fire'. Such a man was John Baptist.
You will recall that his witness to truth cost him his head ; that he had some straight things to say to his contemporaries , comparing them to snakes twisting their tortuous way to the river to escape the fire; that he had a word to say to the privileged (St Luke 3, 11); and to the soldiers (no bullying no blackmail) and so on. Jesus said of him that he was ' A lamp that blazed and shone'. John Baptist 's motto was 'He must incease. I must decrease'.
I revere that man and I am glad that our Order bears his name. Perhaps the fact that it does, points, at least in part, to the function that we should be fulfilling here and overseas We must continueand increase - our work amongst the sick and wounded, the prisoners and captives. This is greatly needed. To have an ambulance ready at the foot of the cliff is a vitally important work of compassion. But how many of the disasters to whose victims we minister could be avel ted if, at the top of the cliff, were men full of the spirit of John Baptist and of Jesus himself, men determined to stop people from falling over the edge! Let me give you an example: We are troubled about violence which occurs at football matches and other places. We in this Order help to clear up the wounded and that is good work But it is even more important to ask why these erruptions of violence occur at all. It is easy to condemn those who take part in them - 'send the boys to borstal, bring back the birch'. Could it not be that violence is a reflection not so much on the young as on the parents and grandparents who have mistaken sentimentality for love, who have let the young grow up without discipline, who have hardly taught them that there are such things as the Ten Commandments, and who have never told them of the love of Jesus?
What sort of society are we creating for our young people? I ask this sometimes as I look at the high -rise tenement buildings in our great cities. I ask it as I go into densely populated new housing areas and find that playing fields are absent. I ask it as I consider the working conditions of many young people, so boring as almost to encourage mad excitement on a Saturday afternoon by way of change. England could do well with an infusion of ten thousand John Baptists, men and women who would say loud and clear that you cannot have a healthy society without some rules. If you don't like the Ten Commandments then I challenge you to produce something better. Meanwhile, it would do us no harm to use them as guidelines. England could do with an infusion of ten thousand John Baptists who would expose the folly of lowering the age of consent - as if we could assume that because a child is more or less sexually mature he is
ready for that total commitment to another which is of the very essence of marriage and the foundation of a happy family!
England could do with an infusion of ten thousand John Baptists who would ask why a psychiatrist should be allowed to expound on the BBC his theory about therapeutic value of adultery, without someone expounding at equal length the folly of it!
England could do with an infusion of ten thousand John Baptists who, having met with Jesus and seen His glory, point men to Him as the only One who can bear their sin and lead them to God and to life abundant.
We shall shortly be joining in an act of Dedication. This is a word that is so often used that it tends to become evacuated of any real meaning. If I use the word I must ask to what or to whom do I dedicate myself?
In our context this afternoon it means:
I. Dedication to our Order.
2. Dedication to our Sovereign Head.
3. Dedication above all , to Christ, without whom our nation cannot be healthy , and without whom we, as individuals, cannot be healthy whole, holy.
Dedication means the facing of the paradox of which George Morrison spoke in the lines of his prayer: Make me a captive , Lord, And then I shall be free: Force me to render up my swo rd And I shall conqueror be.
OVERSEAS CONFERENCE
Medical trends likely to affect first aid
PROFESSOR Sir Hedley Atkins , Chairman of the Medical Board, opened his address by pointing out that most new advances in medical science were of little significance to first aid. Cardiac surgery, hip replacement , new antibiotics , care of the mentally handicapped, psychiatry and cancer control were not emergencies requiring first aid Certain trends , however, emerging from s tatistical investigations could have relevance An examination of disasters such as railway accidents, aeroplane crashes , bomb explosions and their all too common association with fire , had indicated the following general principles:
a) Resist the temptation to help casualties before the authorities have been notified of the occurrence ; one may die but many will be saved by so doing.
b) Control all traffic in the disaster area
c) Sort out the dead and cover them with a to avoid further examination; sort out the lightly wounded from the serious casualties. Remember that the noisiest need not be the worst hurt.
d) Carry out normal first aid , positioning covering, etc.
e) Keep casualties up wind of fire . Sir Hedley went on to discuss certain specific circumstances:
Seat belts in cars. Statistics in Australia , America and the United Kingdom had proved that proper use of belts and headrests to avoid whip -lash could materially reduce the mortality rate. Eye injur ies occurred in many motoring casualties where seat -belts had not been used , especially in cases where zone tempered rather than laminated windscreens had been fitted. St John people should show an example by always using seat -belt s.
Immersion - apparent drowning. More death s were due to hypothermia as opposed to water inhalation than was ever suspected. Below 33 ° consciousness will be clouded , pupils dilated and the heart beat irregular. The s kin will be extremely cold but there will be NO shivering. Below 30 ° muscular rigidity will be apparent and below 27° death may be diagnosed in error. Cardiac s tand -still does not necessarily mean death. If there is no shivering, treat for h y pothermia , but if shivering, indicating only mild hypothermia , igno re this aspect. Beware of the 'a fter drop which may occur even after rewarming has begun. First aid s hould include removal from the dangerous environment place the subject in the recovery ' position with head down ; enclose in polythene bag if available (do not undress); oxygen if available.
Reimplantation. Due to discoveries in the field of anastomosis cases have occurred of digits and parts of limbs severed in accidents being successfully rejoined. Speed is essential and the 'pa rt' should be packed in ice and transferred with the patient to hospital where the severed member will be flushed with sa line and heparin
Poisoning by drugs. A growing problem in the United Kingdom where victims are often dumped by so called 'friends'. In New York this is now the major cause of death in the 15 to 35 years age group. Speed in treatment is essential and therefore little time should be spent in making a specific diagnosis, but look quickly for needle marks , pin -point pupils and take a brief history of the case , but always assume the cause to be 'heroin' , which is the drug poisoning which is the most likel y to be rapidly fatal. First aid
I HELP OUR HOSPITAL
n his sermon a t York in October the Archbishop urged us all to pay more alle nlion to th e needs of the Third World. the poor. the sick and the s tarving in many countrte oversea. who need our help today as much as ever in the past.
In our hearts we know he is right: the difficulty so often is to kno\\ what we can personall\' do about it. What cause s hould we suppon and how can we be sure that our wi ll be wisely used?
Bu t we in St J ohn are lucky here, for we have within our own organisation o ur own mission to the Third World. the St J o hn Hospital in J erusalem. Th is is our response and i sho uld be th e p ride of eve ry oDe of us that we contribute personall y to it.
Started nearly one hu ndred years ago. lon g before the phrases Th e Th ird W orld' or 'The Underdeveloped Cou n tries' were ever coi ned or thought of. this has been our contribullo n in bad time s as well as good. It is 0 today. a magnificent modern ho pltal s t anding. in the city from which the Order takes its name. the succe sor of the o riginal Hospice or St John o r many cen turie s ago
Bu t th e co t or maintaining the ho pital today is very. very high. and both the Hospital Fund and the Ladies Guild are badly. even desperately. in need. The Hospital lund because or Inn a tion and the need for ever more and more expensive equipment to keep It up to date: and the Ladies Guild to buy the IlIlen th e unifo rms. the furnl hlng , and all those o th er comforts. including a Ch istmas par y. which mean so much to both the pa ti ents and th e stafT.
Will you help this Chri tma s? A s mall cheque se nt to me at SI. J ohn's Gate. Lo nd o n.
EC I M 4DA. for ei her fund would be so welcome.
Sec re a y-General Order of St John
should include cleaning out mouth, head in 'sniffing' position and mouth - to-mouth respiration.
Poisoning by animal and snake bites, insect stings, etc. Animals normally only attack when threatened , with young or if injured or starving, except buffalo and crocodiles which may attack at sight. Monkeys may have Virus B infection If a person is bitten by a monkey so affected there is no known cure, and monkeys should never be kept as pets unless there is known to have been adequate quarantine. Snake bites may not be particularly painful ; snakes often bite only to warn and inject little venom; with the more dangerous , such as the King Cobra, death can occur within half an hour. Spitting cobras cause blindness for which there is no treatment.
General treatment should include rest in bed, cold compress anti-histamine, and antibiotics.
Pythons cause injury by crushing only; seizing the tail prevents the snake getting a purchase.
Scorpion stings are intensely painful , also ant bites and the urine of tree frogs. Bee and wasp stings are painful and can be dangerous. Meals out of doors should be restricted The venom , if the insect is swallowed, may cause oedema of the glottis and bronchi. Repellent sprays have little value.
General treatment should include a light tourniquet and, if available, an injection of 0 5ml adrenaline. A broncho -dilator spray is helpful. If serious admit to hospital for possible tracheostomy and anti -histamines. The value of anti-venin is still to be determined.
(Left)
( Below) After th e service, Princess M argaret presented Grand Pr ior's Badges to 30 cadets from Yorkshire and Hu mberside
Medical help • In Russia
THE SHRILL BEAT of a siren cuts through the usual hubbub of the Moscow streets, and hundreds of pairs of eyes follow the ambulance with its big red cross as it darts through the dense traffic. 'Has there been an accident?' people wonder. The ambulance goes straight through the red lights and ignores the rules of the road, for every second counts for the doctors of the emergency service.
To call an ambulance is very easy. You simply dial 03 and are immediately connected to the ambulance centre where your call causes a light to flash on one of the 16 huge switchboards all linked to the same number. The light goes on flashing until the call is taken by one of the operators. She notes the essential information which is automatically transmitted to the service chief. In less than three minutes, he pinpoints the street where the emergency has occurred and contacts the ambulance sub-station nearest to it. Two or three minutes later the medical team is on its way. If there should be some delay, a bell rings, signal lights go on and action is taken to hurry its departure. There may be as many as a 1,000 calls for an ambulance in 24 hours.
In Moscow, there are 23 ambulance substations located in different districts. Each dispatcher can contact these by telephone and can also reach cruising ambulances by radio. Within 10 to 15 minutes an ambulance will arrive on the spot.
More than 3,000 doctors and medical assistants are attached to the emergency medical aid service at the disposal of the population of the capital city.
Large cities have both an emergency service and a first aid service. The former deals with road accidents and cases occurring on the street, in public places, in office buildings and institutions. People who become ill at home are attended to by the doctors of the first aid post attached to the local health centre. The smaller posts, where one or two doctors are constantly on duty, are often expanded to serve districts with several health centres. Effective coordination is maintained between the first aid services and the emergency services.
The emergency service teams consist of a doctor and two medical assistants who must be able to deal with many different kinds of emergency - poisonings, accidents, heart attacks, etc. A doctor needs long experience to be able to make rapid and accurate diagnosis, and to decide on the right
treatment. He undergoes special training before being assigned to an emergency team, but even then it is difficult to be at once a cardiologist, a paediatrician and a specialist in treating shock. In recent years, therefore , the health authorities have been training teams specialised in dealing with heart attack. shock and serious accidents as well as specialist teams for mental illness, paediatrics and toxicology
Each of these specialist teams is composed of doctors and medical assistants , and has a specially equipped ambulance so that patients can be given anti-shock treatment, blood transfusions or treatment to regulate cardiac function. If necessary, lifesaving surgery is performed on the way to hospital. The ambulance can rapidly be transformed into an operating theatre.
The emergency team can accompany the accident victim to the hospital and work with the hospital staff on the case. Thus there is useful exchange of information and opinion between the team members and the hospital specialists.
There are 2,500 emergency aid stations spread over the whole of the USSR They are organised on the same lines as the Moscow emergency service which , with its 1,500 specially -equipped ambulances is of course the largest. The ambulance equipment is continually improved
Recently , the Likhatchev automobile works produced a new model of ambulance with suspension and lighting specially designed so that team members can work comfortably standing up The stretcher can be adapted to the operating table and the latter can be adjusted in any desired position.
In Moscow, a new ambulance centre is now under construction It will have even more '03' switchboards and every two hours a computer will produce a list of vacant hospital beds. An illuminated chart will show the position of cruising ambulances at any given time. These improvements are of course very expensive, but finance is secondary to the saving of lives
One of the interesting features of the first aid service is the protection it affords to children. In the cities , first aid posts are attached to the health centres for children , while in the smaller towns they form part of the children's hospital service. There are also specialist paediatric teams for emergency service. For the past few years , a mobile child reanimation team has been operating from the Filatov Hospital in Moscow.
Throughout Soviet industry first aid is provided by the doctors and medical assistants of the health posts appointed in each factory and wherever labour is employed In large industrial combines each workshop has its own health post. If the work is particularly dangerous , doctors are constantly standing by. When an underground railway is being constructed, for example, a s pecialised medical post is s tationed underground.
The doctors attached to the health post keep in direct contact with the emergency medical services and the specialist teams attached to them. Some industrial concerns employing thousands of workers, such as the Likhachev automobile works, have their own medical services including a polyclinic, a hospital, a preventive service and even an independent emergency service.
In small country towns and villages , first aid is provided by the medical assistants of the health posts. For serious cases beyond their competence , they call upon an e mergency team from the nearest city To reach mountainous regions where an ambulance cannot go aircraft or helicopters are used. The health service aircraft have aU the equipment needed to save a patient s life during the airlift to hospital.
Additional health posts may be set up in underground railway stations , hotels , theatre s, sport s grounds and wherever large number s of people gather. For big football matches in the Lenin Stadium in Moscow , six doctor s augment the regular emergency team. During the final of the Soviet People's Sports Festival held in Moscow, ten emergency teams were ready at strategic points along the route of march.
The locations of medical and first aid posts is alwa ys indicated by road signs Mountain paths used by tourists are so arranged that a doctor can quickly reach any g iven spot. There are medical posts on the beaches , along the sea -coast and on the bank s of rivers In seaports and seaside resorts motor launches often serve as ambulances and save swimmers in difficulty
On large ships the doctor is assisted by several specialists and the medical service usually has an infirmary and X -ray facilities at its disposal. Quite complicated surgical operations are often performed far away from land, sometimes in radio consultation with specialists on shore.
(Fr o m World H ealth - th e magazine of 'h e W o rld H ealth Organisation )
St. Jolln stories
Storm in a tea-cup
HELPING at nights in Casualty in a ver y busy hospital , I found many opportunities for dispensing the cup that cheers '. Not only overworked ca s u a lt y ofAcer s and nur se s but distressed and anxious relatives of tho se ' in theatre - and , often the white -faced s hocked and s tunned (and s hunned!) motori s t who had knocked the child off its bicycleall s eemed to deserve this simple ministration. On winter nights ambulance -men and the police regarded it as a simple perk' to which the y had some entitlement.
One ni g ht the casualty sister on duty saw fit to reprove me gently pointin g out that th e allowance of tea was really intended for hospital staff and not to facilitate a free - for -all distribution a la London Embankment! ] could not resent the argument so gently expounded but I a s ked to be allowed to continue since so many seemed to be so deservin g in the circumst a nces and as the point about the limited allowance was va lid. 1 proposed that I be allowed to bring a packet of tea each wee k and with it a packet of mixed biscuits , 'from which the nurses could have all the c hocolate one s'. She laughingly consented and from that time I brought a fresh supply each week and assumed that within s uc h provi sion I could set up a tray whenever I thought someone would appreciate it.
Since so many of our 'customers in Casualty were from the nei g hbourin g motor -way we saw quite a lot of the local police and I had a h a il - fellow - well - met relationship with them , particularly the constable s and ser g eants ; it seemed to me that inspectors and above were somewhat aloof and autocratic - but thi s view could well have been coloured b y m y own attitude and by the few local types I met.
One bitter winter s night a very large and impressive policeinspector s trolled into Casualty followed by his young P.e. driver and , fr o m m y newl y- bou g ht authorit y over the tea pot I said with a wink to the young policeman , 'we have a whistling kettle which when it boils plays the theme tune from Z cars .' To my surprise the police officer rounded on me and. with his face suffused with rage , bellowed, Less of your buck , mister or you ll find yourself in serious trouble! In my s hort white coat with rolled - up sleeves I probably looked very browbeatable, but it was a mistake on his part and I swiftly answered, Keep those threats for your usual customers ; I m not one. The buck g oe s with the tea and you don't have to put up with either! With an authoritative nod to hi s underling the grand man stalked out followed b y th e young policeman who muttered as he went away after a wistful g lance at the teapot, ' Wish I could speak to him like that! '
Man y month s later , and at the newly -opened hospital which had taken ov e r all aspects except maternity from the old central hospital , I wa s pre sidin g over the teapot (along with my many other menial paramedical and clerical tasks) when a squad -car brought in two policemen who had been set upon and badly beaten -up by a gang of youths
The y were an elderly sergeant and a very young constable, in shirts leeve o rder. torn a nd dust y ; both had been overwhelmed by numbers and eac h had several minor injuries since the gang had put the boot in ' . X - R ay and o th e r examinations having established that there were no major injuri es both officers were s prawling in the armchairs of the rec e ption area feeling and looking sore and dejected A tray of tea and bi s cuit s se emed to be clearly indicated and I offered a cup to the sergeant. Ju st a s he passed an exploring hand over his poor old. banged -about, bald head, I couldn't resist saying, One lump or two!' a nd the three of us were i:1 instant accord until we heard a harsh voice behind u s s narling. ' This is no laughing matter , damn you!'
r slewed around quickly, and there was myoid acquaintance of the earlier occasion Offering him my own cup of tea I said quickly, 'Oh! Inspector. we can't go on meeting like this , people will begin to talk about us!' There was an ominous pause, and then 6 ft. 6 inches and about 14 stone of iceberg melted as he took the proffered olive branch and sat down with us.
As the Sister said , 'Some of you St. John types certainly know how to get away with it.'
-E. J B, Bath
The price of fame
I CALLED in at our local headquarters on the evening of the Nursing Cadet Class The superintendent seemed to be short of help so ] asked if I could do anything. She asked me to take some of the juniors for their second grade efficiency test. I found this task most interesting and rewarding. The juniors were intelligent and bright and not in the least nervous. I was getting some good answers from one little girl and we had come to the question 'who's who ' in the Brigade. I asked, 'Who is your President?
There was a brief pause and then she lifted her head, eyes lit up and with a smile she said: Mr. Nixon?'
- Mrs. E A. Jackson, Scunthorpe
A CAIRN
The Secretary -General tells me that his article in the October Review Excitement in Northern Canada has brought a subscription of £200 from a member in Lincolnshire who wishes to equip one complete cairn.
THANKS
The following letter was received at Headquarters from Walton -on -Thames , Surrey : Dear Sirs,
Having found a source through which I can express my gratitude I should like to take this opportunity to thank the St. John Ambulance Brigade and my further thank s go to Mr. & Mrs Davis of 6 Sand Rock Hill Road Farnham , Surrey, for their great kindness to me when I was involved in a car accident on the A3 Mr. Davis , a member of your organisation , was not only efficient and capable in administering to my wounds , but helped me keep a 's tiff upper lip' with his jokes and friendly manner; that was probably the wrong cliche to use as it was very hard to move my mouth at all!
I do hope your organisation continues to flourish and once again please accept my heartfelt thanks.
Yours faithfully, Janis E Gay
BIG DEMAND
During the last 3 1 2 years, I hear that over 600 industrial workers have obtained s tatutory first aid certificates as a result of attending one of the 4 -day non -residential courses run by the Hertfordshire Association Branch. All the courses are held at the count y headquarters at St. Albans and are organised by the County Director, Mr William Appleton
O ve r thirty courses have been held - an average of one course a month throughout
AROUND and
ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF ST JOHN
BY THE EDITOR
the year, excluding January, August and D ecember. Bookings a lr eady received for 1975 indicate that the number of courses may well have to be increased, however, in orde r o maintain the ideal limit of 20 s tud ents per course.
Although primaril y aimed at industry and comme rce in Hertfordshire, the courses have also reg ul a rl y attracted students from Bedfordshire and Essex Three courses had students from Gwent, Surrey and Birmingham.
RED EARS
The Sun n ewspaper's 'Have you been caught o ut telling a whoppe r ?' liveliest letter column produced this red-face: On my way to a football match I boarded a crowded bus. Bu t the conductor said I would have to get off, as I was one too many. I pleaded that I was on my way to vis it my sick wife, but he was adamant.
A St. John Ambulance Brigade man standing next to me said: ' You stay on. I'll get off.' And h e did. So I got to the match in time.
At half-time r slipped and twisted my ankle so badly that r had to hobble to the
APPOINTMENTS
HEADQUARTERS: Mr. M
Mahadev a has resigned as Chief Accountant and is succee ded by Mr. W S. G. Monro , FCA.
DURHAM: Colonel Hugh Kirton appointed Chairman St. John Council.
MERSEYSIDE: Mrs. J M. Edwards to County Secretary. Pending the establishment of County HQ premises, she will be working from: Kingsmead, Upton Road Birkenhead L437QQ. Ph one 051 - 652 (Claughton) 4943.
NORTHUMBRIA: Mr. B C. S Kippax appointed full-time Administrative & De ve lopment Officer.
PAKISTAN: Dr. M. Jalaluddin has s ucc ee ded Mr. Safir Ali Khan as Secretary-General.
first -a id post.
Guess who treated m y ankle? Yes, it was the St. John man who had given me his bus place.
R F., Bolton. Lan cs. Edit: What 's the treatment for burning ears?
£500 ANON
Windsor Ambulance and Nursing Divisions' a nnual fete got off to a good start this year, I hear. Advance publicity announcing that Di ana D arvey, sta r of TV, car baret and pan -
tomime, would open the fete produced a £500 donation from an anonymous wellwisher.
And after a warm welcome for Miss Darvcy on the day (she is currently working with Benny Hill on his new TV ser ies), fun and funds flowed in plenty at SJA Windsor's HQ The well-stocked stalls were soon doing a brisk trade - and £200 was raised in two hours.
A rame for a white and gold tea -s et given by the Queen was won by Councillor C. Aston, Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead, who then gave £20 to SJA funds. Since, Councillor Aston has used the tea -s et when he entertained the Queen during her recent tour of the Thames - and he told Her Majes ty that he plans to auction the set again for the benefit of SJA. 'A splendid idea,' thought the Queen.
ANY BODY HELP?
From a Shropshire newspaper: The old churchyard has been sadly
TEA UP!
neglected, largely because there have been no burials there for over thiry years. An appeal is to be launched to encourage voluntary bodies to remedy the situation.
LIFT OFF
Lyme Green Settlement is a group of 29 bungalows. recreation hall, hospital, workshop, etc, on the site of beautiful Lyme Green Hall, near Macclesfield. It is equipped and adapted for servicemen paralysed from the waist down, where they and their families can live a settled family life. It was decided earlier this year to reinstitute a system of open days so that additional interests could
be provided for those living at the settlement and to draw the attention of the public to flnancial and other support. Cheshire SJA Deputy Commissioner J Lawrence and Mrs Lawrence, County Super intendent(N) who are both governo rs of the settlement, were asked to arrange some of the events. One event, wit h tremendous co-operation from Brigade members, Mr. S. Z. de Ferranti and his helicopter pilot Captain Dick Hansen achieved its objectives and valuable St. John publicity.
At 6.30pm on Wednesday July 17 the exercise began with an announcement over the public add res s system that for the next item
BUSY COURSES
Herts Association County Director W lliam Appleton acting as a casualty during a 4-day course. See story BIG DEMAND
GUERNSEY WING FLIGHT
For many years SJA Guernsey has provided escorts for patients travelling by sea or air to and from the mainland and the Continent.
n September the Air Wing was ca lled to fly a 68year-old woman seriously Injured In a car crash from Cherbourg to Thomey Island. So she was acco mpanied by two Guernsey members T Member M ic hael Peters and his wife D Supt. Mrs. Jane Peters in a Channel Aviation twin - engined Piper Seneca piloted by Channel Aviation s Mr Peter Wells Here they are in blustery conditions at Guernsey Airport. The operation was complete in three hours after take-off from Guernsey (Photo Guernsey Press)
LIFT OFF
the spectators were to imagine that they were on a small island which had a cottage hospital two miles away capable of dealing with only minor casualties. A pop group arrived on the spacious lawns of the settlement (the small island) and after a short time one of its members developed acute appendicitis. Help was summoned from the St. John personnel on duty and it was decided to radio for a helicopter to transport the patient to the mainland for an emergency operation.
A message from the helicopter was received and acknowledged on the 2-way radio system and just prior to the plane's arrival a scume broke out among the Group, resulting in three casualties who were dealt with and conveyed to the local cottage hospital in the Cheshire County ambulance. The helicopter landed and during the loading of the patient
a further incident occurred when one of the Brigade personnel had a suspected coronary; he also had to be transported in the helicopter to the mainland. 25 Brigade personnel were involved in this exercise. which was organised and coordinated by County Staff Officer R. A. Fielding. who also acted as the radio operator in the helicopter. He was assisted by County Staff Officer (N) Mrs. M. E. McCormick. who took control of the incident prior to the arrival of the helicopter. Brigade personnel who acted as patients were Div. Supt. (R) F. W. Barton, coronary; Div. Officer Miss Jayne Cross, appendicitis; Ambulance Member B. J. Beswick, fractured leg; Nursing Member Jane K. Gibbons, fractured arm; and Nursing Member Anne Clough, lacerated face.
PUT YOUR BEST FOOT
The following piece of wintry advice entitled: 'Frankly, I welcome Petrol Rationing' is by 'The Doc', and from New Zealand SJA Auckland's The Crusader:
I say rationing is the best thing that could happen to us,
It means walking more. The finest natural exercise there is. Swinging along, head back, chest out, tummy in, adds years to your life.
That's why a man is told to walk up to five miles a day when he's on the go again after a coronary. Why a woman gets the same marching orders after a course of injections for varicose veins. Honestly, there isn't a part of the body that doesn't benefit.
The great thing about walking in winter is that it is more demanding. Chances are you'll be pushing into a wind. Or plootering through the snow. It means more effort from the heart, muscles and lungs. Good. For within reason the greater the demand, the better for you. Indeed, you can get the same good from walking half the distance in winter that you'd have to do in the summer.
Another thing. Have you ever noticed when you go out for a walk on a dry, frosty day you're able to breath deeply and freely?
Even if normally our nose tends to be a bit stuffy and your chest a mite wheezy! The cold shrinks the lining of the nostrils and the tubes. The air has an easier passage. What a tonic that is to the lungs! And, incidentally, the brain
People who walk to work arrive with a clearer head and sharper mind. Stands to reason, really Sitting in a stuffy car or bus, breathing in exhaust fumes or cigarette smoke, dulls the mind like no body ' s business.
If you're a bit dubious about going out in the cold because you tend to be chesty , don't worry. Provided you're warmly wrapped up, no harm should come to you.
Incidentally, contrary to what nine out of
ALL SET FOR ...
Chri stine Hanby - a jun or at 8 cadet at 11 , an d now at 15 the youngest and first Cobham Surrey c adet to gain the Grand Prior's Award - being pres e nted to her by Ar e a Commissioner D E Henderson Christine s now looking forward to the day sh e moves to the nursing division o f which h er mother is superintendent. Her aunt Miss Gw en Dodson is Area Staff Officer nurs ng di v is ions A future ASO here?
MIND BENDERS
Find the fir st aid word or word s in the clue The number or letter s in the an swer is given To get you used to the idea I ll give you the fir st an swe CLUE: Two girl s o n your knee ( 3,4) ANSWER : PAT ELLA O.K?
I.
An swer s: - a e on next age. N o c heatin g.
ten people imagine, it does no harm to walk to work with a stuffy head cold. Far from making you worse, it'll help you to get better. All you need is a scarf for extra protection.
JOHN S DREAM
A dream came true, r hear, for a Southport SJ A member recently with the culmination of 'Win -a - Mini' competition. He is Corp. Officer John Hesketh, who has been a member nearly 40 years, and had dreamed of running a really big fund raising effort.
He told his wife (Div. Nursing Offiicer) Wyn about it one evening, and they decided to try They formed a committee from Southport Divisions, and with the cooperation of the local press the scheme was launched
It involved a few legal difficulties at first, as it could not be held as a rame (when prizes are limited to the value of £50), so
FOR SJA GUERNSEY
REALI T Y
with the advice of the legal department of Southport Corporation a competition was devised to estimate the attendance of the world - famous Southport Flower Show Ticket s were printed, the car purchased (at co s t price, thanks to local dealers McClean & Appleton), posters were made, dozens of letters typed , the hard work had begun.
Several outside sites were kindly made available for the sale of the tickets , but unfortunately the weather, especially at weekends, was against the outdoor sales, and so several events were held to supplement the ticket sales - jumble sales rames, a s trawberry fare, and a Bangers & Beans night. All helped towards the cost of the car and the printing, which was £809 At last towards the end of July , the cost was covered. and work went ahead to make a profit before the deadline August 21. The weather turned a little kinder for a couple of weeks in August, and the outdoor sites were utilised . The target on the Corporation Hall crept higher, interest grew, more donations were received, and at last the £1,000 spot was reached. Mr. Hesketh began to 'breath again As the tickets Oowed in Mr. & Mrs.
Below (L to R are Staff Officer M J Dene , Dr W B Cambridge (Association Director) , Colonel John Pye Deputy Commissioner D. B Moore and Commissioner H Touzeau (Photos : Guernsey Press)
NEW COMP.
The first inter-factory first aid competition run by the Poole Dorset , branch of the Royal College of N ursing, Occupational Health Group, was held at BDH Chemicals Poole factory recently. Nine teams entered for the competion, which was judged by SJA members. Here (left). the Royal College's Nurse Officer Paul Lloyd hands troph ies to the delighted winners The competition is now to be an annual event. Our best wishes to the Poole comp
Hesketh 's house became a hi ve of activity. Every eve ning was spent (sometimes into the small hours) sorting the tickets into boxes to facilitate the final judging.
The day before the Flower Show the last tickets were called in so that no unfair advantage could be gained by last-minute competitors. At the judging, attended by the Flower Show chairman and secretary, not one of the thousands of entries had estimated the exact figure of attendance - 120,241but there were four only one out, so an eliminating contest, which involved estimating the number of tickets sold, was
held. The eventual winner was Mr. J Bifield of Southport, who until recently was an SJ A member of London District.
He was presented with the keys of the car at a fancy-dress dance by TV cartoonist Bill Tidy, which was filmed by BBC/TV for a programme 'One Man's Week' which will be shown on BBC2 during January. At the dance Mr. Tidy presented the Brigade with three cartoons, two of which were auctioned, the other being' presented to Corp. Superintendent W. Robinson. It will be hung in SJA Southport's headquarters - as a token to John Hesketh's dream
BORDER INCIDENT
SJA's Executive Director D. M. John stone, of Yellowknife, North West Territories, Canada, writes me that they would love to get 'Panhandle' (their term for Alaska) back from the USA
I'll be getting Dr. Kissinger on my trail (see page 8, July 74 Review). Sorry, folksboth sides of the border.
MIND BENDERS (answers)
'Sl!d '17 :u -o! -ssnJ -uo J ( :EllI O J ( J ;J q J 1JJ IS 1
AT RA N DO M
Inspiration - yes, but it 's a hollow sham to say that we've been inspired unless we prove it by doing something as a result. So what can you and I do about it? Perhaps, for a start, we can strive to form part of that 'i nfusion of ten thousand John Baptists' for whose word and example our Prelate appealed -'Granite on fire' - 'A lamp that blazed and shone'. But our unshakeable determination must be coupled with genuine humility; for just as the true first-aider's chief aim, after saving life , is to bring his patient into the skilled hands of the physician and then stand aside, so John Bapti st's chief aim was to bring his followers into the healing presence of the Great Physician, the source of all life, and then withdraw into obscurity. ' He must increase. I must decrease .'
Welfare
Recently I attended the latter part of a leadership training course for potential and prospective officers in Hertfordshire. It was their fir st effort of this kind, organised by a
(contd. from page 1)
young and very go -ahead County Staff Officer for Training with tremendous support from the whole of the County and Area Staffs. There were about 40 present, which they agreed was really too many; but so keen was the respon se to the invitation to attend the course that they hadn't the heart to cut the numbers down!
Two sessions at which I had the good fortune to be present were outstandingone on Administration (a dull-sounding subjec t which was treated in a manner that was extremely clear, informative and amusing) and the other on Welfare. The latter was gi ven by the County Staff Officer for Welfare who, besides having had previous experience as an Assistant Commissioner for Cub Scouts and a Superintendent of a Cadet Division, is a professional social welfare worker. The word 'welfare' has a new ring about it to many of us in St John Ambulance; but, as the speaker pointed out, the concept of welfare is as old as civilised humanity The Roman poet Terence, writing in the second
to have an ambulance ready at the foot of the clifT is a vitally important work of compa sion, and yet how many disasters could be averted if, at the top of the cliff, were men determined to stop people from falling over the edge!
An increasing number of counties have been experimenting with leadership training courses during the past few years. Having myself been involved in getting one going in my former county five years ago 1 can confidently say that r believe them to be of immense value in improving the quality of our officers and therefore of their di visions.
But may r dare to offer some advice, drawn from my experience both in Scouting and in St John?
I. Let it be quite clear from the start that anyone attending a leadership course is not automatically going to be appointed to fill the next officer vacancy that occurs.
2. Training and learning are continuing processes , and anyone who thinks that by attending a course he has been trained' had better think again - or get out!
3. Leadership courses don t relieve Area Staff and Divisional Superintendents of their responsibility to train potential officers week in, week out, in their divisions: they are complementary to that training and their value is all the greater if much of that training has been given already.
4. Re ist the temptation to include too much talking in the programme; even the work done in groups or syndicates should be as actil'e as possible, and not just turn into 'discussion huddles'.
century before Christ, said '1 am a man, and there is no aspect of humanity to which I can count myself indifferent.'
And the same thought inspired John Donne ( 1571 - 1631) to write: 'No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.'
r hope these words may catch the eye of the Divisional Superintendent who said that he 'didn't believe in welfare'; you can't just 'not believe in welfare' if you're genuinely concerned in the Service of Mankind Of cou r se we must watch our priorities, and beware of turning welfare into a 'c ult to the exclusion of using our first aid and nursing skills to help the injured and the sick. But the opportunities are there if we have the eyes to see them; the talent is there if we have the will to use it; and the time is there if we have the determination to make it. As our Prelate said in his address at York,
que s tions and discussion; then came a quite excellent demonstration of first aid treatment of fractures of the lower limbs, given by a young Area Superintendent whom I've known ever since he first joined as a cadet; and finally, the course divided into fi ve groups in different rooms to practise treatment of fractures, each group watched by one or two members of the division who were ready to give a helping hand where necessary.
During the doctor's lecture, these divi s ional members (two of whom were members of the county ambulance service) were in another room getting on with their own training and being briefed for their part in supervising the groups later on Soon after his lecture was fini s hed, the doctor's 'bleeper' went off and he had to go and make a phone call, but he very shortly returned to take his share in supervising the practical work.
When used to run Association courses r reckoned that I'd devised a pretty good system for getting the necessary information from candidates on the first evening without any queuing, time -wasting and boredom. That first evening ought really to go like a bomb, so that the candidates go away feeling that they've had a real welcome and have already learnt something worthwhile, and they'll come back the following week hungry for more
But my system was 'old hat' compared with the hand -out that they use now. I thought it was so good that I've asked the editor to reproduce it, to give you a chance of adopting or adapting it to your own local needs when you run your next course.
Yes - it was a very happy ny that, having escaped being swotted, took off from the wall and went to bed that night!
5. Granted that good leadership is our objective, since that leadership will be exercised within the context of our first aid and nursing skills, let it be practised H'ithil1 that context all the course itself.
Fly on the wall
Have you ever wished you could be a ny on the wall? I came as near as is humanly possible to attaining that wish a few weeks ago when I was staying for a couple of nights near myoId division (formerly in South Bucks and now in East Berks) and r slipped in one evening to the back of the room - for many years my own schoolroom! - where the division's annual first aid course for the public was in progress.
There were over 40 on the course, about half of them Eton boys and the remainder a fair cross section of the local community including three nursing cadets qualifying for promotion. The first hour was devoted to the Divisional Surgeon's lecture on unconsciousness, followed by
.EVERY DAY FIRST AID
- an easy -t o - u n d e rst a nd se ries o f advice th at will help YOU to cop e wi t h FAMILY ACCIDENTS
BURNS
part two
by Dennis Clark, MBE , FRCS
THE M OS T common forms of family accidents are 'Falls', then (equally)
P oiso n ing' and B urns and Scalds'. Each year some 15,000 peo p le are admitted to h os p it a ls in Grea B ritain for b u rns or sca lds, 8,000 of w h om are bu rned at home and a b ou t h a f h ave ig n ited cloth ing from open and unguarded fires.
Unde r t h e age of t h ree, scalds are frequent, ofte n from im p u lsively grasping hot ute n si ls, p an ha n dles and kettle spo u ts. In
sc h oo l chil dr en bu rn s a r e so common that they a r e the most freq u ent acci d ental cause
o f d e ath at thi s age. T h ese children e njoy the fl a m es of matc h es, lighters, candles, cigarett es, bo n fires, fireworks, paraffin and petro l. T h ey will igni t e and play with paper , o pen fires, elect r ical utensils, oil or gas fires a nd se ld o m appreciate da n ger until they are hurt.
Working adults suffer burns from in dustria l or traffic accidents, though the housewife, engaged in her occupation, is o ften bu rned b y open fires, cooking incidents
an d ex pl osions from oil or gas appliances.
The e lderly s uffer scalds thro u gh lifting hot liq u id s in qua n tities too heavy for them.
They forget to turn off electrical and gas equipment such as fires, ovens heating rings and electric blankets. They are notorious for falling asleep with a lighted cigarette in the lips.
Conflagrations
Many of these causes and others can set a room ablaze. While the fire is small, put it out. Beat out, blowout, smother or quench small flames whatever the cause. Smother cooking fat fires with metal pan lids. Send for the Fire B r igade for larger fires, especially those caused by inflammable liquids, for then 'foam' fire extinguishers and expert handling are needed. Disconnect the source of an electrical conflagration before dousing the flames. Ignited clothing, best flooded with cold water , may have to be smothered. Use heavy cloth such as woollen rugs, blankets or overcoats Never use nylon or other 'man -made' material unless it is known to be fi re resistant. Use plenty of water when q u enching fires. Send at once for the Fire B rigade for a n y sizeable conflagration even if you think you have put it out.
Once a fire is out of control a rescue situation can arise which is best handled by professional firemen trained in carrying dragging or otherwise conveying trapped persons out of danger. Occasionally action must be taken in such an emergency , so remember the following rules:
I. Remove everybody from a burning building at once and forbid re -entry The only exception to this is to rescue another person
2. Lead the rescued all the way to safety Judgement can be impaired by inhaling hot gases and a casualty may be confused enough to return into the fire.
3. If rescue is needed , keep low -'hot gases and smoke rise If possible wear a wet handkerchief or cloth as a mask to prevent inhalation of hot particles or gases.
First aid for the victims of conflagrations not only includes the diagnosis and treatment for burns but also for breathing tract injuries caused by inhaled hot gases and particles, especially after explosions. Recognise noisy and difficult breathing. Be ready to use the recovery position and
respiratory resuscitation. Arrange speedy transport to hospita by ambulance.
Electrical Burns
A casualty with electrical contact burns may also have damage to tissues under the skin Electrocution , immediately fatal , occur s from high voltages, unlikely in the home , but the medium voltage household supply can cause muscular spasm which can include the heart muscle. Cardiac and respiratory resuscitation may be needed if the heart or breathing has stopped but, even without such extreme results , heart failure can- develop after an hour or so in those receiving a moderate electric shock. It is therefore important to make a casualty lie down and be taken to hospital on a stretcher. Every electrical contact burn should be considered by a first -aider to have a deep invisible extension of damage under the skin. A dry dressing should be applied and the casualty referred to hospital . Occasionally freak surface patterns of lightning burns will
occur without other damage to the casualty but, even in these, obtain medical aid.
Remember always to interrupt the electrical s upply in the ways listed in first aid text books before giving first aid - to prevent a second casualty.
Chemical Burns
Chemical burns result from the interaction of chemicals usually strong acids or alkalis , with the skin or linings to mouth, throat or eyes. There may be poisonous effects too
As few strong acids or alkalis are used in the home chemical burns are uncommon family accidents. Descaling fluids and the phenol (carbolic) antiseptics are the most common acids , while ammonia and quick lime are possibly the most widely used alkali s Being liquids they spread easily are difficult to control and safe dilution can be awkward Quick common sense is needed. The choice between the precedence of clothing removal , mopping up, or flooding with water must be decided immediately.
ST. JOHN HOUSE BEDFORD
ST. JOHN HOUSE,the county headquarters at 34 St. John s Street, Bedford , is situated in the 'King s Ditch ', part of the Anglo -Saxon community which lay south of the River Ouse from Bedford.
Its date of origin is uncertain - a register at Lincoln says 980 but it is much more likely to be about 1180. Robert de Parys John St. John and Henry St. John founded the Hospital of St. John and endowed it to support a master and brethren who would lead a religious life based on strict rules and who would care for the poor and needy of Bedford
At the Reformation the church that had been part of the hospital became the Parish Church of St. John and the hospital became the rectory
The whole extent and plan of the original building have not been revealed; to have disclosed them would have meant extensive excavations and desecrating the graveyard. The remaining rectangular block stretches east to west - other parts almost certainly extended north and south from it.
The original 12th -century remains can be seen outside a long part of both the north and south facades. I n side , in the south wall is a window originally of great height , whilst on the north side also can be seen remains of windows of the same date.
The 15th -century building work consisted mainly in the fine first floor timber -framed hall. Some of the original str u cture of this has been well preserved in particular the roof timbers. Immediate!y below this hall is a room in which fragments of wall pai n tings can be seen which are of this period and which originally covered all the wall surfaces. Also in this room and in the one
Wh e n it s s afe, flood the burnt area with water re peatedly.
Tw o example s of chemical burns need special emphasis - lime burns on the eye , and th e burn s of s wallowed carbolic anti septics
Th e s mallest particle of lime under an e y elid can cau se disfiguring scars and even threaten the s ight. Wash out the eye repeatedly , e ven during tran s port , until the ca s ualt y is handed over to a doctor Burns from swallowed carbolic acid are difficult to see and may not appear serious but the y cause intense pain and swelling in the throat. Urgent medical aid is needed and , po ss ibl y, respirator y resuscitation - but not mouth - to - mouth resuscitation. Use the Holger -Neil son method as the casualty'S position allow s drainage from the throat; the technique is efficient and there is no danger to the first -aider. Some authorities advise no fir s t a id to
immediately to the west of it can be seen large painted oak floor joists in the ceiling.
The black and white roses were probably once red and white to represent Lancaster a nd York The marguerites which can also be seen make it seem likely that Margaret Beaufort had connections with the building ( whilst l ving at Bletsoe Castle she gave birth tc Henr y Tudor who became Henry VII)
The 17th -century is chiefly interesting for the fact of John Bunyan s visits to the rectory and its portrayal as The Interpreter's House in Pilgrim's Progress
The chimne y stack from this period.
In the 18th -century the buildings at the north side were demolished and the brick g able that can be seen at the west end formed
The Victorians extensively damaged the old building in 1851 by building a cross -wing facing east. The north and south gable -ends of this remain as built from material recovered from the early building Windows were replaced with Gothick' replicas which
Sailors of the Cross
THE PAST maritime glories of our Order of St. John, made up of its eight langues or countries, were an early form of European Defence Organisation. The military order of Templars, recalled to France, were suppressed by the King in 1312. The Teutonic Knights, in 1309, had withdrawn to Prussia to convert heathens into Christians and lay the foundations for the Hohenzollern dynasty Our Knights Hospitaller, more adaptable to circumstances, were transformed from soldiers of the Cross in the Holy Land to sailors of the Cross after the capture of Rhodes and its many adjacent Dodecanese islands in 1309
The seaborne trade from the ancient ports of Venice, Genoa, Pisa, Amalfi, Greece, France and Spain had become increasingly hazardous on account of the swarms of muslim corsairs who issued from Egypt and the Barbary coast, while through the Hellespont came Turkish ships from Constantinople, the last remnant of the B yzantine Empire to fall in 1453, so opening the way to the invasion of Europe, which surged to the gates of Vienna before being thrown back.
The Moors, finally ejected from Spain to Barbary in 1492, took to the sea as the Knights had done, to wage a relentless holy war of revenge on such Christian ships as could be waylaid, as well as coastal raids.
An Order Captain of Vesse ls, Ma ta b y A L. C RAIG-JEFFREYS, Cdr RN
Warships used by both sides were galleys carrying two great lateen sails assisted by up to twenty-seven oars per side and several slaves to each oar. The galleass was a larger version of the galley. Slaves were shackled naked to the benches, urged on by whips and cast overboard if they showed signs of unfitness. Only from 1700 were line -of-battle ships added to the Fleet of the Religion during the Malta period ending with 1798. The evolution of the steamship put an end to
A n Orde r Capt ai n of galleys , Malta
s ail and oar - prop e lled raiders.
As early as 1234 we hear the title of 'Commendator Navium ' , Admiratus in 1299 and reference to a Fleet during 1308.
In the rei g n of Grand Master Emmanuel Pinto, in mid -eighteenth century, regular naval uniform s were adopted at about the same time as our own King George II devised his patterns , inspired s o the story goes by the remarkable hunting rig and tricorn hat worn b y a contemporary Duchess of Bedford. Man y were the battle s fought to protect convoy s from the marauding Turks and such cor s air s as the brothers Barbarossa, Dragut and Ali Basha Knights captured and condemned to the galley s were often ransomed Jean de la Vallette wa s one, later
An O de r Ge n e al o f ga ll eys, M alt a
LO be Grand Master during the Great Siege of 1565 and builder of Valletta. But there were short periods of precarious peace and trade between Christian and Muslim till s uch time a s agreement was broken. Then the game of hide and seek began allover again from the pirate harbours and through the Greek islands. The final victory at sea
VISUAL AIDS
BASIC FIRST AID
Slides/cassetted tapes or filmstrips/tapes (CT/304)
against the force s of Islam came in 1571 at Lepanto Don John of Austria commanded the fleet s of the Papacy, Spain, St. John, Genoa, Venice , Savoy and Naples. The Ottoman armada of over 330 ships, including many corsairs, was crushingly defeat e d. continues in its original Hospitaller tradition , seen a s the St. John Ambulance at public gatherings , an example of selfless voluntary devotion to the service of one ' s fellow men, symbolised in our eight - pointed Cross. (Reprinted from the Year Book of the Council of Ihe Order for Somerset, Compiled and edited by Dorothy Bingham -Hall) So mu c h for past history. The Order
Camera Talks Ltd. 31 North Row, London, WIR2EN.
Part 1 - The Holger Neilsen Method
Part 2 - Exhaled Air Resuscitation
Part 3 - Wounds and Bleeding
Part 4 - Unconsciousness
Part 5 - Fractured Femur
Part 6 - Slings
Cost: £9.50 each part. Total: £57.00
These six parts were photographed at the R A.M.C. Training Centre at Aldershot and present first aid in army situations
Part 1 Holger Neilsen Method (Transparencie s 17). A straightforward exposition that unfortunately includes the obsolescent term '%prone position
Part 2, Exhaled Air Resuscitation (Transparencies 19). This presentation gives priority to mouth -to -nose; the recovery position shown is not strictly in accordance with St. John teaching and the jaw extension is not clearly defined.
Part 3, Wounds and Bleeding (Transparencies 19). A straightforward presentation.
Part 4, Unconsciousness (Transparencies 22). A good presentation marred by the term '% prone position '
Part 5 , Fractured Femur (Transparencies 14). A good presentation although a more common fracture might have been a better choice.
Part 6, Slings (Transparencies 45). An excellent presentat ion of the art of bandaging although the terms , Greater Arm Sling and St. John Sling' are outmoded
The panel said: From the visual aid viewpoint this series is surprisingly successful - each of the presentation deals with practical subjects and the static transparencies are quite successful in displaying moving techniques the bandaging and reef knot instructions are well done.
Each of these parts is modelled by army personnel in uniform and in army situation with service standard dressings and equipment; the recovery position and some of the terminology are not in accordance with St. John practice and for these reasons the whole presentation cannot be recommended as standard for St. John instruction although the serie s will be most useful for exhibition either before or after St. John training sessions.
ANGELS CAN DO NO MORE (USA) 16mm, colour film: 35 minutes. Purchase price: £186 United Airlines Ltd. 52 Conduit Street, London W.l. I n -flight emergencies and treatment thereto.
The panel considered that this A merican film from the filmcraft view - point is not ideal. Its somewhat lengthy didactic lecture by the doctor concerned militates against its value as a film. On the other hand , the medical material contained within the film is first rate and it is excellent teaching material for Air Wing, Air Attendants, etc. Minor criticism might be levied at the lack of 'stop smoking' procedure when
oxygen is given, insufficiently lengthy cold water treatment for burns , elevation of a bleeding hand.
This film is the only one currently available in this specialized field and is strongly recommended.
FOUR IN THE CROWD
16mm, colour film: 28 minutes. Free loan
Random Film Library, 25 The Burroughs, London, NW4.
This film shows four people each of whom characterises various a s pects of diabetes and the problems that may arise.
The panel considered that this film, made in Sweden, betrayed its origins in that equipment portrayed is not in common use in this countr y. The film itself is quite useful in making the general public aware of t.he problems of sufferers from this disease but it is too impressionistic for informed audience and not simple enough for St. John first -aiders. All in all of general interest only.
Audience: Universal.
MARIJUANA
16mm colour film: 34 minutes. Hire fee: £3 . 25 British Temperance Society, Stanborough Park, Watfor d, Herts. WD26JP.
This film compiles information gained after interviews with teenagers and young adults and shows confrontation of ideas between young people in respect of drug taking.
The panel considered the film exceptionally American in concept extremely difficult to appraise inasmuch as the dialogue is, to the average British viewer, incomprehensible. Not recommended.
PREPARING AND GIVING INSTRUCTION
16mm. colour film: 20 minutes.
One copy only of the above- named 16mm film has been acquired for this H Qs and is available on loan.
The film covers basic learning principles of interest, attention and memory and how the senses are involved in !earning process. It shows how to prepare and use a lesson plan, learning aids and how to avoid common errors in instruction.
Although this film, made by the Construction Industry Training Board. is directed at its own industry the techniques and method of instruction are well illustrated.
Audience : Will be of value to all engaged in instruction in St. John. A copy of this film is availa ble, £2 hire fee, from Mr. P. L. Adams, Sec. Visual Aids, St. John Ambulance HQ, 1 Grosvenor Crescent, London, SW I 7EF
COMMERCIALISM?
from R. E. Taylor
St John seems to have plunged into the mail order business at the deep end. What a pity! As a businessman myself though not affected by the articles catalogued, I feel very strongly that this move is ill -advised and against the real principles of St John.
We must have many members in both Association and Brigade who are in business and will be affected, however slightly - we rely on many traders for gifts and donations - all these people will be deeply offended ye t we shall still expect them to support us whilst we filch part of the business that allows them to do so.
St John is a voluntary organisation not a trading company. Let it sell its own stores and items peculiar to it and limit it to that. I suspect that what St John makes out of this venture is an agent's commission whilst behind the scenes in Manchester, a mail order company laughs its head off at our innocence.
Let those in autho rit y over us look at this scheme again and ponder its wisdom. They might bear in mind that once before the greed of the Order brought about its downfall.
Bideford, De vo n R. E. Ta y lor
The Secretary General writes
r hope the St John Supplies Department will not be cast in the role of villain, for this scheme has nothing to do with them. A firm of specialists has been employed to handle the goods, as this is the most economical method; but the entire profits of Support St John Ltd ., are bein g covenanted to the Order.
I was none the less interested to see this lette r. Many members may instinctivel y sympathise with Mr. Taylor 's view , but it is only right that I should record that many others have written to welcome and to praise the scheme. Much as we may prefer that St John should manage without such things, we must not blind ourselves to the economic facts which face us. They are very compelling If we are to do our duty , to maintain and even expand our works of charity as the public expects, we cannot do without the money, and the publicity which this scheme and others will generate.
The wind of change is blowing strongly, as other eminent charities have already recogni se d. We in St John shaH fail to heed it at our peril. If we have survived in the past, through nearly 1000 years, it has been due as much as anything else to an ability to move with the times, to recognise and respond to change so far as is consistant with the essential principles and character of our Order. We must not be a fuddy -duddy organisation. We must come to terms with the world we live in if we are effectively to serve the people of that world.
WOT - NO MORE TEE -SHIRTSI
from D. Lambley, ASO
Fifty Derbyshire ambulance and nursing cadets from Bakewell, Chaddesden, Matlock and Glossop spent a week camping at Filey , Yorkshire, from August 10 to 17 this year.
Outings to nearby Flamborough Head and Scarborough were two of the highlights of the week, culminating in a moonlight barbeque on the beach on the last eveni ng in camp
The majority of the cadets and officers had been able to purchase the St John tee-s hirts which we re worn almost continua ll y throughout the week, and the black and white Maltese crosses became a wellknown sight on the local beaches.
What a marvellous public relations job they did The shirts were recognised by man y friends of St John and enquiries we re made by numerous interested holidaymakers and tradesmen. My only concern is that I understand when present stocks are exhausted, Headquarter s' Supplies Department will not be obtaining any further supp li es Let us hope that they reconsider this as I am sure that all Divisions are not aware of the existence of these tee -s h irts. I had hoped to
READERS VIEWS
Readers' views and OpiniOnS, which shoul d be sent to the Editor, although published are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor or the Order of St John an d its Foundations. Although readers may sign published letters with a pen -na me, writers must supply their name and address to the editor.
forward a photograph showing the cadets in the tee-shirts but the age of the cine film and colour photographs have replaced black and white holiday snaps.
Matlock, Derbys. D. Lambley
Editor: The Director of Supplies tells me that he is hoping to soon have in stock another tee - shirt of an even livelier pattern than the one Mr. Lambley mention s. So the new SJ tee-shirt should reall y create a se n sa tion on the beach
AIR
ATTENDANTS
from D. H. Clark, HQ Staff Officer (Air Wing)
I read with interest Mrs. Warrack 's article entitled Will you fly with me. I do not wish to dampen the enthusiasm of St John members who wish to take the air attendant certificate but would point out that possession of this certificate does not entitle the holder to automatic admission to the air attendant register or to wear the air attendant badge.
Members who pass the air attendant course have the right to apply for admission to the register. Before they can be admitted several conditions must be met:
I. The y must be between the ages of 21 and 50 ie. qualifying in their 49th year would be of no value.
2. A member who is only available at weekends or outside working hour s would not be considered except in exceptional circumstances, ie. doctors or nurses It is essential that members can be available in less than 24 hours Most flights have very short notice - some as little as two hours.
3. The possession of a car, home and business telephone are essential. Me ssages cannot be left with friend s or workmates.
4. They must hav e fairly quick access to a major airport and also have undert ake n a rea so nable amount of flying. The sing le s h ort trip can hardly be sa id to be enough.
5 A valid 10 yea r passport, 3 yearly vaccination and an annual TAB inoculation are a must.
6. M embers must be prepared to take a refresher course every three yea r s.
In s hort , an air attendant on the register must be properly documented, eas ily contacted, have good availability be able to leave work at short notice and arrange time off quickly , be prepared to travel anywhere, work hard , keep a cool head and cope with all sorts of problems both in the air and at foreign airports, including delays, diversions, lost luggage, difficult patients and a host of other problems. Only doctors and nurses are required in the London area Outside of this area there is a need for air attendants in some of the major airport areas.
D. H Clark
WHAT'S IN A PUNCH? from Alan Sharkey
Some while ago I wrote a short article for the Review (May 1973 ) in which r compared artificial respiration as advocated by the 1972 manual with the treatment recommended by the 1911 edition I explained how changes in technique, perhaps unwelcome at first, were so essential and th at the most far reaching changes had been in the field of artificial respiration
I was not therefore too surprised to recentl y read in a newspaper of 'a new lifesavi ng method developed by Dr. Henry Heimlich. chief surgeon at the Jewish Hospit a l in Cincinnati.' The method is said to be an emergency treatment for persons choking on food or dragged drowning from water. We are told that all we need to do is to repeatedly punch the wretched v ictim as hard as we can in the stomach.
This treatment is perhaps no more alarming than external heart compression see med when first introduced and I wonder if such a treatment is likely to be inc lud ed in the next edition of the manual? In any event it would be interesting to know the views of the Surgeon -inChief.
Ho van, Alan Shark ey
The Surgeon - in -Chief writes: Mr Sharkey is showi ng foresight in inviting atten tion to the Heimlich treatment but as a matter of inte rest this method of re s uscitation was discussed by the Medical Board on September 25 1974. Further investigation is taking place but at the moment, it appears most unlikely that the Joint Edition of the Fir st Aid Manual will include this procedure
THE
MAN'S
THE GOLD from II Penseroso
As so meone who writes many letters to the editor I am surprised (and dismayed!) quite often when someone picks on an irrelevant point and misses the main point altogether. (Letter Uniform Inspection s, October Review) I did not set out to jibe at 'middle-aged ex-service gentlemen attracted to the Order but to point out the uselessness of uniform inspections where those inspected are left in doubt as to the faults for which they lo st points.
To me, and to most AMs, I expect, it s quite immaterial whether the in s pe cti n g officer has had a long service career or ha s followed an unexciting civilian course - after all, many factors over which the individua l ha s no control dictated the course of his life; for a short and exciting period at the close of the war I sauntered around in a German naval port with bars of go ld braid on my s houlder -s trap s and a revolver and fifty bullets hung around my midriff, but this was only an interlude in a long civilian career, due to having been born and brought up when and where I was.
r would not wish to divide officers into two rigidly -bounded groups; it would not help the movement in any way nor is there any point in being hubristic (that's a good word!) as a member of either the officer group or 'the othe r ranks.' In St John it is most certainly true that ' The rank is but the guinea-stamp; the man 's the gold for a' that.'
M y rumed feathers smoothed themselves out when I turned over a pa ge and read about the wonderful old youngster who still serves at the R oyal Gwent Hospital. (News from Wale s, October Review) Keep it up. Dan, you're an example to us all.
Bath
HIM - HER
from Mrs. Sally Hardacre, Brigade County Secretary
II Penseroso
Although 'my own, my native land' is the great and glorious County of Yorkshire. I do not object to being mistaken for a Cypriot - or even for a refugee - but I do, most decidedly, object to being designated 'him'.
I realise that when one enters the Wonderland of St John (as I told the county an eternity ago, I know just how Alice felt), peculiar things happen to one.
Changing sex, however, is one thing that will not happen to me. I enjoy being a girl.
Oxford Sally Hardacre
Ed itor: T'd better explain In the article FROM CYPRUS, Septem ber Review, the Oxfordshire Bri gade County Secretary was referred to as him'. And I can well understand why Sally enjoys 'being a gir l'. She se nt me her photograph to prove it, but unfortunately it was a colour pic which I can't reproduce. Let's just say that the Oxfordshire Brigade County Sec Sally Hardacre is very much a her '.
A new Land-Rover ambulance for Hanwell Combined Division from the local Rotar ians is dedicated by
LAUGH WITH DAN, THE FIRST AID MAN
coin dropped on his big toe.'
Dodge NSupt. Jack Bowen and NSupt. Miss Dean. (Photo: Middlesex County Times)
from SCOTLAND
Planning permission has been obtained for the
Torphichen
The Order of St. John exhibition was dismantled on September 30 after a viewing period in the Preceptory of fifteen weeks. During that time it is thought that double the usual number of visitors to the Preceptory saw the building and exhibition and the admission takings were up on last year: indeed many school groups from the surrounding area travelled to the exhibition. As an exercise to promote interest and understanding of the work and history of the Order it proved a great success. Letters of appreciation were received from the Ancient Monuments Section of the Dcpartment of the Environment and from Lady Torphichen. The Department of the Environment in fact expressed the wish to purchase the panels and mount them as a permanent show in the upper chambers of the Preceptory. A request has also been received from the Edinburgh City Museums to have the exhibition in the Canongate Tolbooth, while Lady Mitchell. DStJ. asked for duplicates of twenty one of the exhibition panels to be sent out to the St. John As sociation in the Bahamas.
The ind ividual panels are being photographed so that an information album can be put together for presentation to the libraries of the Priory. of St. 10hn's Gate and of the West Lothian History Society which kindly g a\e prizes for the children's competition. The banner s and knightly accoutrements have been retained and will be made available to any of the Associations who wish to use them. The banner standards will be kept at Torphichen for use on future ceremonial occasIOns.
1.R -S
WALES
Cynon Valley
The annual Cynon Valley Sunday was held in spite of inclement weather at Sl. Josephs Church, Cwmaman, Aberdare. with an excellent turn out of officers and cadets
The salute was taken by Dr. Brian Price, Commissioner, Mid Glamorgan. He was accompanied at the saluting base by Dr. Manna Price; Dr. Roy Treasure, Assl. Commissioners Cynon Valley, and Dr. Sybil Treasure the Mayor and Mayoress of Cynon Valley; Lady Williams, DStJ, Chairman St. John Council; Asst. Commissioner(R) Mr. S. Sage; and Asst. Commissioner (Nursing) Mrs. R. M. Protheroe. The parade was led by District StafT Officers L. Rees and Mrs. P. Harrison - Roderick (R). Oil arrival at the church all were met by the vicar, the Rev G. H Bowen The Colour Party (Nursing Cadets) came from the Cwmaman Division, and the Code of Chivalry was read by a cadet also from Cwmaman Division. During the service, Dr. Brian Price presented the following awards:
Julia Lloyd. Penrhiwceiber Nursing Cadets, Special Service Shield Gold Award, 1,000 hrs; Geraldine Protheroe. Julie Beynon, Susan Williams and Denise Morgan. all of Mountain Ash Town (Nursing), Special Service Shields for 200 hrs.
Llanelli
SJA L1anelli's immediate aims are to raise funds for a mobile first aid unit and to acquire more nursing members At the Llanelli swimming pool life -saving lessons have been started by SJA's Assistant Commissioner A W. Holloway
National First Aid Competitions
London, September 26
News from Divisions/Centres
Sophie or Nursing Member Edwards as the Queen Mother knows her, retires. Sep. LONDON
(Above) Kidderminster Ambulance Cadet team, who came 2nd in the recent HerefordiWorcester autumn cadet competitions, and (below) the gleeful girls of Malvern - the winners. You'll beat 'em next time, fellows. (Photos: Tom Bader Hop Market , Worcester)
HANTS - Milton Ambulance Nursing Cadet Division, Portsmouth, has been a Nursing Cadet Division since 1942 and became a combined division early this year. It already has 15 ambulance cadets and during the summer ran a map -reading course to give them something of interest during the school holidays. Two nursing cadets also took part.
A few days after the exam we were amused to read in our county circular that the Commissioner-in -Chief was concerned that cadets were not taking the map - reading proficiency subject or other forms of adventure! In fact we hope that map -reading will be the first step in an interesting programme of adventure training which will include expeditions, orienteering and signalling. Of course even map-reading must include some element of first aid. Part of the practical exercise involved treating a casualty assumed to have fallen from the roof of a deserted barn and planning a route for the rescue party (See photo on next page)
LONDON - Miss Sophie Edwards, or as the Queen Mother knows her, Nursing Member Edwards, of No.9 Kensington Division, St. John Ambulance Brigad e, has retired after 33 years of very loyal service. See photo. Why is the Queen Mother so acquainted with Sophiery Because many of the 5,000 Brigade duty hours that Miss Edwards has comple ted since joining SJA in 1940 have been on royal occasions, such as at the Royal Albert Hall the American Red Cross at Cumberland House, the Mansion House , the Grand Priory at state visits, Royal Tournaments. H orse Guards Parade. St. James' Palace Wimbledon. the Derby and Ascot races, royal weddings. the Coronation. the state funeral of Sir Win ston Churchill, and Earls Court Exhibition USSR, where s he helped at interpreting duties for 10 days.
Western Area salutes you, Nursing Member Edwards - and we all wish you a very happy retirement.
It was a sunny September afternoon just before 3pm at the West Ham United football ground at Upton Pa rk Suddenly there was a disturbance in the North Bank stand - rival supporters were fighting - the crowd surged forward -a crash barrier collapsed under the pressure and a section of the crowd, mainly youngsters. fell onto the terrace steps. Mo s t of them quickly got to their feet but abou t fifteen lay where they had fallen, some crying with the pain, ot her s ominously quiet and still.
Members of 15 (East Ham) and 326 (West Ham ) Division on duty in the ground. together with members of K' Division Special Constabulary were quickly among the crowd sorting out the casua lties and dealing with the trouble - makers. Fractures were immobilised and haemorrhage arrested: sixtee n casualties were removed from the terraces and tak en to the first aid room The seriously injured and unconscious were removed by ambulance to hospital while less seriously injured were treated by nursing members from East and West Ham Divisions. Two young casual ties failed to
Just too good to be true! Redruth Ambulance team made a clean sweep of the trophies at the recent St. Blazey open competition, including a new cup for bandaging presented here by Mrs Perren, in memory of her late husband Ernie, who was Div. Sec of St Blazey Division for many years. (Pho to: English China Clays Group)
respond to resuscitative measures and were pronounced dead by the Club medical officer; they were documented by th e Special Constables before removal to th e local mortuary.
Fortunately this was not another tragic outcome of soccer hooliganism, but an exercise arranged by Inspector Wilf Parker, in cha rge of the Special Constables in K. Division of London, and Div. Supt. John Cobain, in charge of the 326 (West Ham) Combined Division, to test and train the Specials and the Brigade members
Mistakes were made and lessons learned, but everyone voted the exercise time well -spent and of value if any incident of this nature should occur in the future. It was also an examp le of excellent co-operation between the Police and the Brigade, as well as local Army Cadets, Boys Brigade and Scouts who helped to make up the crowd and some of the casualties with St. John Cadets It is hoped to plan another combined exercise in different surroundings as a further test of Police and Brigade efficiency.
Milton Combined Cadet Division has been taking map - reading subjects - including first aid for casualties that could occur en route. See HANTS (Photo : N. H. Keenan, Southsea)
Obviously cool determination played a major part in the Grand Prior's Award for 15 - year- old Cadet Sergeant Lynn Prevette , of Folkestone. Mrs. J. Houchin, Kent's Vice-President Nursing Cadets , made the presentation at a dinner for 50 guests at Folkestone's HQ. (Photo: Folkestone Herald & Gazette)
REVI EW CROSSWORD No 12 (74 ) Compiled byW A Pott e
Across
I. An assembly of people for a boil. (9). 8. Sub-cutaneous and submucous connective tiss;]e. (7). 9. Scandinavian vegetable. (5). 10. Content of an abscess. (3).11. Bring forth the results of agriculture. (7). 13. R esponse to a stimulus (8) 14. Misfortune to be in poor health. (3). 15. Streptococcal infection of the skin produced by sleepy airs. ( J0). 19. Old English King of first aid. (4). 20. Man's vestigial remnant is the coccyx. (4). 21. Pathogenic organisms rendered non-viruluent for use as a vacc ine. (10). 24. ] n brief it is a pronoun. (3). 25. Ulcers gene r ally p reventable by good nursing. (8). 27. Contrary to the accepted code of ethics. (7) 29. Female gametes. (3). 30 Scent from a R oman. (5). 31. I nflammation of the final part of the small intestine. (7). 32. P otassium nitrate as produced from steel part. (9).
Down
I A imentary tract infection characterised by diarrhoea and vomiting. (6-9). 2 P arty he r e- arranges for treatment. (7). 3. The body in the anatomical position. (5) 4. Begin to recover from illness. (7). 5. Short. s h a r p inspiration as when the general practitioner is around. (4) 6. No May co ld will give highly infectious syphilitic growth. (9). 7. Frequent ca use of high b lood pressure with advancing years. (8-7). 12. Artist is in a dried grape. (6). 16. Occupational lung disease of miners, quarrymen, and foundryworkers. (9). 17. Transfusion given to correct fl uid loss from severe burns. (6). 18. Permit diminutive ending. (3). 22. St r uctu r e moved by tlie ocu lo-motor muscles. (7). 23. Respond to emergency call at t he ambu ance station. (4-3). 26. Covering for the cranium. (5). 28. P ointless resu lt. (4)
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD No. 11 (74)
Across:
I. H epatitis; 8. Al.mo ner; 9. Start.ie; 10. Opsoni.n; 13. Immunity; 14. E r bs; 16. Hea rtbeats; 21. Leak; 23. Drum; 25. Salmon.ella; 29. Va.st; 30. Acidos is; 32. P laste r ; 35. Lactose; 36. Empyema; 37. Paralysis.
Down:
1. H as hish; 2. P yaemia; 3. Ti.tan; 4 The.atre; 5. Sago; 6. Polo: 7. Wr y neck; 1 1. P rest.o; 12. No.se; 15. Blue; 17. Ear; 18. Rima: 19. Bis tr e; 20. Ail; 22. Aw l; 23. Dimpled; 24. Uvea; 26. Macular; 27. Lesions; 28. Abscess; 31. Du.c.al; 33. Soya; 34. Reap.
WHVWOMEN HAVE 'OOMPH
'
-AND LIVE LONGER
by ' The Doc'
IF MY YEARS as a doctor have taught me one fact of life, it's thiswoman live so much more sensibly than men. For instance, in Scotland there are twice as many women as men over the age of 85. And by and large, they are far more likely to be active right up to the end.
One of the great secrets is simply woman's vanity. She's more conscious of her figure. A man can put on a stone without caring and without anybody noticing it much. But on a woman, even a few extra pounds can cause bulges and rolls. Of course, a diet to shift them is good for her looks. But it's also better for her heart, arteries, and blood pressure. For every pound of extra weight she keeps at bay. she's adding another year of life.
Another thing: watch a woman looking at a sentimental film on television. Like as not, her eyes'll be brimming. Men canna' be bothered with that kind of nonsense. They don't realise the good it can do. All the tensions of a woman's day are released with tears. Her worries are forgotten. When it's all over, a woman will put away her hankie, snifT and say, 'My, what a good cry I've had. I feel a lot better for it.' And she does. It's a pity men don't show their feelings a bit more. Bottling things up leads to all manner of trouble. Watch a group of women having a gossip over a cup of tea. Their eyes are shining. They hang on every word. They're away in a wee world of their own and what a lot of good it's doing them. Same when a woman's on the telephone to a friend
You see, a woman has the art of getting out of herself. Men tend to have both feet on the ground, too stolid to set aside the cares of the day. Again, it's one reason why men get ulcers and women don't.
[f a woman has a flare-up with her husband or one of the children gets into a scrape, what's the first thing she'll do? Pour it all out to a trusted neighbour or friend of course. Men see that as their own business and nobody else's. That may be true enough. But a blether is good medicine. By talking about her troubles, a woman is putting them in true perspective.
A woman is also less likely to take foolish risks. She knows her limitations. That's why a woman driver takes fewer risks than a man. Instinctively, she's more aware of her responsibility as a mother. Now, some men may quarrel about what I am going to say next. But the fact is the average wife does more manual work than the average husband. Think of all a wife has to do: cooking, sweeping, dusting, shopping, setting the table, making the beds, coping with children, polishing the furniture, cleaning the windows, etc. It's enough to flatten a man - as many a dad has found when he's to take over for a day. But all this work builds up a woman physically, and keeps her healthy. Far more so than sitting at a desk or standing at a factory bench the whole day. It s no coincidence that most old people who reach 100 are women who haven't had the easiest life.
I'll tell you something else: in all my letters, I've never had one from a husband whose wife won't go to the doctor. Yet I've had literally hundreds from wives frantic with worry because their man refuses point -blank to see the doc So, often a woman who goes early to the doc is able to nip the trouble in the bud, while a man leaves things until he lands himself in a serious pickle. And have you ever tried to count up the cups of tea a woman has in one day? It'll surprise you. It can easily be fourteen or fifteen. Grand for the kidneys and bladder. And excellent for keeping the tummy fresh. Another reason, perhaps, why women so seldom sufTer from indigestion, etc.
Yes, in little ways as well as big ways it adds up to living longer. P S: A woman's pulse rate even tends to be faster than a man's. It means a quicker turnover of blood - and that extra 'oomph' that so many women seem to possess.
(Reprinted from The Crusader)
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
A Anatomical Teaching
Models
For details of the exist ng range of over
Educat iona l & Scientific Plastics L imited
Designers and Manufa c turers of Anatomical and Osteological Models
Candidates accepted at the age of 17 years as student nurses to unde r take an 18 month course in opthalmic nursing.
O n successful comp letion of the course awards of Moorfields Certificate and Medal are made. Comfortable residential accommodation available Applications to the
