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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 2 (June 1, 1933)
Railway Ambulance Division
Railway Ambulance Division
A Selfless Service
The true spirit of helpfulness towards others is found in the Railway Ambulance Divisions, the members of which give voluntary trained assistance in case of accident, not only “on the job” but in the street and on the playing field. We are indebted to Mr. W. F. Ashman, Divisional Secretary of the Hillside (Dunedin) Railway Ambulance, for the following notes from that Division, also for a report enclosed from the No. 1 Locomotive Ambulance Division, which we have pleasure in reproducing. A movement such as this deserves every encouragement and support.
Briefly, ambulance work involves a knowledge of the structure and functions of the human body, combined with the ability to render immediate skilled attention to persons who have suffered injury. The object is to apply, as speedily as possible, those methods of treatment of specific injuries which facilitate the work of the doctor (should the case require his attention) and the patient's ultimate recovery.
Apart from a temporary suspension of activities during the period of the Great War, the history of the Railway Ambulance Brigade at Hillside dates back for more than twenty years. The first Superintendent of the Division was Mr. W. Connor. Upon Mr. Connor's resignation Mr. A. Peters was elected Superintendent, a position he held in a thorough and painstaking manner for five years.
The Division's first public duty in the field was undertaken during the Duke of York's visit to Dunedin in 1927, when over 200 cases were treated. Since that date the Division has made steady progress in its unselfish work for humanity.
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A feature of the Carnival procession held recently at Inglewood, Taranaki. The motor lorry on which the above advertisement was displayed was pleasingly decorated and supplied to the Railways Department free of charge by Mr. P. Curd, carrier, Inglewood.
The local Competition of the Otago District has already been keenly contested, the McGeorge Cup, Improvising Trophy, Novice Cup, Officers’ Cup, and Roller Bandage Trophy all being won at different times since 1927. At the present time the Division also holds a Cup from the Christchurch District.
The public duty activities of the Division have gradually increased in recent years, the football field and skating rink receiving most of the attention. The following figures shew the number of accidents attended since 1927:—(1927), 4,600; (1928), 4,314; (1929), 3,554; (1930), 3,412; (1931), 2,623; (1932), 1,592. In 1932, 160 football matches were attended, and much useful work was done by the Division.
Besides this work, members of the Division go out as instructors to other organisations (Boy Scouts, Boys’ Brigade, Fire Brigade, etc.).
At the present time the Division is under the control of Mr. Thompson (as Superintendent), Mr. Swanson (First Officer), and Mr. Ashman (Secretary and Cadet Superintendent). These officers are putting their full heart into the work and are achieving most gratifying results.
The Cadet movement (attached to the Division in 1929) has shown steady progress, and to-day its roll stands at thirty-five. The children are given training in first-aid work, and upon reaching eighteen years of age they step up to the Senior Division. They shew great keenness in their studies, and their competitions have given tangible proof of a good all-round knowledge of ambulance work.
The No. 1 Locomotive Ambulance Division
The No. 1 Locomotive Ambulance Division, Dunedin, was established in 1927, the pioneer of the movement being the Assistant-Locomotive Foreman, Mr. D. Foster, a veteran in first-aid work. The first-aid class formed by Mr. Foster had a membership of 29, Dr. R. Allen being the class-lecturer. Of the 29 members, 23 sat for the examination (conducted by Dr. Bridge) at the end of the term, and 20 passed. While preparing members for this examination, Dr. Allen set a special paper and donated a prize for the member gaining the most marks. This prize was won by the late Mr. Roy Tuck, with Mr. J. Dickson second.
The next step in the progress of the Division was taken in August, 1927. At a meeting called in that year by Mr. Foster, official registration forms were filled in, and the No. 1 Locomotive Ambulance became a registered Division, with Mr. Foster as Superintendent, Mr. Syder First Ambulance Officer, and Dr. C. Greenslade, Acting-Divisional Surgeon. There was a membership of 20.
On 5th March, 1928, the Division commenced the class for the year. When the six lectures for that year were completed, fifteen of the older members sat for the advanced aid certificate and nine new members sat for the first-aid certificate. This examination was also conducted by Dr. Bridge, and nineteen passed. The roll showed a membership of four over that of the previous year.
On 21st April, 1929, the lectures were again taken up, under Dr. Greenslade, who had three grades to conduct—medallion, advanced aid, and first-aid. On 8th September, 1929, fourteen sat for the medallion, six for the advanced aid, and seven for the first-aid, and all passed, with the exception of one. Dr. Durward was the examiner on that occasion.
The activities for the year 1930 were marked with the resignation of the Divisional Surgeon, Dr. Greenslade, and the Divisional Superintendent, Mr. Shaw, both of whom, owing to the pressure of private business, found it impossible to carry on in their respective positions. The position of Divisional Surgeon was filled by Dr. G. Barnett, whose work for the Division is valued greatly. The position of Superintendent was filled by Mr. G. Syder, Mr. H. Archer being elected to First Ambulance Officer. The lectures for 1930 were conducted by the newly appointed Divisional Surgeon, Dr. Barnett, who worked untiringly for the advancement of the members. The roll closed at the end of the year with a membership of 31.
For the years 1931–1932, the lectures were conducted by the Divisional Surgeon, and the passes were still very satisfactory. Although the roll for 1932 has not yet been received from headquarters, the number of members shows a gratifying increase, being in the vicinity of forty-five.
During 1930 the members of the Division made their first appearance on public duty. During the football season that year forty members were placed on the various grounds, and were called upon to treat thirty cases, and in the same year sixty cases were attended to at the Locomotive Depot and Goods Yard, Dunedin.
In 1931, 126 members were placed in attendance at football grounds, being called upon to treat ninety-six cases. In 1932, 245 members reported for duty during the football season. They were present at 156 games, and attended to 249 injuries. In addition, to these services, the Division supplied men, two nights a week, for attendance at two skating rinks, where 218 members signed on for duty and treated thirty-one injuries.
At the Otago Winter Show last year, twenty men were present, their services being requisitioned in the treatment of five cases. The Division also had men on duty during the other public gatherings throughout the year.
Last year's activities also included the following record of cases treated:—At Dunedin station, 68 cases; Goods Sheds, 44; Dunedin Goods Yards, 96; and at the Locomotive Depot 68—a total of 276 cases. The above does not include sixteen street accidents, which were attended by members of the Division, so that the total number of cases treated during the year is approximately 550.
The Division also interests itself in competition work, and has been successful in winning numerous prizes. The “McGeorge Cup,” which is competed for annually in Dunedin, has been won four times in succession, the “Novice Cup” being won in 1931, and the “Whangarei Efficiency Cup,” which is competed for at Auckland, being won by a team representing the Locomotive Ambulance Division, which visited Auckland in 1929.
In 1931 the Division entered teams for competitions held in Auckland and Christchurch, and at both of these competitions the judges awarded the team three prizes, two seconds and one third.
“A Little Rented Area.”
“Most of my travelling, including my trip to Rotorua, has been done by train, and I like the train best. One is not jammed up against all and sundry in an atmosphere fetid with petrol fumes—how horrid petrol fumes are on a damp day! In the railway carriage one has a chair and a wee area to one's self—a little rented area so to speak, wherein one can exercise the privileges of a landowner. And then, if necessary, the passenger can get up and stretch his legs in what might be called the public walks of the carriage. And if so minded, you can study your fellow-man at a nice respectable distance.“—H. Rutherford, in the “N.Z. Dairy Exporter and Farm Home Journal.”