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Berlin.
In Berlin there are many arrangements for rendering first aid which have been brought into
existence and carried on by various bodies. The police authorities have litters and other ambulance
appliances, but little use is made of these.
The town authorities render first aid in the "sanitary stations," in the town hall and other
public places, and these stations are open free for the use of any medical man in cases of accident.
The fire brigade is specially connected with the life saving service in Berlin, each fire-station
possessing litters and life saving apparatus. If there is danger to human life from any cause
whatever, the fire brigade can be summoned by means of a fire call.
City parish doctors are provided for persons suddenly taken ill, and may be called by the police
to render aid in such cases. Moreover, everyone is bound by law to hasten to the assistance of the
police in cases of accident, assuming that this can be done without danger to oneself.
A number of private associations exist for procuring medical aid in the night, especially in
that quarter called "old Berlin," south-west and south. The name and address of a number of
medical men ready to render night help on certain days is known in the police stations, chemists' shops,
by policemen, night watchmen, and also by notices in houses. For persons without means the association
pays; the well-to-do pay at once or through the association. The efficiency of these arrangements
has in the last few years, however, somewhat declined.
The sanitary stations, the accident stations, and the Berlin Life Saving Society play now the
principal parts in the life-saving service. All three were initiated by private enterprise, and to a
certain extent owe their continuance to private assistance. Of these, the first to appear in Berlin were
the sanitary stations founded in 1872 in the Briiderstrasse by the Red Cross Union (now so called).
In the following years other stations were erected, till in 1886 there were 11, and in 1894, 20. These
sanitary stations restrict themselves entirely to giving aid at night, the union having always declined
a day service, as they did not wish to enter into competition with the practising physicians.
The Berlin "accident stations" were founded in 1894 and at first four stations were opened,
but they now number twenty. The medical service at the stations is so arranged that usually for
each station there is a superintending medical man who can call on several assistants to help him.
The accident stations have ten vehicles which are kept at nine depots, mostly breweries, whence the
coachman and horses are obtained. The vehicles contain bandages in cases. Every station is on the
city telephone and also by direct telephone with the nearest police district office, so that the help of
the stations may be obtained through any telephone office. The police bureaus are furnished some
with telephones, others with telegraphic communication. Since 1900 the accident stations have been
allowed to call themselves " Accident Stations of the Red Cross."
The Berlin Life Saving Society was founded in October, 1897, with the object of securing on a
firm basis first-aid in connection with the hospitals, of placing the life-saving system under medical
guidance and supervision, and thirdly of inducing all the Berlin medical profession to take part in
this work of saving life. The union of the hospitals with first aid was effected by connecting them by
telephone with a special central office now in Langenbeckhause, which is twice daily informed of the
number of beds vacant in every hospital. This central office is besides telephonically in communication
with eight life-saving stations in different parts of the city and with the depots of the persons undertaking
to remove cases who have placed their 27 vehicles at the disposal of the society. The central office is
also in direct telephonic communication with the nearest district police office which is also connected
with the general police telephone, so that it is possible from every police station and also through
every fire-call in the street (fire brigade officials at fires or important accidents are connected by a
microphone) to be connected with the central office, and in that way with all the apparatus necessary
for first aid. Lately the central office has become an indispensable adjunct to the care of the sick in
Berlin.
For those quarters of the city furthest from the hospitals there are now established in eight
different places life-saving stations, with a night and day service. In six, the night service is
performed by the sanitary stations, while in two, the life-saving society arranges for medical night and
day service. A "medical union of the Berlin Life-Saving Society" has been formed to provide for
the medical service in these stations. There are 1,100 members, of whom one part serves in the
stations. The day service is served by a number of medical men changing one after another; at night one
medical man is on duty, and the same is the case in the sanitary stations. A medical man is at the head
of each station, and he has to watch over the service to see that it is regularly performed, that the
instruments and bandages are ready, and all other arrangements concerning the station. Only firstaid
is permitted and the patient is only to be made ready for removal. The conduct of the business
is left to the president, the secretary, and two directors chosen from the whole committee.
Stettin.
In Stettin the life-saving system is carried on in a similar manner to that of the Berlin Life
Saving Society. In October, 1899, a sanitary station was arranged in the fire brigade building,
with medical service. Before then first-aid was rendered by trained fire brigade men. The scientific
union of medical men has taken over the maintenance of the service at the station. During the whole
night one medical man is at the station. There is a superintendent to manage the service. Every
medical man who wishes to share in the service can do so, so that the life-saving service is in the
hands of the medical profession.