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73
Vehicles
Altogether during the year 70 new vehicles were taken into commission (54
ambulances, 14 single-stretcher ambulances [used mainly for sitting patients] and
2 emergency tenders), while 57 vehicles (55 ambulances and 2 emergency tenders)
were withdrawn from service. The programme of replacements for 1952/53 (the
final stage of the second 3-year programme referred to in the report for 1949) has
been amended in the light of experience gained of the need for more carrying capacity
for sitting patients and, instead of the 40 new ambulances originally included in that
programme, the Council has approved the acquisition of 15 small ambulances suitable
mainly for sitting patients. In addition, 25 existing ambulances are to be adapted
to accommodate either eight sitting or two recumbent patients.
The vehicle strength at the end of the year was:—
320 ambulances of various types,
14 ambulance buses,
21 sitting-case cars,
2 emergency tenders.
Publicity
The work of the service and particularly that of the Accident Section was
included in the "London Town" television programme on 31st March, 1951, on
some aspects of the Council's activities.
Road-safety
Campaigns
Facilities were given to the Press to photograph and describe some of the work of
the Service in connection with articles designed to draw public attention to the
mounting toll of road accidents.
Introduction
Civil Defence
The Ministry of Health has stated that, in the event of war, the Council's expanded
ambulance service would operate as a single integrated service for the conveyance of
both war casualties and the ordinary sick. The peace-time establishment would form
a nucleus around which expansion would take place in an emergency and it is considered
that it is necessary to train 4,000 volunteers as members of the Ambulance
Section in the County of London Division of the Civil Defence Corps in order to be
prepared to meet an emergency. The strength of the Ambulance Section on 31st
December, 1951, was 1,244 representing an increase of just over 300 volunteers since
31st December, 1950. The response to appeals for volunteers has been disappointing
having regard to the heavy responsibilities of the ambulance service in war.
Basic
training
All volunteers in the Ambulance Section receive training in basic general Civil
Defence subjects which provides a background for them later when they are transferred
to the County Council for Ambulance Section training. This basic training, which
includes instruction on such general subjects as Civil Defence organisation and atomic,
chemical and biological warfare, is given at local training centres by the Metropolitan
borough councils, acting, so far as Ambulance Section volunteers are concerned, on
behalf of the Council. The length of the basic general Civil Defence course is twentytwo
hours and volunteers are generally able to complete this initial stage in their
traininig in six months or less.
Section
training
After completing their basic general training with the metropolitan borough
councils, volunteers in the Ambulance Section are then transferred to the County
Council for Special Ambulance Section training. This is given at one of the following
six training centres:—
North Western Ambulance Station, Lawn Road, Hampstead.
Eastern Ambulance Station, Brooksby's Walk, Hackney.
Brook Ambulance Station, Shooter's Hill Road, Greenwich.
South Eastern Ambulance Station, New Cross Road, Deptford.
"A" (Fulham) Accident Ambulance Station, Seagrave Road, Fulham.
"E" (Kennington) Accident Ambulance Station, Foxley Road, Lambeth.