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81
Continental tour
In response to an invitation from the Director General of Italian Fire Services, and
with the valued co-operation and financial help of the British Travel and Holidays
Association, the Fire Services Research and Training Trust and certain manufacturers of
fire appliances, a contingent representing the London Fire Brigade and the London
Ambulance Service carried out a three-weeks' goodwill mission to France and Italy
in June, 1953. Eighteen principal cities and towns were visited, including Paris and
Rome, and operational demonstrations were given before responsive gatherings of
personnel of corresponding services and of the general public. The members of the
contingent were received with great enthusiasm and much kindness.
Major accidents
The number of major accidents occurring in 1953 was much smaller than in the
preceding year. The most serious emergency call was a request from the neighbouring
West Ham Ambulance Service for assistance at the scene of the underground railway
collision at Stratford on 8th April. Four ambulances were despatched and an additional
one was sent later to take extra supplies of morphia, together with medical and nursing
staff. The Council's ambulances remained at the scene for about 4£ hours during which
time they removed a total of 17 casualties to hospital. On the following day an offer of
further assistance was made to the West Ham Ambulance Service but no more help
was required.
Letters of thanks for the assistance given were received from the Chairman of the
London Transport Executive and from the Chairman of the North East Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board.
Among other major accidents were :
1st May A bus skidded, mounted the pavement and crashed into
the fronts of several shops in the Edgware Road ; 12
casualties taken to hospital.
15th June Collision between two coaches at Great Peter Street,
junction of Millbank ; 11 casualties taken to hospital.
26th August A private car mounted the pavement in Oxford Street,
knocked a pedestrian through the window of a store and
continued some way along the street ; 8 casualties taken
to hospital.
4th September Train crash at Bethnal Green Junction ; 4 casualties taken
to hospital.
Flood disaster, 31s< January—lit February, 1953
The first warning of possible flooding was received on 31st January and was followed
that night and the next day by a series of messages announcing the closure of certain
roads and bridges and summoning ambulances to convey people trapped by the floods
near Abbey Wood to hospital. In accordance with pre-arranged plans for meeting such
emergencies, additional ambulances and crews were detailed for duty during the peak
tide periods and on the request of the Ministry of Health one of the London Ambulance
Service tenders was sent to take clothing on behalf of the W.V.S., to Canning Town
for flood victims.
Home service
Ambulance
Department
Agency arrangements
The number of patients conveyed and the mileage run by vehicles of the Home Service
Ambulance Department of the Joint Committee of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem
and the British Red Cross Society during 1953, in accordance with the agreement
between that body and the Council, were respectively 15,272 and 319,869, representing
an increase of 11 per cent. over the figures for the previous year. From this it will be