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83
Within a few minutes shallow breathing and ocular reaction were noticed. The boy
subsequently recovered and undoubtedly owed his life to the prompt action of the
two drivers.
Sun-glasses
To counteract the reflection of light from the bonnets of ambulances during sunny
weather, the issue of one pair of sun-glasses to each member of the operative staff was
authorised. Subsequent replacement is to be made, when necessary, on condemnation
after not less than 2 years' wear.
Supply of
victuals
Experience during the fog in December, 1952 had shewn that drivers who were on
duty for prolonged periods, were unable to secure adequate refreshment at a time when
it was most needed. Accordingly, small stocks of coffee or coffee extract, sweetened
condensed milk, butter, cream cracker biscuits, cubes of extract of beef and packets of
sugar are now held at each of the ambulance stations for consumption in emergency.
Attendance at
RoSPA
House
Staff
numbers
By the end or 1953, two-thirds or the operative stair or the London Ambulance
Service had attended a half-day course in advanced safety driving held at the Training
Centre of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
At the end of the year, the numbers of uniformed supervisory staff and station officers
remained unchanged at 37 but there was an increase in the operative staff employed from
692 at 1st January to 703 at 31st December.
Civil defence
It is pleasing to record that two of the first volunteers in the Ambulance Section of the
Council's Division of the Civil Defence Corps, both of whom had served in the London
Auxiliary Ambulance Service during the war of 1939-45, were awarded the Coronation
Medal. They are Miss S.J. Horner and Mr. L. S. S. Humphries.
Civil defence training classes and exercises were held under the direction of a
Superintendent and two Station Officers, seconded in 1951 for this duty.
The training of the operative staff of the London Ambulance Service in basic
general civil defence duties was completed during the year. New staff receive this
instruction shortly after entry to the service. The instruction of all members of the
operative staff in more advanced civil defence ambulance section training was begun.
Since 1951, 330 civil defence volunteers have completed the first-aid course. A
number proceeded to further ambulance section training, nine courses in which were
held during the year. Of these courses, seven were conducted, in the main, by civil
defence volunteers who had qualified as civil defence ambulance section instructors
at a special course organised by the Council.
A new type of course for ambulance section volunteers was introduced during the
year. This is a revision course consisting of eight sessions each of two hours, comprising
mainly practical work and leading up to two full scale combined exercises held at the
Council's Rescue Training Ground.
Throughout the year basic general training of volunteers in the Ambulance Section
was given, as in the past, by the Metropolitan Borough Councils, with whose officers
the closest co-operation continued.