View report page

in London were invited to attend a conference on this subject and, the duties of the new
section having been explained to them, they were urged to encourage their members
to enrol, if possible as complete units. The results of this meeting have so far proved to
be somewhat disappointing, although the Council has throughout had the co-operation
and encouragement of the headquarters of both the great voluntary aid societies.
Co-operation
with other
authorities
and
organisations
The Ambulance and Casualty Collecting Section or the Civil Defence Corps has
taken part in exercises, processions, recruiting displays, etc., organised by ten of the
metropolitan boroughs on no fewer than thirty-four occasions. It has co-operated with
units of the Industrial Civil Defence Section on six occasions, with the Casualties Union
on one occasion and with the Welfare Section on four occasions. The Section also
provided a detachment which took part in the ceremonial parade of Civil Defence
Services held at the Horse Guards in July, and in the Guard of Honour which was
provided on the occasion of the visit by the Home Secretary to the South Bank to
inaugurate the first flight of the helicopter which has been allocated to the Civil Defence
service.
Instructors
Five members of the instructional team have attended the Home Office Civil
Defence School at Falfield. Two secured special certificates and three full certificates.
Training
During the year 16 Ambulance Section courses, Part I, were held, 21 Ambulance
Section courses, Part II, 16 First-aid courses, and 12 driving and maintenance courses.
Operative staff in the London Ambulance Service received training in the duties
of the Civil Defence Ambulance Section in wartime.
Statistics
Statistics for the directly provided service are divided into two sections—the Accident
Section and the General Section—and are shown in the Table on page 91 for 1938 (the
last full year before the war), 1947 (the last full year before the inception of the National
Health Service) and 1950-55 inclusive. The table also includes annual statistics of the
work performed by the agency and supplementary services on behalf of the London
Ambulance Service during the period 1950-1955.
The Accident Section statistics for 1954 and 1955 are analysed below to show the
types of calls received.

The average time taken to reach a street accident in 1955 was 6.7 minutes.
90