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large ambulances and other less suitable vehicles to provide for the more economical
conveyance of sitting patients. As mentioned above, these considerations were taken
into account in formulating the current vehicle replacement programme. The Minister
referred to the possible economies to be derived from the use of diesel driven vehicles,
a matter which is at present being studied following the installation of diesel engines in
a number of vehicles.
Staff numbcri
Staff
The recruitment of operative staff improved during the last quarter of the year and the
number of ambulance driver/attendants at 31st December. 1956. was 760.
Leading
drivers
The decision to introduce the rank of Leading Driver into the service was implemented
towards the end of 1955 when two leading drivers were appointed at each of the '
six general ambulance stations. The decision has proved its worth in that the rank
provides an additional link between the supervisory officers and the operative staff
and gives some relief to Superintendents, particularly in the early morning and late
evening.
Award of
resuscitation
Certificates
Two drivers in the accident section or the Service were awarded the Royal Humane a
Society's Resuscitation Certificates during the year for rendering artificial respiration J
and administering oxygen to a woman who had attempted suicide by coal-gas poisoning.
The woman was removed to hospital and subsequently recovered. Medical staff at the
hospital stated that the treatment the patient received prior to arrival at the hospital
played a major part in her recovery.
Safe driving
and first-aid
A large percentage of the drivers continue to qualify for awards in the National
' Safe Driving ' Competition held by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Of 716 drivers entered for the Competition in 1956 no less than 82 per cent, gained
awards. Only 4-6 per cent, were disqualified, the remaining 13-4 per cent, being
accounted for by resignations and exemptions owing to prolonged sickness. It is gratifying
to record that two ambulance drivers hold awards for over 30 years' safe driving
and 13 for 25 years and over.
The interest of the staff in securing further qualification in first-aid to the injured
has been maintained.
Training
school
In April, 1956, the scope of the Civil Defence Training School was extended to
cover the training of new entrants to the service in peace-time duties as well as in civil
defence. Between April and December, 1956, seven courses were conducted for new
entrants, comprising one week's civil defence training and two weeks' training in
peace-time duties including first-aid to the injured. At the end of each course an examination
for the Council's Elementary First-aid Certificate was held and all new entrants who
attended these courses (79) qualified for that certificate. In addition to the training of new
entrants, a number of courses in civil defence were held for existing members of the
regular service and the opportunity was taken to include some refresher instruction in
the use of peace-time equipment.
Civil Defence
In the Birthday Honours List H.M. the Queen conferred the M.B.E. upon Mr. R. E.
Ridgwell, the Superintendent of the ambulance and casualty collecting section of the
Council's Division of the Civil Defence Corps. Mr. Ridgwell has been responsible for
training regular staff and volunteers since 1951 and the honour he has now received is an
acknowledgment of the fine work he has done for the Civil Defence Corps in London.
Honours
A major difficulty in the organisation of civil defence training is that a large number
of those who enrol in the corps fail to attend for training and give no explanation of
their absence. It is very difficult to know whether these volunteers are temporarily
prevented from attending or whether they have lost interest in the Corps and a great
81
Non-effective
members of
the Section