View report page

Officer, is attached to each crew; he accompanies them on all calls to observe performance
and, after completion of each call, to instruct and advise on techniques and conduct.
The marked improvement in the ability and confidence of new entrants after this intensive
training has fully justified the scheme.
Award of resuscitation certificates—Three drivers were awarded the Royal Humane
Society's resuscitation certificate during the year.
Meritorious service medal—The Chairman of the Council presented the Council's
Ambulance Service Meritorious Service Medal and the Royal Humane Society's testimonial
on vellum to an ambulance driver in recognition of his courageous action in attending a
severely injured man who had fallen under an Underground electric train.
First aid and diagnosis competition—For the second successive year the London Ambulance
Service team won the Buxton International Trophy for first aid and diagnosis in the
international competition organised by the Casualties Union.
Safe driving—Seventy per cent. of the drivers who entered the National Safe Driving
Competition held by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in 1961 gained
awards, 16 per cent. were disqualified and 14 per cent. were accounted for by resignations
and by exemption owing to prolonged sickness.
Civil Defence
The most significant event in Civil Defence was the reorganisation of the Corps, effective
from 1 October, which introduced new obligations of service for different classes of
volunteers. The emphasis is now on establishing more intensive training and achieving
higher standards of performance. As a result of the first stages of re-organisation, the
strength of the Ambulance and First Aid Section fell from 1,895 to 1,310 at 31 December,
due largely to the inability of some volunteers to accept the new training commitments.
There were 443 enrolments during the year.
The following training courses were held during the year:
New entrants 3 Officer selection 3
First aid 8 Officer training 1
Ambulance section—part 15 Driving and maintenance 11
Ambulance section—part 2 13
There was a considerable increase in exercise training. The code name ‘Leader’ has
been given to exercises promoted by the London Ambulance Service primarily for
Ambulance and First Aid Section personnel and five such ' Leader' exercises were held.
The largest of these involved the deployment of an ambulance column—100 vehicles and
about 330 personnel. Section personnel participated in 20 exercises in all. An internal competition
among teams from the Ambulance and First Aid Section proved of great value.
After a total of 694 hours instruction by the British School of Motoring, 27 volunteers
passed the Ministry of Transport driving test. In addition, qualified volunteers were given
driving practice on various types of ambulance and others visited the Council's accident
ambulance stations to see casualty work at first hand.
70