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37
The average time for an ambulance to attend a call remained
substantially the same at 4½ minutes.
Once again during the past year the Croydon Ambulance
Service has been requested by adjacent Boroughs to stand by for
accident calls, and these requests have always been attended to.
During the year the ambulances ABY 229, BOY 555 and
CCP 392 have been replaced by two Heavy Albion ambulances
and one Light Morris ambulance. In addition one new Humber
Pullman has been supplied by Roots, Ltd., and has proved completely
satisfactory as regards springing and accessories.
On 25th January, 1947, there was an air crash at Croydon
Airport, to which one heavy Albion ambulance and four other
ambulances were despatched. Twelve bodies were conveyed to
the mortuary.
Also, on the 14th June, 1947, the Service received a call* to
Pampisford Road, where a plane had crashed. As the Airport
ambulance was at the scene, no casualties were conveyed, but
the personnel of this Service rendered first aid to the three casualties
and, as the Airport ambulance had no bell, one of the
ambulances of this Service preceded same in order to ensure a
clear run to hospital.
On 24th October, 1947, the Service received a call to the
railway disaster at Sussex Road. Eight ambulances, two ambulance
sitting cars and emergency tender were despatched, and
dealt with 51 casualties—37 of which were conveyed to hospitals
for treatment and 14 bodies to Mayday mortuary. Assistance
was also given by ambulances of surrounding Boroughs when
requested. The call was received at 8.29 a.m. and all casualties
and bodies, totalling 120 in all, had been removed and the
incident closed at 10.5 a.m.
The two Albion heavy ambulances purchased from the
Ministry of Supply have both been painted internally and externally.
FRK 900 has been converted to carry 16 sitting patients
or 2 stretcher and 10 sitting patients. Both these vehicles have
proved to be of great value to the Service for conveying children
to and from New Addington Day Nursery daily, transport of
ante-natal cases from New Addington to Lodge Road Clinic
weekly, cases from Mayday Hospital to Monteagle Nursing Home
(daily), and also for the transport of children after tonsil and
adenoid operations to their various homes thrice weekly,