The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-16
AMBULANCE SERVICE
Vigilance and Efficiency of the Sani-
tary Train.
BY FLOYD WAMBEAM.

Recent criticism of the medical
corps of the army by a disgruntled
solon or two and few civilians here
and there certainly doesn't apply to
the 314 sanitary train of Funston.
Above all, it is ill-timed SO far as the
ambulance division of the train is
concerned, for this arm of the medi-
cal has been performing daily during
months of strenuous action remark
able service for the sick of Funston.
"Hair-trigger responsiveness to the
needs of the suffering is the term
used by one observer in describing
the marvellous rapidity with which the
well-oiled machinery of the ambu-
lance service operates. The work has
been so standardized and simplified,
and each human cog SO well fitted into
place, that from one to three minutes
after a call has been sent in an am
bulance is speeding toward camp to
answer it.
The remarkable achievement would
seem to require precipitous haste, but
it is carried on without hurry, tho
with uniform promptness and preci-
sion. To accomplish it, a carefully
worked out system is rigidly followed.
In the first place. motor ambulances
in the sheds about 20 rods from the
infirmery, which receives the calls are
kept in working order, drawn up in
the stalls, and numbered consecutively
from 1 to Is. When calls come, No.
1 goes first, No. 2 second, ETC., so that
each driver or orderly knows exactly
how soon he will be in line for a trip.
Consequently, when his turn is next,
the driver is seated in his machine,
the car is ready to be cranked and
the stage is set for instant action.
AT the infirmary which receives the
calls (Infirmary No. p, man is sta
toned at the telephone. When the
bell rings, he writes down in a blank
book prepared especially for this pur-
pose, the name of the person calling,
the number of the infirmary, and the
diagnosis of the patient or patients to
be moved. A record of this is handed
to a waiting orderly who promptly
goes to the door and blows his whistle
as signal to the ambulance men to
crank up. As he walks toward the
ambulance sheds, the ambulance or
derby comes to meet him to receive the
record, and a few moments later the
car is speeding down Engineers road.
This proceeding, tho conducted with
out apparent haste, occupies only one
to three minutes, depending upon the
urgency o. the call and the pressure
under which tho men are working
For night service. ambulance drivers
and orderlies sleep at their barracks
in cots numbered according to the or
der in which their occupants will be
awakened as needed. A telephone
man stays on duty at the infirmary
goes to the barracks to rouse the
necessary men. All who may be called
for night duty sleep in their clothes
Ambulance companies 354, $50 and
355, all motor drawn, have operated
this service in turn.
Very often men detailed for this
work operate their machines under
high pressure. Frequently more than
ninety trips are made by the fifteen
ambuiances in one day, to move sew
eral hunred men to and from deten-
ton camps and hospitals. Many Of
these trips occupy hours to transport
patients to the hospital and later to
some particular point to which they
are isolated until recovery.
Every man who enters this service
does SO with the knowledge that he
runs some chance of catching some
CONTAGIOUS disease. Every precaution
is taken against such a possibility.
however. one of the preventive meas
ures being the spraying of the throat
three times daily while on detail. So
efficient are these precautions that
hardly man has contracted disease.
tho almost every kind of ailment has
been handled. Mumps has been the
most popular diSea So. Judging by the
mum bc- of diseased cases and suspects
handled.
Aside from the danger of contract
ing disease. the men are subjected to
most severe strain Day or night
thew are called upon to face blizzard
and zero weather. hut thev accent II
all without a nnurrnur. often there
are frozen noses toes Inns cheei-
they saw Only that thev are glad to
give their sick follow soldiers eve-v
cha nee 70 re- we'll regardless of their
own personal discomfort.