Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-12
PLAN AMBULANCE
! FOR RESCUE SQUAD
New Conveyance to Expedite
Work to. Be Added to
T Equipment of No. |.

those ever-ready arms of the Dis
trict of Columbia Fire Department
known as the fire rescue squads.
which save many whose lives hang by
q thread, are soon to have their own
ambulance, and Fire Chief George S.
Watson is now studying other possible
means for adding to their efnciency.
The ambulance is to become a part of
the equipment of No. l Rescu Squac
Another matter which Chief Watson
announced yesterday would be given
study is the question of having persons
attached D. the rescue squads VINO
would be authorized to administer hy-
podermics where a delay may mean the
difference between life and death.
The latter matter was brought to the
attention of Chief Watson by repre-
sentative of The Star, who recalled
short time ago when the rescue squad
responded to a call to revive drown
ing man, worked over him for about
an. hour, giving artificial respiration
For the first 40 minutes of this time no
doctor nor any one with authority 10
give q hypodermic was present. On the
arrival of physician from Emergency
Hospital one of his first acts was to
administer a stimulant calculated 70
make the heart function.
Might Have aved Life.
The man was later pronounced dead.
Later a member of the rescue squad
remarked: II think if we could have
had the hypodermic here at first we
might have saved that man"
Under the present system Casualty
or Emergency Hospital is notified,
Chief Watson said, when the rescue
squad is called out but there Is fire.
huently a delay before an ambulance
Bearing doctor reaches the scene.
,I,.rIo mill faHQ the Mace
Of an automobile now being used as an
Auxiliary conveyance by the squad Tor
answering calls where only one or two
members of the squad may be neces-
sary such as In gas case. The au-
bonlobile relieves the heavy rescue
wagon of making many runs.
In addition to the ambulance, ChletI
Watson stresses the need OF making
No 2 Rescue Squad, which NV oper-
ates as a part of No. IL Engine Com
pany, a full-fledged squad, independent
of the engine company. For this pur-
pose he says an appropriation Of $i1 600
Is needed for the purchase OF another
rescue wagon, with equipment, in add
ton to an appropriation Of money Tor
the salaries of q captain, lieutenant,
sergeant and is privates, needed to!
make up a full quota comprising res
cue squad.
$39,3UU Neeueu EHsS AeAI.
The salaries alone would amount to
"a 600 a year for a captain, $2,840 for
a lieutenant, $4,000 for a sergeant ana
initial salaries of 81 900 for each OF the
IS privates, totaiing in all $28.50o for
salaries for the first year. This, plus
the $11 900, would amount to $50 800,
the full amount of the appropriation
necessary to cover all expenses for the
first year.
The new squad could be housed at
No. 6 Truck Company, on Park road
between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets, where, Chief Watson points out,
there is ample room.
The need of No. 2, operating as an
independent rescue squad to cover the
far Northwestern section of the city,
Is readily recognized when it is brought
out that No. 2, as a part OF No. IL
Engine Company, had to answer 22S nre
alarms during the past year and l22
calls as a rescue squad alone.
No. 1 Rescue Squad, which bears the |
brurt of the work. answered a total OF
SIG calls during the past year. Nine |
teen cases we're persons drowning, and
artificial respiration was rendered IN
go cases. No. Rescue Squad rendered
artificial respiration in SO cases.