Evening star., 1941-07-06
.Ciy-Wide First-Aid
Program Worked 0ui
For Emergencies
District Red Cross
Drows On Experiences
Abroad for Setup

Completion of a blanket program
to render flrst-aid service to every
section of the city in case of an
emergency was announced today
by the District Red Cross in CO.
operation with civilian defense off,
cials.
Using the services in London and
various European cities as a par
tial model, the program provides
an arrangement under which emer-
gency field stations would be set up
at l6 points, and also creates cas-
ualty collection stations and field
supply depots.
The service is manned by 2,4l4
volunteers, with provision for .
supplementary service of 1000 VOL
unteers for lafge-scale activity on
q 24-hour basis.
Announcement of the plan was
made jointly by District Health
Officer George c. Rtihland, chair
man of the Public Health Commit
tee of the District Defense Council,
and Brig Gen. F. r. Keefer, chair
man of the District Red Cross.
One Of First Cities.
Washington was said to be one of
the first cities of the country to
complete its first-aid emergency
program under the new defense
plans.
Robert H. Duncan, director of
first aid of the District chapter,
estimated that the entire organiza-
ton could be in place a few minutes
after an alarm was sounded.
Claude w. Maxwell, veteran VOL
unteer Red Cross first aid worker,
was given credit for working out
the program and would automati-
cally become chief of operations.
Besides the city-wide plan. spe-
cial arrangements are being made
for first aid work in large buildings
and in congested areas with a vari-
able population, such as Office build
ingS.
Survey Need of Supplies.
While some of the supplies neces-
sary to operate the city-wide first
aid program are already on hand at
strategic spots, Red Cross officials
are now conducting a survey to
determine what supplemental sup
plies would be available in the event
of sudden emergency. This survey
will include study of supplies in
various types of stores which might
be utilized.
Operational units of the plan are
meeting twice monthly at the Red
Cross Chapter House in order to
keep up thorough knowledge of
the plan and to work out additional
details as suggested by developments
abroad.
Under the plan, Mr.. Maxwell, as
chief of operations, would have di-
rectly under him the chief sur.
geon, chief executive, chief tech
nician, chief of communications
and chief of supply. The chart of
the program then branches out to
cover the four divisional units
based on geographic areas, each of
these units having a casualty COL
lecting station and a field supply
depot.
Four Companies Provided.
Each of these serves as a clearing
station for four companies, COM
prising 156 members of first aid
detachments.
The four companies are reSpon-
sible for all emergency first aid and
rescue work and will determine
what cases demand immediate sur
gical attention.
The collecting stations under
jurisdiction of the divisional staff
will consist of platoon commander,
sergeant. supply clerk, record clerk,
fire warden, two doctors, two nurses.
two orderlies, two first aid squads
composed of five members each
and two ambulances with four
drivers.
The companies which are the
actual advanced first aid stations
actively engaged in first aid and
rescue work will operate under a
station commander with a supply
sergeant. company sergeant, radio
sergeant, two runners and a platoon
commander, in charge of the station
Each station will have supply clerks,
record clerks, fire wardens, runners.
radiomen, doctors, nurses, nurses
aides, orderly ambulance drivers
and fo,1r sn,Iads of first aid men