Evening star., 1942-04-26

that the casualty establishment was
one Of the best he has seen.
Trained Nurses Ready.
A large flight of stairs leads down
to the casualty base, a white-walled
room lined with neat beds furnished
with clean. white linen. A white
sheet stretched on a portable parti-
ton OF beaver board separates the
beds from the operating table that
stands poised beneath a chute lead
ing from the street through a VIM
dow at street level. This is the en-
trance for an air raid victim. A
trained staff of nurses Is ready for
duty at any time of the day or night.
Three of them are former head
nurses at metropolitan hospitals:
the nurse in charge, Mrs. Samuel H.
Thompson, was former head nurse
at johns Hopkins in Baltimore.
Displaying her stores of drugs,
which include all emergency medi-
cations for cuts, burns and the like.
Mrs. Thompson said proudly, 1--WE
even have supply of the new
drugs"
DR.. Richard L. De Saussure. rank
ing medical officer at the base, has
donated most of the instruments
that lie. chromium bright. In their
cabinets, sterilized and ready.
The stretcher-bearing service Of
the casualty base is composed of
25 men, of whom IS are GEORGETOWN
University medical students. Right
now there are but six stretchers
available for use, but that de-
fiency will be soon taken care of by
the bustling committee members.
Inspector Sees Feeding Unit.
Chauffeured by a member OF the
American Women's Volunteer Serv-
ice, Col. Norvell made a tour of
Burleith from the deputy warden's
base to the casualty base and ended
up at the emergency feeding and
housing station, In the Mount
Tabor Methodist Church, where he
was treated to cup Of coffee by
the volunteer workers who we're just
concluding their weekly meeting.
At the feeding station Mrs. Ida
| Gibson, head of the organization.
| described the pyramid system she
devised for calling out the 2l mem-
bers Of the corps at the sound OF
| the alert.
Half of Burleith," she said, sis
prepared to billet the other half
in case of a bombing. The test we
| had recently in the latest practice
blackout proved beyond a doubt
that the plans Wallace l.. Rynerson,
head of the housing half Of our
committee, has for emergency evac-
uation will work swiftly and flaw
lessly. Our job here is to provide
for the victims of a bombing for
"a hours, after which the Red Cross
| facilities will be used"
Stocks of easily prepared foods,
aimed mainly at easing shock, the
inevitable result OF the ordeal Of
bombing, we're neatly arranged In
| the cupboards that lined one side
of the room All the food in them
has been donated by local mer-
chants. The middle of the Kitchen
is taken up by food-preparing facili-
ties of cafeteria type. with soup
/ tureens predominating. A coffee
urn capable of brewing 100 cups
| of coffee at a time stands to one
side. Outside. in the room which
will be used as a dining hall. rows
of chairs and bridge tables stand
ready 10 do their Job.
800 Active In Defense.
Under Vincent w. Plumpton as
deputy warden this community OF
under 5000 population has 1855 reg
istrants in bomb classes. First-aid,
nutrition and home nursing courses
| have been completed by IS more,
bringing the total TO 1877 men and
1I3 women who have taken courses
of some kind. In all over 300 people
now are actively engaged In civilian
defense work. This represents more
than 10 per cent of the population.
Burleith has a normal compile
ment of $50 air raid wardens and
fire-watchers. During the last prac-
tice blackout the defense worked
so well that there was not a single
accident in the area. Enthusiastic
youngsters in the neighborhood are
permitted to do messenger work
only, with Girl Scouts on day duty
and Boy Scouts on at night.