The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1889-08-10 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.  BIRKENHEAD CENTRE.  From the annual report of the above association, Birkenhead Centre, we extract the following:— During the past year good service has been rendered by the members of the association in a large number of cases, among the most serious are the following: —Fractures of thigh, upper and lower arms and legs, run over cases, pistol wound severance of Palmer Arch, compound fracture of thigh, concussion of brain, crashed between footboard of railway train and platform, successfully restoring apparently drowned. These are exclusive of canes attended by the Borough and County Police, who have their own reV:entlooy-kseven classes, including two free and six assisted, have been held in Birkenhead, Bebizigton, Clenghton, Egremont, Hoylake, Liscard, Orton, Rock Ferry, and West Kirby. 1012 candidates have attended the "First Aid," " Nursing," and " Re-examination" climes daring the year closing 15th June, 1889. Twenty-six members of the staff at the Woodside Joint lines passenger station, including the station master and inspectors, and thirty-two members of the staff of the Mersey Railway Company, including the traffic manager and resident engineer of the line, hold Ambulance certificates, at the presentation of certificates on each occasion the members of the classes gave practical demonstration of their proficiency. The Mersey Railway Co. have stretchers and appliances at each of their stations. Five examinations have been held in the Centre by the Chief Examiner of the Association, Surgeon Major Hutton. 217 candidates were presented in the Ladiss First Aid Classes, 256 in the Male First Aid classes, and 136 in the Ladies Nursing classes, total, 609, only 12 (7 lodise, 5 males) failed to satisfy the examiner. Certificates have been issued eh follows: Nursing, 132; First Aid, ladies, 214; First Aid, males, 251. At each examination the examiner has expressed his approval of the careful manner in which the classes have been prepared by the medical staff of the Centre, and the attention the candidates must have paid to the lectures. The various classes were prepared by Drs. Bristow, Barrow, Cornwall, Gerson, Reginald Jones, Francis Johnefon, King, Macafee, Nicksou, Napier, Pinkerton, Richards, and Walker. Seventeen re. examinations have been held between Ist July, 1888, and 31st May, 1889, by the following members of the medical waif: Drs. Russell, Jones, Comma I, Barrow , Niekson, Green, Bristow, and Johnston. Five ladies and 41 males succesafully passed their second re-examination, and are entitled to the Medallion. Five ladies and 74 males have passed their first reexamination and have received vouchers. . . _ .  Colonel Rantersley, the Chief Constable of the Cheshire Constabulary, reports that 30 constables stationed in the Wirral division hold St. John Am. balance certificates, 28 of whom are within the district of the Birkenhead Centre. Daring the past twelve months among the numerous cases reported, they have successfully rendered "Frost " to the following serious ones:— Restoring apparently drowned Fite _  Broken leg. thighs and arm Dressing incised wounds Ron over cs.ses The medical gentlemen have, in each case, expressed their approval of the prompt and efficient aid rendered.  Major J. B. Barker, the Chief Constable of the Birkenhead Constabulary, in forwarding the register to the Honorary Secretary of the Birkenhead Centre, states that the advantages accruing to the public by the constables 'being instructed in the St. John Ambulance are demonstrated more and more every year. Ninety per cent, of the constables hold cer. tificates and wear the badge; a class is being formed for the uncertificated members of the force. Among the numerous cases are the following i—Drowning 2, fracture of the skull, and wounds of the head 5, fracture of leg 3, compound fracture of leg 1, broken thigh aud ribs 1, fracture of arm 1, attempted suicide by landsnaca 2, severe burns on arm and head 1, cut throat 1, attempted suicide by hanging 2. In the drowning and strangulation oases, the patients, although life was apparently extinct were succesef ally treated by the Sylvester method upon the spot by the officer on duty. A St. john Ambulance litter and fully equipped ambulance basket is kept at eacl of the five police stations within the borough. Testimony to the skill exercised by constables has been borne by the police surgeon, the house surgeon, borough hospital, the Justices on the Bench and the Coroner. Sr.