26. Without close co-ordination ambulances frequently return to their depots empty after conveying one patient from point A to point B whilst another ambulance is en route to B to convey a patient to A. During the year a trial scheduled ambulance 'bus' service was instituted to carry patients in groups to and from various clinics according to a pre-determined timetable. The results of this trial justify consideration being given to the extension of such a service, and this is being given high priority in the reorganization of the Ambulance Service.
27. During the year approval was given to the policy of equipping all ambulances with V.H.F. radio and to superannuate the obsolete radio units currently installed on 19 ambulances. The first deliveries of the new radio units are expected early in the 1966-67 financial year.
AIRPORT CONTINGENT
28. The Contingent was alerted during the year for a total of 154 declared aircraft emergencies; some 4,746 persons were on board air- craft involved in these emergencies (see also paragraphs 126-133- Aircraft Crash, Kowloon Bay and Appendix X).
29. The total number of calls dealt with by the Contingent repre- sents an increase of 328 calls over the previous year, or an increase of 51%.
30. Regular training, including tactical exercises, was conducted at the Airport Fire Station, and early in the year a scrap aircraft was purchased and sited on the reclamation area near the Airport to pro- vide facilities for more realistic fire drills.
31. Officers of the Airport Fire Contingent also gave basic fire fighting instruction to C.P.A. flight and cabin crews and conducted courses for fire officers from the general service in aircraft crash and rescue procedures.
DIVING SERVICE
32. Fire Service divers were called out on 10 occasions during the
year.
33. The training diving establishment now consists of six whole time diving leaders (Principal Firemen) and 19 members of the Service who are trained in diving work in addition to normal fire fighting and rescue duties.
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