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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1979
AMS PLAYS MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE
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LAST YEAR WAS A VERY ACTIVE YEAR FOR THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE, HONG KONG'S LARGEST VOLUNTEER FORCE.
THE 5,300-MEMBER FORCE CONTRIBUTED A RECORD 28,400 MAN-HOURS DURING THE YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 6,400 MAN-HOURS OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S FIGURES.
AMS STAFF OFFICER, MR. K.C. TONG ATTRIBUTED THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE TO THE EVER-GROWING GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
+DURING THE YEAR, HE SAID, +MEMBERS WERE CALLED OUT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AT SHORT NOTICE TO AUGMENT MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND TO REINFORCE REGULAR AMBULANCE DUTIES.
+OF THESE, ABOUT 400 ASSIGNMENTS WERE IN RESPONSE TO REQUESTS BY THE RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICERS, CITY DISTRICT OFFICERS AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
+THEY NORMALLY GIVE FIRST AID AND HELP EVACUATE CASUALTIES IN FIRES, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, LANDSLIDES, FLOODINGS AND HOUSE COLLAPSES.+
THE ROUTINE WORK OF THESE VOLUNTEERS INCLUDES NURSING THE SICK IN HOSPITALS, MANNING AMBULANCE DEPOTS AND SICK BAYS, ACTING AS LIFEGUARDS AT PUBLIC BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS AND ADMINISTERING METHADONE AT DETOXIFICATION CENTRES.
PERMANENT STAFF IN THE HEADQUARTERS, MR. TONG ADDED, ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING AN AVERAGE OF 2,500 GOVERNMENT OFFICERS IN FIRST AID A YEAR.
THE STAFF OFFICER SAID AMS PLANS TO EXPAND TO 5,800 MEMBERS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
ITS MEMBERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE MORE THAN 1,400 ARE DOCTORS, NURSES, DISPENSERS, RADIOGRAPHERS AND PARA-MEDICAL PERSONNEL SERVING EITHER IN GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE MEDICAL INSTITUTES WHILE THE REST ARE NON-PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL.
THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE, FORMED IN 1950, WILL CELEBRATE ITS 29TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.