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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1980
AMS PROVIDES AMBULANCE SERVICE
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MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE ARE CONTRIBUTING THE IR WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS TO CARING FOR THE INJURED AND THE SICK.
THEY ASSIST IN MANNING AMBULANCES ATTACHED TO THE FIRE SERVICES AMBULANCE DEPOTS AND STATIONS TO ADMINISTER FIRST AID AND EVACUATE ACCIDENT VICTIMS.
+WITHIN THE 6 000-STRONG FORCE, MORE THAN 3 000 ARE QUALIFIED FOR AMBULANCE DUTY, THE MEDICAL DEFENCE STAFF OFFICER, AMS, MR K.C. TONG SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
IN ADDITION TO 40 HOURS OF BASIC TRAINING IN FIRST AID, AMS MEMBERS HAVE TO UNDERGO ONE YEAR'S SPECIAL TRAINING IN CASUALTY HANDLING, AMBULANCE MANNING PROCEDURES AND USE OF MECHANICAL RESUSCITATION EQUIPMENT BEFORE THEY ARE POSTED FOR DUTY, HE SAID.
+MANY ARE ALSO TRAINED TO DRIVE FIRE SERVICES AMBULANCES AND AT PRESENT WE HAVE 150 QUALIFIED AMBULANCE DRIVERS, HE ADDED.
AMS PERSONNEL WHEN DEPLOYED FOR DUTY ARE ASSIGNED AS AMBULANCE SUPERVISORS, ATTENDANTS, AUXILIARY NURSES OR DRIVERS, ACCORDING TO THE IR RANK AND QUALIFICATION.
+WORKING IN TWO SHIFTS SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH REGULAR AMBULANCE CREWS, THEY NOT ONLY HELP TO RELIEVE THE HEAVY WORKLOAD OF THE REGULARS BUT CAN ALSO LEARN AND GAIN EXPERIENCE THROUGH ACTUAL PRACTICE, MR TONG SAID.
+FOR THIS REASON, DEPLOYMENT OF MEMBERS AS PART-TIME AMBULANCEMEN HAS BECOME SCHEDULED TRAINING OF THE AMS SINCE 1959,+ HE SAID.
AT PRESENT, ABOUT 160 OF THEM ARE REGULARLY DEPLOYED FOR SUCH DUTY EVERY SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY. THEY ARE STATIONED AT AMBULANCE DEPOTS AND FIRE STATIONS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
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