XN000022-1974-04-26 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1974.

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AMBULANCES TO CARRY NEW PAIN KILLING GAS

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AFTER TRIALS LASTING A YEAR, HONG KONG'S AMBULANCES ARE TO BE FITTED WITH ONE OF THE LATEST TYPES OF PAIN KILLING GAS

+ENTONOX.+

MR. BILL DOORE, CHIEF AMBULANCE OFFICER, SAID THE GAS HAD BEEN FOUND TO BE +EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL+ IN RELIEVING PAIN AND SHOCK CAUSED BY INJURY OR ILLNESS AND, FROM TOMORROW, ALL AMBULANCES WILL CARRY AN +ENTONOX+ SET CONSISTING OF A CYCLINDER AND FACE MASK. ADDITIONALLY THEY ARE TO BE FITTED WITH PIPED OXYGEN AS A STANDARD FEATURE, MAKING HONG KONG'S AMBULANCES AMONG THE BEST EQUIPPED IN THE WORLD.

MR. DOORE SAID 86 ENTONOX SETS HAD BEEN PURCHASED FROM HONG KONG OXYGEN COMPANY, SUFFICIENT FOR ONE TO BE SUPPLIED TO EACH AMBULANCE. THE CYCLINDERS, WHICH ARE RECHARGEABLE, ARE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING A SUPPLY OF GAS FOR ONE HOUR. THE GAS IS A MIXTURE OF NITROUS OXIDE AND OXYGEN AND 15 USED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AT BIRTHS.

MR. DOORE SAID THE PATIENT ADMINISTERS THE GAS HIMSELF SO THAT HE DOES NOT BECOME UNCONSCIOUS. +AS SOON AS HE FEELS THE PAIN GOING,+ MR. DOORE EXPLAINED, THE RELEASES THE MASK AND BREATHES A NORMAL AIR. WHEN THE PAIN RETURNS, HE PUTS THE MAST BACK ON TO BREATHE THE PAIN KILLING GAS.+

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THE ADVANTAGE OF ENTONOX OVER OPIATES

WHICH WERE USED

UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO - IS THAT, WHEN THE PATIENT STOPS BREATHING THE GAS, THE PAIN RETURNS AND THE DOCTOR IS ABLE TO MAKE A BETTER DIAGNOSIS.

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NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS:

THE NEW TYPE OF PAIN KILLING GAS WILL BE SUPPLIED TO AMBULANCES IN YAU MA TEI AMBULANCE DEPOT C44 WATERLOO ROAD) AT 11 A.M. TOMORROW (SATURDAY). YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND MEMBERS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC STAFF TO TAKE PICTURES. THEY SHOULD CONTACT MR. DOORE, THE CHIEF AMBULANCE OFFICER.

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