XN000022-1975-01-30 — Page 5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1975

EMERGENCY CHILDBIRTH TREATMENT TRAINING COURSE FOR AMBULANCE STAFF

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS JUST BEGUN A COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING COURSE ON TREATMENT IN CONNECTION WITH EMERGENCY CHILDBIRTH FOR AMBULANCE STAFF INSTRUCTORS,

THE AIM IS TO ENABLE THEM TO OBTAIN FURTHER KNOWLEDGE SO THAT THEY WILL BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO HANDLE EMERGENCY CHILDBIRTH CASES IN FUTURE.

THE FIRST GROUP OF 15 INSTRUCTORS IS PRESENTLY ATTENDING A ONE-WEEK COURSE, WHICH BEGAN ON MONDAY (JANUARY 27).

SESSIONS ARE BEING CONDUCTED IN THE SCHOOL OF GENERAL NURSING

AND MIDWIFERY IN THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.

THE COURSE, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE AMBULANCE COMMAND OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, INCLUDES LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS ON HOW TO GIVE TREATMENT IN EMERGENCY CHILDBIRTH ON AN AMBULANCE EN ROUTE TO HOSPITAL, ON A STAIRCASE, OR IN THE STREET.

HOWEVER, THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO CONVERT AMBULANCE STAFF INTO MIDWIVES, BECAUSE THE LATTER ARE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO TWO YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.

PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING THE COURSE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE THEORY, THE ANATOMY AND THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HUMAN PREGNANCY SYSTEM THE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN CONNECTION WITH PREGNANCY- MODERN CONCEPTS OF ANTE-NATAL CARE THE RESUSCITATION OF THE NEW- BORN BABY AND THE MOTHER- OXYGEN THERAPY AND ENTONOX THERAPY.

BESIDES DEMONSTRATIONS, THERE WILL BE FILM SHOWS ON CHILDBIRTH. ESSENTIAL CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS ARE PROVIDED IN THE LABOUR WARD AND NURSERY ROOMS.

A MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT SIMILAR COURSES WILL BE CONDUCTED IN FUTURE.

AT PRESENT. THE AMBULANCE COMMAND OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS ABOUT 90 INSTRUCTORS. ALL OF THEM HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED FIRST-AID TRAINING CONCERNING CHILDBIRTH. MANY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PRESENT AT CRITICAL AND EXCEPTIONAL CHILDBIRTH SITUATIONS, AND HAVE ASSISTED MIDWIVES ON DUTY ON MANY OCCASIONS.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS TRAINING COURSE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM MISS B. CHAN, SENIOR NURSING TUTOR, AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF GENERAL NURSING AT TEL. NO. 3-840111 EXT. 428.

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