XN000022-1979-12-30 — Page 5

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1979

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AMS ENTERING 30TH YEAR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

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THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE IS ENTERING ITS 30TH YEAR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE NEW YEAR.

THE AMS, FORMED IN 1950, IS ALWAYS READY TO BACK UP REGULAR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN HANDLING ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION, AND IN PROVIDING MEDICAL AND NURSING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE AMS MEDICAL DEFENCE STAFF OFFICER, MR. K.C. TONG, SAID AMS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT TO PROVIDE FIRST AID AND MEDICAL SERVICE IN FIRES, FLOODS, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, LANDSLIDES AND HOUSE COLLAPSES.

THEY HAVE ALSO SPENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS IN CARING FOR THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.

APART FROM EMERGENCY DUTIES, MR. TONG SAID, AMS MEMBERS ALSO PROVIDED SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY ON A REGULAR BASIS, USUALLY ON WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

THESE SERVICES INCLUDE NURSING THE SICK IN HOSPITALS, MANNING AMBULANCE DEPOTS AND SICK BAYS, ACTING AS LIFEGUARDS AT PUBLIC BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS, ADMINISTERING METHADONE AT DETOXIFICATION CENTRES, AS WELL AS PROVIDING FIRST AID SERVICE AT MAJOR PUBLIC FUNCTIONS.

PERMANENT STAFF AT THE AMS HEADQUARTERS ALSO CONDUCT FIRST AID TRAINING COURSES FOR CIVIL SERVANTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

MR. TONG POINTED OUT THAT THERE ARE NOW ALMOST 6 000 AMS MEMBERS. THEY COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND ABOUT ONE SIXTH OF THEM ARE DOCTORS, NURSES, DISPENSERS, RADIOGRAPHERS AND PARA- MEDICAL PERSONNEL WHILE THE REST ARE LAYMEN TRAINED IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH FIELD.

THESE LAYMEN ARE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO 40 HOURS OF BASIC FIRST AID TRAINING BEFORE BEING ACCEPTED AS A FULL MEMBER. PRIOR TO BEING CALLED OUT FOR DUTY THEY WILL HAVE TO RECEIVE OTHER TYPES OF TRAINING.

AMS MEMBERS ALSO CONTINUOUSLY RECEIVE OTHER APPROPRIATE TRAINING ON CASUALTY EVACUATION, LIFE-SAVING AND AMBULANCE DRIVING.

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