ENG-1962 — Page 349

LOCAL FORCES AND CIVIL DEFENCE SERVICES

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Excellency the Governor's appeal for volunteers and the strength of the service is now nearly 5,000.

In August, for the second year running, the incidence of cholera in the Colony reached such proportions that the Director of Medical and Health Services found it necessary to institute an isolation centre for cholera 'contacts' in order to minimize the risk of spreading the disease. The task of running this isolation centre fell largely on the Auxiliary Medical Service and the response to the emergency was again excellent. There was not a single instance of reluctance on the part of a member to undertake duty in the isolation centre, nor of any employer refusing to release an Auxiliary Medical Service member from his usual employment. During and after typhoon Wanda in September, many members turned out to administer first aid to the injured and to assist in rescue work and the establishment of centres for feeding and housing the homeless.

The Civil Aid Services are responsible for all the civil defence functions not covered by the other emergency services. They include three command units, a warden service with posts throughout the urban area, a rescue service, a despatch service equipped with motor_scooters, an accommodation unit, and several administrative units. Volunteers continue to come forward and there are now over 5,000 members, most of whom train on one or two evenings a week and take part in exercises with the Auxiliary Medical Service. There are also full-time specialist courses for selected members lasting up to a week. Three thousand members attended the annual field day and took part in competitions designed to test individual and unit skills and organization.

Many members turned out voluntarily during typhoon Wanda and carried out a wide variety of tasks with great willingness and efficiency. Many of them spent 10 or more hours each day in clearance work and assisting in the care of the homeless.

The Auxiliary Fire Service is designed to assist the regular Fire Services. Members of the Service total over 660. They man their own appliances during weekly platoon training under the super- vision of regular Fire Services Department officers, and work on water relays, week-end station duty, full-day and half-day exercises, a pump operators' course, driving instruction, and control and watch-room operating. The Auxiliary Fire Service is also called