ENG-1984 — Page 306

THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES

Auxiliary Medical Services

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The Auxiliary Medical Services is a volunteer medical organisation with members trained and equipped to provide an essential service to the public, especially in times of emergency. It has a strength of about 5 800 volunteers of whom 1 200 are professionally qualified in medical, nursing, pharmaceutical or hospital administration services. The remainder, who come from various walks of life, are trained to a high level of proficiency in first aid, nursing, ambulance work and casualty handling.

Founded in 1950, the service's main role is to augment the Medical and Health Services and the ambulance service of the Fire Services Department in any emergency. Other than in emergencies, the Auxiliary Medical Services performs various regular duties such as providing first aid coverage for major public functions, assisting the full-time ambulance service on Sundays and public holidays, manning methadone treatment clinics, staffing first aid posts in country parks, setting up medical posts in refugee centres and reinforcing the regular lifeguard service at public beaches and swimming pools during the summer. The AMS also provides canoe lifeguards and surf lifesavers at several beaches. Permanent staff continue to give first aid training to government officers, especially those in the disciplined services. Sub-units have been established in nearly all urban districts, new towns and populated outlying islands.

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