St. Andrew's Ambulance Association

St Andrew's Ambulance Association is a charity based in Scotland with a focus on first aid. It seeks to preserve the lives of people in Scotland by providing a first aid service and teaching first aid throughout the country.

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About the Organisation

St Andrew's Ambulance Association is based at National Headquarters in Glasgow. It exists to promote the teaching of first aid, supplying first aid equipment and supplies and providing event cover^[3]. It achieves the latter by virtue of St Andrew's Ambulance Corps, made up of volunteers who devote their time to care for the sick and injured.^[4]

In overall control is the Council of Association, which is group comprised of a diverse range of people including representatives from the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and Edinburgh, from the police, from hosptials as well as representatives from the Corps. Council acts to promote the aims and objectives of the Association and also has the power to raise funds, lease property and employ staff.

Council also delegates its power to a number of different entities:

• Committees of Council - These each have their own remit, such as fundraising or medical and first aid protocols.
• Commandant-in-Chief of the Corps - This medically qualified person is responsible for the adminstraion, organisation and discipline of the Corps.
• Chief Executive Officer - A person responsible for achieving the policies set down by council; they are also responsible for the day to day running of the Association and its staff.
• Executive Committees - These groups are responsible for the management of the assets and affairs of the Association in their local area. There are 13 in total, and the membership is mainly volunteer members from the Corps.
• Staff of National Headquarters - Are employed to assist in the administraion of the Association and Corps.^[5]

First Aid Courses

St Andrew's offers a wide variety of courses to the general public and in the workplace:

Public Courses

Standard First Aid

This is a comprehensive 24 hour course that covers most aspects of basic first aid, including:

• recovery position
• choking in adults, children and babies
• circulatory disorders
• cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults, children and babies
• contol of bleeding
• neurological disorders
• sprains, strains and fractures^[6]

Emergency First Aid

This is a 4 hour course, that is designed to give a brief overview of some of the key first aid skills (such as CPR, choking and control of bleeding).^[6]

Emergency Resuscitation

This is a 2 hour course that teaches basic life support skills.^[6]

Junior First Aid

This course that has been developed to teach a variety of first aid skills to children under the age of 15. ^[7]

Sports Injuries First Aid

This course places particular emphasis on injuries that might be encountered in a sporting environment (fractures, spinal injuries etc), whilst also encouraging record keeping and advice on what a sports first aid kit should contain.^[8]

Baby & Child First Aid

This course is particularly aimed at parents and those who work with young children, as it focuses on baby and child CPR and choking procedures as well as recognition and treatment of common childhood illnesses and injuries.^[9]

Anaphylaxis Awareness

This is a 4 hour course that is entirely centred around anaphylaxis: causes, the effects on the body, recognition and treatment. There is a section on the use of an EpiPen, and opportunity to use a practice EpiPen.^[9]

Workplace Courses

HSE Approved First Aid at Work

This week long course covers most of what is done in Standard First Aid, but also provides information on relevant laws and advice on contents of first aid boxes and rooms.

Emergency Aid for Appointed Persons Course

This one day course is more basic than First Aid at Work, that is similar in scope to Emergency First Aid.^[10]

St Andrew's Ambulance Corps

The Corps was formed in 1904, in order to bring together the various ambulance Corps that had formed and to allow these people to improve their first aid skills by practising together and being available at public gathering^[11]. The aim of the Corps has not changed over the past 100 years, and today it still exists and provides an opportunity for people to practice and use their first aid skills.

Structure

The Corps is made up from over 90 Corps Companies, each of which are based within a specific area and come under the administration of one of the Executive Committees. Overall control of the Corps comes from the Association, with National Headquarters providing administrative support.^[12]

A Corps Company consists of volunteer members who attend regular training meetings, go on duty to provide first aid cover at events and oversee the general running of the company. There are a number of different roles within a Corps Company:

• Associate Member - Someone who does not hold a Standard First Aid certificate, but is involved in the running of the company in some other way (fundraising, accounts, administration etc).
• Member - Someone who holds a Standard First Aid Certificate, and attends events as a first aider as well helping in the runnning of the company.
• Secretary - The person who performs general administrative duties such as taking minutes at AGMs or distributing correspondence from the Association.
• Treasurer - The person who administers company accounts, as well as paying expenses to members (for travel to/from duties).
• Public Duty Officer - The person who organises the first aid cover required at duties, and keeps a record of casulties treated.
• Commandant - The person in overall charge of the company.
• Deputy Commandant - The person who supports the work of the Commandant
• Assistant Commandant - This position (or positions) is only present in larger companies, in which the Commandant and Deputy may require more support in running of the company.
• Honorary Medical Officer - A medically qualified person, who advises the company on medical and first aid matters and can also attend public duties.
• Trainer/Assesor - A member who has undertaken the Trainer/Assesor course, so that they can provide training to the Corps Company as well as to the public.
• Youth Leaders - A member responsible for training and leadership of the youth groups in the Company. ^[13]

Further Training

Members of the Corps are constantly updating their first aid skill at regular meetings, however there is also opportunity to undertake further training courses:

• Automated External Defibrillation - A course that allows members to use an AED whilst on duty ^[14]
• Moving and Handling - A comprehensive course that covers safe handling and transport of casulties. Techniques taught include scoop stretcher, spinal board, cervical collar, trolley bed, carry chairs and carry sheets.^[15]
• Officers' Training Course - A course that allows members to take up the positions of Commandant, Deputy Commandant or Assistant Commandant.^[16]

There is also training in radio communications, as radios are used by members at many duties in order to help speed up communications, and better mobilise members and equipment in response to incidents. ^[17]

Duties

The Corps supplies members to duties across the country, ranging from village fêtes to international sporting events and music festivals. For example, St Andrew's provides cover at Scotland's four largest stadia (Celtic Park, Hampden Park, Ibrox Stadium and Murrayfield Stadium), as well as major festivals such as T in the Park and Live at Loch Lomond.

Uniform

  St Andrew's Ambulance Corps first aiders are required to wear uniform when on duty and are encouraged to wear it whenever they are representing the Corps. There are currently three uniform sets:

• Number 1 Uniform - Black trousers, white shirt (with Association logo) with rank slides, clip-on tie, tunic and peaked caps. This uniform is only for ceremonial occasions
• Number 2 Uniform - Black combat trousers, white shirt (with Association logo), clip-on tie, black NATO pullover with rank slides and black fleece. This uniform can be used for public duties.
• Number 3 Uniform - Blue coveralls (consisting of a royal blue squad jacket and trousers), white T-shirt. This uniform can be used for public duties.

In addition, there are high visibility jackets, hard hats, ski hats, waterproof jackets and backpack style first aid kits. ^[18]

Relationship with other organisations

St Andrew's Ambulance, St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross Society collectively form the Voluntary Aid Societies. Together, the organisations produce the official First Aid Manual in the United Kingdom.

Following an agreement in 1908, St John Ambulance ceased to operate in Scotland and St Andrew's Ambulance Association ceased to operate in England.^[19] St Andrew's enjoys goods relations with the British Red Cross, and they often work in partnership at larger duties such as T in the Park.

History

Formation and early years

In 1882, St Andrew's Ambulance Association was formed in Glasgow by a group of local doctors and businessmen who were concerned by the rapid increase in accidents resulting from traffic and modern machinery. First aid and casulty transportation classes were conducted and Scotland's first ambulance was bought by the Association in April 1882, which served Glasgow and the surrounding area providing first aid and transportation to hospital to accident victims. In the following years, the number of calls the Association responded to grew so as by 1886 there were six ambulances stationed in towns throughout Scotland.^[20] 

In order to make teaching more uniform, in 1891 the Association published Dr George T. Beaton's Ambulance Hand-book that provided a conscise overview of anatomy, physiology, injuries, first aid treatment and casulty transportation. The book remained the Association standard text for over 40 years as it was updated and republished.^[20]

At the turn of the century, the Association underwent two major changes: In 1899, a Royal Charter was granted by Queen Victoria that changed the Association from a collection of individuals to a legally recognised single entity; in 1904, the St Andrew's Ambulance Corps was formed to bring together the various ambulance groups around the country under a single administration.^[11]

First World War

Within 48 hours of war being declared, the Corps was able to entirely staff all of Scotland's military hospitals, freeing the regular staff for service. In addition to this, St Andrew's were also able to assemble two Foreign Service Units (which served in France and in hospital ships), a Military Nursing Service (derived from females Corps members) and a transport service along side the British Red Cross attending to wounded soldiers from hospital trains.^[21] Whilst all of this was happening, St Andrew's usual civilian work of first aid training and casulty transportation continued unabated (albeit the additional services placed strain on the Association's funds).^[20]

Between World Wars

After the First World War ended, the British Red Cross Society presented the Association with a large number of motor ambulance wagons that were no longer required by the military. This allowed a complete ambulance service to be extended throughout Scotland. In order to meet the needs of the expanding organisation, the Association commissioned plans for permanent Headquarters to be built in the North Street, Glasgow. This building opened in 1929 and its facilities included a garage, workshops, offices, classrooms and a drill hall.^[20] By 1939, the Association was granted Royal Patronage, with The Queen Mother as patron.^[11]

Second World War

The Association faced the task of preparing the Scottish public for air raids, and it responded by providing classes in Aid Raid Precautions, Anti-Gas Precautions and First Aid for air raid casuluties. As the First World War, St Andrew's was active in the war effort: the Corps provided thousands of staff for the Civil Nursing Reserve, transportation of casulties after air raids and providing first aid and nursing training to school children. In Glasgow, the Association provided accommodation for the newly formed Blood Transfusion Service, as well as arranging free transport for donors.

• 1882: Founded in Glasgow. First Aid classes were organised, 'stretcher stations' were placed in chemist shops and an ambulance was bought.
• 1891: The Association published Dr George Beatson's Ambulance Handbook.
• 18 April 1899: A Royal Charter was granted by Queen Victoria.
• 1904: St. Andrew's Ambulance Corps was formed.
• 1918: The St. Andrew's and Red Cross Scottish Ambulance Service was formed with ambulances from the British Red Cross Society, which were unused after the First World War.
• 1928: The Association's Headquarters opened in North Street, Glasgow.
• 1937: Royal Patronage was granted, with The Queen Mother as patron.
• 1948: The National Health Service was formed, and the St. Andrew's and Red Cross Scottish Ambulance Service was contracted to provide the ambulance service.
• 1954: The first joint First Aid manual of St. Andrew's Ambulance Association, St. John Ambulance and British Red Cross Society was published.
• 1967: The British Red Cross Society withdrew from the ambulance service, which became St. Andrew's Scottish Ambulance Service, the sole contractor for the provision of the ambulance service.
• 26 June 1970: The Queen Mother opened the Association's new National Headquarters in Milton Street, Glasgow. The relocation had been necessary due to the construction of the M8 motorway.
• 2 January 1971: St. Andrew's Ambulance Association first aiders were faced with the Ibrox disaster while on duty at Ibrox stadium.
• 1974: The National Health Service was reorganised, and the St. Andrew's Scottish Ambulance Service was taken over by the NHS. St Andrew's Ambulance Association continued to provide First Aid services and training.
• 1978: The Corps celebrated its 75th anniversary.
• 1982: The Association celebrated its centenary, with a service of thanksgiving at Glasgow Cathedral, attended by the Queen Mother.
• 1993: The Association bought its first defibrillator, with training provided by Scottish Ambulance Service.
• 2004: The Corps celebrated its centenary.
• 2006: The organisation underwent a change in corporate identity, renaming its public facing areas as St Andrew's First Aid ^[11][22][23]

See also

• St John Ambulance in England and Wales
• British Red Cross

Executive Committee Pages

• Dundee and Angus Executive Committee
• Fife Executive Committee
• Glasgow Executive Committee
• Grampian Executive Committee

Corps Company Pages

• Dennistoun Company
• Glasgow General Purpose Company
• Renfrew Corps Company
• Stanley Company

References