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WHITBY FREE PRESS, St. John Ambulance, DECEMBER 7, 1988, PAGE A3 Ihe Need Never. Changes St. John Ambulance Organizations aid in St. John growth By Vernon E. Mosssey Finance Chairman, Whitby Branch St. John Ambulance The history, achievements and story of a group of Benedictine monks known as the Brothers of the Hospital of St. John bas been well chronicled. Their success, from humble beginnings assisting Christian pilgrims in Jerusaleum in the 11th century, manifests itself today in our local community as an organization known as St. John Ambulance - Whitby branch. An organization celebrating 25 years of service to the citizens of Whitby. St. John in· Whitby bas grown dramatically in recent years. Prior to 1986, the branch operated from the old County building on Centre St., with a budget of less than $17,000. Income from training was not sufficient to cover related expenses and the organization's remaining costs were funded almost exclusively by contributions from the United Way. During 1986, the executive of the branch perceived a need for additional training which could not be accommodated within the facilities or organization that existed at that time. Shirley Spicer became a full-time branch manager in new facilities at 110 Ash St. St. John Ambulance - Whitby branch was ready to go - and go it did. Courses for emergency first aid, CPR - (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), babysitting, child life, and healthy aging all were enthusiastically endorsed by interested conmunity groups. The number of individuals trained exploded from a modest average of 450 prior to the expansion to 1,449 in 1987 and a similar amount for 1988. The financial side of St. John has undergone similar changes fron a modest budget of less than $17,000 in 1986 to a challenging budget of over $100,000 in 1988. Although our reliance on contributions from the United Way bas decreased from 100 per cent in 1986 and prior, to 38 per cent in 1988, in absolute terms their support bas grown from $7,950 in 1985 to $26,620 in 1988 and a planned $31,000 in 1989. The~ Kinsmen,. Lions, Rotary and Canadian Legion have responded with generosity to the need for increased training activity. During 1988 the Canadian Legion - Whitby branch donated a van which along with a $4,500 donation from LASCO Steel to refit the interior, enabled St. John Ambulance to provide a first class emergency response unit to serve the citizens of Whitby. Start-up costs and other expenses associated with the enlarged facilities contributed to a $16,000 deficit for the 1987 year. The Whitby Lions Club provided a much needed donation in early 1988 to substantially offset this loss. The patience, cooperation and generous support of these orgazations has enabled St. John Ambulance - Whitby branch to achieve a rapid rate of success that otherwise would not have been possible. The future for St. John Ambulance in Whitby is cautiously optimistic. The maintenance of existing services can only be continued with the addition of alternate sources of income. Recently the Workers' Compensation Board, which provided substantial funding of business training courses, announced severe cutbacks in its future commitments to training. This loss of revenue, combined with an existing shortfall of income over expenses, has already resulted in one staff layoff at the branch as well as other cost-saving measures. Future possibilities for additional income exist in the modification of training courses to accommodate both private and public needs for day care workers, as well as the direct provision of day care services by the Whitby branch of St. John Ambulance to the public at large. In addition, donations . from community groups for on-site first aid duties will become increasingly necessary. Our chapter prevents us from charging for these services. The future, beset with apprehension, will surely be a challenge, but also holds a promise that the success of our organization since the 11th century will continue with the dedicated efforts of those who care deeply. St. John Ambulance - Whitby branch has the facilities, it has the knowledge and experience, it has the people. If a family or organization would like to know more about services call 668-9006. We do not ask for charity, we ask for involvement. The goal of St. John Ambulance, Ontario Council, is to make first ai.d skills and training available to reduce accidents and minimize their consequences.. Most of the work is done through its province-wide network of 7,500 volunteers. About 3,500 of its volunteer members work in 63 branches, and on committees of the St. John Ambulance council which deals with training, administration, finance and medical and nursing concerns. The council's most visible volunteers are the 4,100 members of its 172 uniformed brigade units. During -1980, brigade members contributed 527,586 hours of unpaid public duty, an average of 120 hours, 15. working days for every member. During those hours, they provided first aid treatment for 75,300 casualties. St. John Ambulance has a program of health care courses, including child care, 'There's No Place Like Home for Health Care,' and health care for seniors. In 1980 about 3,000 people in Ontario took these courses. All three courses are new or newly revised, and the number of people taking them will grow. To teach its first aid courses, Ontario council has about 2,500 first aid instructors, 458 of them trained during 1980. They, in turn, trained more than 106,000 people in Ontario in first aid, including teachers and students who took the St. John Ambulance course. The organization is the official training agency and advisor on all St. John - 26,000 volunteers strong St. John Ambulance is a non-profit, public service organization operating throughout Canada, committed to providing first aid and health care courses for Cànadians in all walks of life. Al of its 26,000 members, except for a small administrative office, are unpaid volunteers. There are about 110 volunteers for every staff member. St. John Ambulance in Canada is part of the international Order of St. John which is active throughout the Commonwealth, and traces its origin back to the Crusaders. Queen Elizabeth is the sovereign Head of the Order. The Governor General is the Prior (highest ranking officer) of the Priory in Canada. The Priory is responsible for the administration and control of the work of St. John Ambulance in this country. The head of the Order in Canada is the chancellor and the head of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Canada is the chief commissioner. National office is located in Ottawa. Each province, including the Northwest Territories, has a provincial office. First aid classes under St. John auspices have been given in Canada since 1883 and the first local branch of the St. John Ambulance Association was formed in Montr.eal in 1884. The first unit of the St. John Ambulance Brigade was formed in London, Ont., in 1909. St. John Ambulance is both a service organization and a teaching body. The St. John Ambulance Brigade members - men, wonren and teenagers - are trained in first aid and home nursing. Last year they devoted 1.7 millions hours of their own time to voluntary public service. Brigade members wear the familiar St. John uniform when on public duty and provide first aid coverage at a wide variety of public events. In addition, they help in hospitals, clinics, homes for the aged and a great many other places where knowledge of first aid and home nursing is valuable. The brigade divisions are also on call in many emergencies, There are 575 brigade units in towns and cities across Canada with a total of 12,000 members. In Ontario, there are over 4,000 of these volunteer first aiders who provide almost a million hours of service annually to their communities. first aid matters - to the Workmen's Compensation Board of Ontario and serves in the sanie capacity to several provincial government ministries. St. John Ambulance has a special instructor certification program for industry. All of its instructor courses are designed to meet particular needs. The basic course provides 40 hours of instruction and practise in the techniques of instruction. In 1980, St. John in Ontario had a total revenue of approximately $2,110,000. Fifty per cent of that was payment for training. Helping those with trachoma The Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem, a St. John Hospital in the city where the Order of St. John was started, is one of the centres of a world-wide battle being waged against trachoma, the dreaded eye disease. More than 300 million people in the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia suffer from this disease. The Ophthalmic Hospital treats 100,000 patients annually, has isolated the virus which causes trachoma and is attempting to find a cure for it. The hospital is supported by contributions from St. John Ambulance around the world. cametoid Coatings For Aerospace Use With Best Wishes for 25 More Dedicated Service Years of D. G. Newman, President 1449 Hopkins St., Whitby Ontario, Canada L1N 2C2 Telephone: (416) 666-3400 Telex: 06-981421 Fax: 666-3413j CONGRATULATIONS ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ON 25 YEARS OF SERVICE On behalf of the citizens of Whitby we thank you for the service you have rendered to this community for the past twenty-five years. THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF WHITBY Mayor R. A. Attersley Councillor C. R. Batten Councillor J. E. Bugelli Councillor M. L. Brunelle Councillor J. E. Drumm Councillor L. J. Buffett Councillor T. J. Edwards Councillor D. G. Fox Training helps reduce accidents