St. John Ambulance in India

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St. John Ambulance (SJA) was established in India in 1873. In 1912 the St. John Ambulance Association was granted autonomy and the Council was established. The first Nursing Division was established in 1913. The first Cadet Division was established in 1925. Prior to 1934, St John Ambulance and the Indian Red Cross maintained separate identities although they undertook joint relief work. The two organisations became affiliated in 1934 to ensure harmonious relations between the two bodies, to avoid overlapping and to ensure that ambulance work was given its rightful place in conjunction with Red Cross responsibilities. At independence in 1947, the Indian St. John Council was granted entire control over the work that was being carried out by 526 Divisions. St. John and the Indian Red Cross share a joint headquarters and staff in Delhi.

There are now more than 2,000 St. John Ambulance Divisions in India. There are particularly active organisations in the states of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

1 Activities
2 Youth
3 International Links
4 External links

[edit] Activities

SJA programmes in India include: Public Duties, permanent First Aid Posts at railway stations and bus stations, First Aid training for commercial and industrial students and members of the public. training of Police Force and personnel in other public organisations, home nursing training, community health care, immunisation work, the blood donation service, disaster preparedness to supplement medical services in emergencies and war, and ambulance services. St John members also work at government homes children in Chennai (Madras) and they are active in eye hospitals and caring for the aged in Kolkata (Calcutta). In Tamil Nadu, the State Government insists that all commercial drivers hold First Aid certificates, and St. John Ambulance runs 93 types of First Aid course in the State.