University Daily Kansan
Page 9
Men Drop Books, Slam Doors In Frantic Race To Save Lives
It is 11:30 Thursday night and a man sits in front of his history book madly cramming for an exam.
By Jane Larson
The phone rings, the man answers it, and the next moment he drops his book, slams out the door and is dashing down the street.
No, he isn't off to the Stables to join the fraternity brothers. He's involved in a frantic, every-second-counts race to save a life.
This scene is enacted as many as four to five times a week and has become routine for the four KU students working for the Citizens' Ambulance Service here in Lawrence.
THESE ATTENDANTS must be prepared to close textbooks, get out of bed in the middle of the night in a second and hurry to the scene of an accident which could be in downtown Lawrence, or the other side of Eudora.
When they arrive at the scene of the accident they must be prepared to do anything from deliver a baby to giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to setting broken bones.
In speaking of the attendants' duties, Herkel Hoyt Belote, owner and operator of the ambulance service, said, "They must be able to take care of the injured at the scene of the accident and provide transportation."
STEVE FANSLAR. Garden City junior and one of the ambulance drivers, said. "We very rarely find the same kind of accident twice. We don't know what we'll come up against."
That's why the attendants have to be prepared.
Working for an ambulance service doesn't simply consist of weaving an ambulance in and out of traffic. The major task involved is the application of medical care to the injured person, for which the attendants receive extensive first aid training.
Belote, a registered nurse and CRNA anesthetist, instructs the attendants in first aid. At the present time they are taking an advanced first aid course.
THE AMBULANCE SERVICE, the only one in Douglas County, consists of a rambling, two-story house, eight ambulances, and all the equipment necessary to handle emergencies.
The first floor of the house is equipped with a two-way radio system, a cot, and a sitting room for the attendants on their four to five hour shifts.
The other two KU students, Tom Scanlin, Wichita junior, and Steve Fanslar, both married, live elsewhere.
Upstairs live two of the workers, John Heil, Bartlesville senior, and Clem Switickt, Parsons junior. Each of the boys has a room to himself, at least until some more boys decide to move in.
HEIL COMMENTED, "I like it, it's cheaper. You can come and go as you please."
ALL THE ATTENDANTS seemed to have the same thing in mind when they took the job-money. But there were other reasons.
"I had had four years experience driving an ambulance before I came
Jenkins Case Hurt LBJ; Margin Cut, Says Demo
The "Walter Jenkins episode" may mean the difference between a landslide victory and a close victory for President Johnson, according to Mrs. Myrta Budke, Douglas County Democratic Vice Chairman.
"The Samuel Lubell Poll shows that Johnson's lead has dropped since the Jenkins affair. It may cause some Republicans who were planning to vote for Johnson not to vote at all." Mrs. Budke said.
"President Johnson's efforts to promote world peace, to enlarge educational opportunities for our children, to combat poverty and to promote civil rights for Negroes, are our most helpful campaign issues," said Mrs. Budke.
year. This is ridiculous," Mrs. Budke said. "Too wide a choice between the two parties will not help our country. Our government is more stable than those of other countries where the differences between the political parties are more pronounced."
"A change has occurred in the Democratic party. The party is becoming more liberal, due to the defection of southern conservatives," said Mrs. Budke.
"Many people are praising the wide choice the voters have this
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1964
here, so naturally I knew something about it. I enjoy working with people and the medical field," Fanslar said.
When an ambulance goes out on a call, usually only two people are called out, the driver, usually Woodrow W. Garrett, manager, and an attendant. Sometimes a new attendant will go along to be broken in.
Commenting on the local campaign, Mrs. Budke said the greatest Democratic strength in Lawrence was in the north and east sections of Lawrence. "These areas have a large proportion of Negro and Mexican families" said Mrs. Budke.
WHEN ASKED IF the phone ringing gave him a special thrill or perhaps a scare, John Heil said, "I certainly don't get a big thrill out of going out at night, especially after 12. When you're new, everything's strange and you don't know exactly what to do, you're kind of scared. But after awhile it just becomes excitement."
Although one usually thinks of an ambulance as charging 80 miles an hour through traffic this simply isn't possible.
FANSLAR SAID, "We're not supposed to go more than 10 miles an hour above the speed limit. You simply can't depend upon the other fellow to always move, maybe he can't hear the siren."
"The best remedy for this situation is to know your community and keep a cool head," Garrett said.
ONCE IN A WHILE they will receive a call from a frantic witness who excitedly screams there has been a terrible accident and then hangs up without giving any details such as the location, or gives the wrong address in the excitement.
When this happens they at once proceed to locate the accident, usually beginning with a call to the police.
The attendants selected to work for the ambulance service are very carefully chosen. An irresponsible person cannot be depended upon to make split-second decisions.
FIRST THE ATTENDANTS are interviewed for personal tastes, ambitions, and character. Those who drink or have police records are immediately rejected.
In addition to personality, physical aspects must be considered. The attendants must be from 18-27 years of age and have a 29-33 inch waist and a 39-44 inch chest.
One of the most unique aspects of the ambulance service is its Powder Puff crew.
THIS CREW CONSISTS of women volunteers who at times have driven as far as Indiana and Texas on the job.
These four married women are trained as drivers and attendants like the men. Usually their husbands are connected in some way with the ambulance service.
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Rock Chalk Skits Submitted
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Living groups entering scripts in the Rock Chalk Revue competition have chosen their skit themes, Paula Bruckner, Emporia junior and assistant producer, said yesterday.
Themes chosen are: "How the West Was Won," Alpha Chi Omega-Sigma Phi Epsilon; "The Mouse That Roared," Alpha Phil-Alpha Kappa Lambda; "David and Lisa," Delta Gamma-Sigma Chi; "King Kong," Delta Delta Delta-Beta Theta Pi; "What A Way To Go"; Hashinger Hall-Templin Hall; "Samson and Dellahil," Kappa Alpha Theta-Kappa Sigma; "Tobacco Road." Kappa Kappa Gamma-Phi Kappa Psi; "My Fair Lady," Lewis Hall-Battenfeld Hall; and "Mutiny On The Bounty," Pi Beta Phi-Alpha Tau Omega.
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