FOR a number of years there has been in Plymouth very close and useful co-operation between the Life-boat Station and the local Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, the Brigade turning out whenever the Life- boat receives a call, and standing by to give first aid to any among the ship- wrecked or the Life-boat Crew who may come ashore injured.

In 1926 this system of co-operation was extended to the majority of the Institution's Stations in Great Britain.

In England and Wales the Institution works in co-operation with the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and at Stations where there is no Division of the Brigade, with the British Red Cross Society. In Scotland it works with the St. Andrew's Ambulance Association.* The value of this co-operation is shown by the following extracts from reports of the Plymouth and District Division of the St. John Ambulance Association. The first is from the Annual Report for 1929 and the second from the Annual Report for 1930.

" LIFEBOAT CALLS.—The system now in operation round the British Coast for ambulance personnel and vehicles to stand by on the shore when the Life- boats go on their errands of mercy originated at Plymouth, so it is fitting that on two more occasions during the * See article " First Aid for the Ship- wrecked " in The Lifeboat for September, 1926.

period under review [the year ending 30th September, 1929] this Service has rendered assistance. When, in Novem- ber of 1928, a steamer was wrecked in Jennycliffe, the first ambulance which went to the Air Station for the survivors who were being landed by rocket apparatus had a perilous journey against the hurricane. Its bonnet was blown off, and some roads were im- possible to traverse at the height of the gale. One stretcher case and six other men were brought to Plymouth, whilst another ambulance was on duty in the Docks to receive an injured Life-boat- man and seven more of the vessel's crew.

" Two cars turned out during the snowstorm in February when the Ply- mouth Life-boat did her famous rescue work at the Hope Cove wreck.* Nine seafarers were transported to the Sailors' Home, and the Second Coxswain, who fractured his leg whilst responding in the night to the call, was taken to hospital.

" FOR THE LIFEBOAT. Every service- call for the Life-boat has also been answered by ambulances, survivors being removed either to hospital or to * The service to the s.s. Deventia on 12th February. The steamer had gone ashore on the rocks, and the Life-boat, arriving shortly before six in the morning, found her filling rapidly. She rescued ten of the crew, the other three being rescued from the shore by the Life-saving Apparatus. The Coxswain received the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum.

the Sailors' Home, as necessary. The wreck of the Umberleigh during an eighty miles an hour gale meant a strenuous night, especially for the men and ambulance sent to Staddon Heights ! * When, in the morning, several of the crew were transferred to the Life-boat in the breeches buoy, one who was injured received first aid from * The Umberleigh, of London, went ashore on 20th September, 1930. The Plymouth Motor Life-boat stood by and took off eighteen of the crew.

an officer of the Ambulance Service, who went out in the Boat to the wreck.

During quarterly practice, instruction in artificial respiration has been given to the crew.

" It is recorded with pride that the new Coxswain of the Plymouth Motor Life-boat, Mr. James Roach, is one of the founder-members of the Ambulance Service, who, although now engaged in another form of humanitarian activities, has never ceased to take a keen interest in first aid.".