Order of Malta Ambulance Corps

Order of Malta Ambulance Corps
Motto	Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum (Latin for defence of the Faith and assistance to the poor and the suffering)
Formation	1938
Type	Charitable organisation
Headquarters	Saint John House, 32 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Location	Ireland
Membership	5,329
President	Sir Adrian FitzGerald KM, 6th Baronet, 24th Knight of Kerry.
Key people	Ambulance Corps Director Commander Winifred Maye D.M.
Affiliations	Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta
Staff	Administrative staff in Headquarters
Website	http://www.orderofmaltaireland.org/

The Order of Malta Ambulance Corps is the largest voluntary ambulance and first aid organisation of its kind in Ireland^[1]. The Order of Malta is engaged in teaching first aid, providing ambulance cover at large events, patient transport, community and nursing services. The Order of Malta has 4,000 volunteers throughout the Island of Ireland ^[2] The ambulance corps is administered by the Order of Malta.

Senior Members

The current National Director of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps is Commander Winnie Maye D.M. Commander Maye succeeded Commander Peader Ward K.M., who served two terms, as National Director. Dame Winnie Maye took office in January 2007. In common with all members of the Ambulance Corps, Commander Maye is a volunteer. She is assisted by a Deputy Director, two Assistant Directors, a Chief Medical Officer and a staff with responsibility for different areas of ambulance corps work.

The President of the Irish Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Sir Adrian FitzGerald KM, 6th Baronet, 24th Knight of Kerry. ^[3]

History

The first unit of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps began in 1937, when Professor Conor O'Malley, a Galway Doctor was asked by the Marquis McSweeney, the then Chancellor of the Irish Association to recruit members to form an Ambulance Corps, aimed initially for Connaught only.

Thirteen men were recruited by Professor O'Malley: six sixth year students from St. Josephs College "the Bish", Secondary School; four members from C.Y.M.S., Galway ; two Scout Masters; and one "lay" member. These thirteen members were the founder members of the ambulance corps in Galway .

The new recruits were enrolled on a series of First Aid lectures, given by Professor O'Malley in the X-Ray Department of the Central Hospital . The bandaging was taught by Theatre Sister Mary Shaughnessy. Examinations in First Aid were held in January 1938, and all were successful. In February 1938 First Aid services were requested for a National League match in Castlebar. The duties were allocated in Alphabetical Order- "Burke" and "Coogan" were first on duty.

The first Officer in Charge of the Galway Unit was Sgt. Timothy Murphy. Following the discovery of recent documents a second unit was set up in 1939 in Kilkenny.

Modern Ambulance Corps

Headquarters at Clyde Road, Dublin

Today, the ambulance corps is committed to providing services in a Christian, caring and non-discriminatory environment, irrespective of race, religious beliefs, gender or sexual orientation^[4].

The ambulance corps is a national organisation with 5,346^[5] members involved in 82 Units across the Island of Ireland. For administration purposes, the country is divided into regions which are managed by regional directors.Each region consists of a number of units which deliver services at local level. The organisation operates over 165 ambulances, mobile accident and emergency suites, support vehicles, medical bikes and command centres^[6].

The organisations headquarters are located in the exclusive Clyde Road area of Ballsbridge Dublin. Within the building there are modern lecture halls for training and a command and control centre to coordinate vehicles and personnel in the event of major incidents or duties.

Ranks of the Ambulance Corps

Cadet Ranks (Ages 10–16)

• Cadet
• Cadet Corporal
• Cadet Sergeant

Adult Ranks (Ages 16+)

• Volunteer

Non-Commissioned Officers Ranks

• Corporal
• Sergeant
• Adjutant

Commissioned Officers Ranks

• Second Lieutenant
• First Lieutenant
• Captain
• Commandant
• Assistant Commander
• Commander
• Assistant National Director
• Deputy National Director
• National Director

Volunteers wear epaulettes with a Maltese Cross while members holding a rank wear an epaulette with the Maltese Cross plus rank markings on the shoulders of the uniform. Different colour epaulettes are used to denote various medical qualifications and if a member is a member of the Catholic Clergy.

• Grey for members trained in First Aid,Cardiac First Responder, [Emergency First Responder] and Emergency Medical Technician
• Grey marked with a red tip and bottom indicate the member is under 18 years of age (Introduced in late 2011)
• Black for member of the Clergy
• Green for Paramedic and Advanced Paramedic
• Blue for Nurse
• Red for Medical Doctor

Uniform

The Uniform most commonly worn is the working uniform (2008) which consists of:

• Dark grey jacket
• Dark grey sweater
• Official pilot shirt
• Red Cravat
• Cap
• Black belt with logo on buckle
• Epaulettes
• Plain or combat trousers, depending on duty location
• Hi-Vis waterproof bomber jacket, depending on duty location
• Light hi-vis vest, depending on duty location
• Grey Rain Jacket and Rain trousers, depending on duty location and environment
• Black safety boots or shoes
• Safety helmet depending on duty location and incident involved.

Members may also wear a dress uniform on formal occasions. This consists of a military pattern tunic and trousers in grey, a white shirt and black tie and black shoes. A peaked cap is worn, the type depending on whether it is worn by an officer or other member. On certain occasions, male officers may wear a brown leather Sam Brown belt with brown leather gloves.

National Organisation

The Order of Malta Ambulance Corps aims to have at least one unit based in every county in Ireland. Under the leadership of the National Director Commander Dame Winifred Maye, the organisation has almost achieved this goal.

Regions and units

The island of Ireland is divided into eleven regions, each with an appointed Regional Director who reports directly to the National Director. The Regions are:

Region 1

Antrim, Armagh and Down

Region 2

Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry

Region 3

Donegal Sligo Leitrim

Region 4

Mayo and Roscommon

Region 5

Galway and Clare

Region 6

Limerick and Tipperary

Region 7

Cork and Kerry

Region 8

Carlow, Kilkenny, Tramore, Waterford, Wexford,

Region 9

Dublin and Wicklow

Region 10

Longford, Westmeath, Offaly, Laois and Kildare

Region 11

Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Cavan

Further reading

• Patrick Levaye, Géopolitique du Catholicisme (Éditions Ellipses, 2007) ISBN 978-2-7298-3523-1

See also

• Sovereign Military Order of Malta
• Venerable Order of Saint John

References

1. ^ http://www.orderofmalta.ie/fundraising-event.asp?id=28&cid=516
2. ^ http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Government_Press_Office/Taoiseach's_Speeches_Archive_2006/General_Assembly_of_the_Order_of_Malta_Ambulance_Corps,_in_the_Regency_Hotel,_Drumcondra.html
3. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_FitzGerald
4. ^ http://www.orderofmalta.ie/what-we-do.asp?id=15&cid=141
5. ^ http://www.orderofmalta.ie/fundraising-event.asp?id=28&cid=516
6. ^ http://www.orderofmalta.ie/index.php/what-we-do/ambulance-corps/introduction

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Malteser Hilfsdienst

• Order of Malta Ambulance Corps - official website
• Official site of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
• Order of Malta British Association and English Priory
• Maltese Association of the Order Of Malta
• A Research Website on the Orders of St John
• The Official Site of the Polish Association of Order of Malta