St John Ambulance is the name of a number of affiliated organizations in different countries which teach and provide first aid and emergency medical services, and are primarily staffed by volunteers. The associations are overseen by the International Order of St John and its priories (national branches).
Ambulance Saint-Jean, ou ASJ (en anglais: St. John Ambulance (SJA)), est une organisation sans but lucratif (OSBL) internationale. Sa mission est d'aider le public à améliorer sa santé, sa sécurité et sa qualité de vie à travers la formation et l'engagement communautaire.
Ambulance Saint-Jean est surtout présent au Royaume-Uni et dans les anciennes colonies britanniques, notamment le Canada, l'Australie, la Nouvelle-Zélande, l'Irlande, la Malaisie, Singapour et Hong Kong.
C'est au Canada, dans la province de Québec, qu'on retrouve la plus grande concentration de bénévoles francophones. Le Québec compte 1800 bénévoles, sur un total de 25 000 à l'échelle du pays.
Ambulance Saint-Jean tire ses origines dans l'ordre souverain militaire hospitalier de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem, de Rhodes et de Malte. Elle a été fondée en 1877.
The first such organization to be founded was the St John Ambulance Association, which was founded in 1877 in England. Its first uniformed first-aiders were founded in 1887 as the St John Ambulance Brigade. These two have since been merged into a single association. St John Ambulance now has over 40 national organizations, many of which are affiliated with Johanniter International, and over 500,000 volunteers worldwide.
The Order of St John owns the brand name in most countries (with the notable exception of India, which has a St John Ambulance organization that is unconnected to the international movement). Logos vary in different countries but always contain the eight-pointed white Maltese cross as the essential identifier. Like the Order, St John Ambulance associations accept members of all religions. Their geographic organization differs from the Order, and they have to contend with the different national laws, medical practices and cultures of countries. As a result, the role and organization of St John Ambulance vary by country.
The legal status of each organization varies by country, province, state, county, territory and municipality. In both England and Wales, the resident St John Ambulance organizations are simultaneously but separately registered as charities and companies, whereas St John Ambulance South Africa (for example) is a distinct entity registered as a "public benefit organization".
The presence of St John Ambulance is different among countries:
Australia, British Armed forces, Canada, Cyprus, England, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, India, Ireland. Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Wales, Zimbabwe
St John Ambulance were traditionally organized with military-style ranks. Some associations have replaced these with civilian titles (e.g. Unit Manager, Superintendent).
Author: Dave Boven
Key dates England
1540: The original Order of St John, the Knights Hospitallers is disbanded in England by Henry VIII
1826: An idea to re-establish the Order within England is put forward by some remaining French Knights of the original worldwide Order
1841: The "St John's Day Declaration" is prepared to seek official recognition of the new Order by the original Order, now known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
10 July 1877: St John Ambulance Association forms to teach first-aid in large railway centres and mining districts
June 1887: St John Ambulance Brigade is formed
14 May 1888: English Order of St John is granted a royal charter by Queen Victoria
1908: By reciprocal agreement, St John Ambulance Brigade ceases to operate in Scotland and St Andrew's Ambulance Association ceases to operate in England
March 1922: St John Ambulance Cadets is formed
1968: The Association and Brigade merge to form a unified St John Ambulance
January 1987: Badger Setts are introduced to celebrate 100 years since the formation of the Brigade
1999: The Priory of England and the Islands is formed
2012: St John Ambulance changes its county structure to a regionalized model across England
2017–2018: Celebration of the organization's 140th anniversary
This image of simple geometry is ineligible for copyright and therefore in the public domain
The Order of Saint John, formally the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem is an international order of chivalry which is headquartered in the United Kingdom. The Order founded the St John Ambulance associations and oversees their work. They also own the rights to the St John name and brand, including the Maltese Cross logo. The Order also oversees the St John Eye Hospital Group, which is separate from the ambulance associations. Most members of St John Ambulance are not themselves members of the Order, and vice versa, so a major presence of the Order does not dictate a major presence of St John Ambulance.
Key dates
10 July 1877: St John Ambulance Association formed to teach first-aid in large railway centres and mining districts.
June 1887: St John Ambulance Brigade is formed as a uniformed organization to provide First Aid and Ambulance services at public events.
14 May 1888: British Order of St John is granted a royal charter by Queen Victoria.
1908: By mutual agreement with St Andrew's Ambulance Association, St John Ambulance Association ceased operating in Scotland but the Order continued to operate.
1974 The St John Ambulance Association and The St John Ambulance Brigade amalgamated to form the present St John Ambulance Foundation
1999: The Order of St John celebrated its 90th anniversary worldwide.
St. John Ambulance in Canada, or SJA (French: Ambulance Saint-Jean Canada (ASJ), is a confederation of St John Ambulance Provincial and Territorial Councils under mandate by the "St John Councils Regulations 1975" of the Royal Charter, Statutes and Regulations of the Order of St John (1985). Each Council is governed by a Board of Directors under Provincial or Territorial incorporating legislation together with the St John Ambulance Priory in Canada, incorporated under the federal Canada Not For Profit Corporations Act (2012). The Priory provides support services to the Councils and manages the Order of St. John in Canada. The Councils deliver the mandate of training and community services and are responsible for their own governance, operations and management.
The mission of St. John Ambulance in Canada is to enable Canadians to improve their health, safety, and quality of life through training and community service. St John Ambulance in Canada has (collectively) close to 25,000 members in communities across Canada - over 3,500 instructors, over 19,000 volunteers and over 7,000 members of the Order of St John.
St. John Ambulance was established in Canada in 1883. Under this banner, volunteers from coast to coast carry out the humanitarian services of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.
1882 First first aid course in Canada is conducted in Quebec City.
1892 - 1898 Training centres are founded in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
1907 - October 12th marks the opening of the first St. John Ambulance training centre for first aid in Vancouver, BC, in conjunction with CPR (Canadian Pacific Rail).
1909 First Canadian Ambulance division (No. 1 Forest City) is formed in London, ON.
1911 - June 24th marks the founding of the British Columbia Council of St. John Ambulance Canada
1912 First Canadian Nursing division (No. 1 Central) is formed in Toronto, ON.
1920s St. John Councils work closely with the Workmen's Compensation Boards throughout Canada to establish safety standards in the workplace
1933 First two Cadet divisions are formed in Manitoba (52c, Seven Oaks) and Ontario (47c, Timmins).
1935 First Cadet Nursing division (18c, Vancouver Central) is formed in Vancouver, BC.
1939-45 St. John Ambulance Nursing units from each Council are deployed in the European theatre of war working closely with the Canadian Army in field hospitals and institutional settings.
1946 Canadian Order elevated to the status of Priory becoming Priory of Canada
1951 Canadian Red Cross (CRC) and St John Ambulance in Canada sign the St. John Ambulance-Canadian Red Cross Joint Operations Agreement in which SJAC recedes from offering blood services and the CRC recedes from offering First Aid training to industry.
1972 the Northwest Territories became a Territorial Council and runs the Air Ambulance Service in the Mackenzie Delta on behalf of the GNWT.
1973 St. John Ambulance in Canada modernizes its teaching methodology by instituting the multi-media approach to training and dispensing with the lecture method. WCBs in Canada continue to partner with St John Ambulance throughout Canada.
1977 CRC begins offering First Aid training to industry setting aside the 1951 agreement on Joint Operations with St. John Ambulance in Canada
1996 Yukon becomes a Branch of the British Columbia Council
1999 SJAC celebrated the 900th anniversary of the Order of St. John, together with the Alliance Orders of St. John, worldwide.
2006 Prince Edward Island Council merges with Nova Scotia Council to become the NS/PEI Council
2008 St. John Ambulance Canada celebrates its 125th anniversary, marking the first "first aid" course given in Canada, in Quebec City in 1883.
2009 The 125th anniversary of the inaugural St. John Ambulance first aid course conducted in Ontario at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston, Ontario. According to a plaque laid at RMC, this course, which was conducted for the benefit of gentlemen cadets and staff, initiated a close and continuous association between St. John Ambulance and the Canadian Forces.
On 3 January 1982, Canada Post issued 'St. John Ambulance, 1883-1983' designed by Louis Fishauf. The 32¢ stamps are perforated 13.5 and were printed by Ashton-Potter Limited. in 2008 Canada Post issued a similar envelope/stamp in recognition of the 125th Anniversary of SJAC.
Training
Led by a highly skilled network of medical and health care professionals. St. John Ambulance in Canada is a recognized leader in first aid and CPR training and community services, working with other organizations in setting the standards for training in first aid, CPR and other life-saving skills. St. John Ambulance in Canada also offers many advanced-level courses including the Medical First Responder (MFR) and Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) in several provinces
Medical First Response Services
A St John Ambulance in York Region, Ontario
The Medical First Response Services were formerly known as St. John Ambulance Brigade and are often still referred to as such, both within the organization and by others. Each MFRS unit are a group of trained volunteers that serve within their community in a variety of ways. Services include first aid services at public events, Medical Services support in times of emergency or disaster and youth programs that encourage community service and personal development.
SJAC provides patient care and first responder services at public events throughout Canada with their Volunteer Community Services, much in the same way as in England. Members in Canada wear a similar uniform and are trained in the new Medical First Responder (MFR) program. In Nova Scotia, the volunteers no longer use the term "Brigade" or "Ambulance". They are now referred to as "St John Volunteer Medical Response". This change came about in an attempt to better reflect what the volunteers can offer to their communities.
Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and British Columbia are the only provinces that still wear their full uniform. In Ontario, the operational (duty) uniform consists of a pair of black cargo pants (or tactical pants), a button-up black shirt (with 'Medical First Responder' reflective on the back) or a Polo shirt. All will be marked with "Medical First Response" and "St. John Ambulance Volunteer" crests on both sleeves. Members in training or working towards their MFR qualification will either wear a white shirt with "St John Ambulance Volunteer" crests on both sleeves, a black polo shirt, or an unmarked white dress shirt for probationary observers. Worth noting is that probationary observers already have a minimum of standard first aid training plus police security clearance. Rankings are clearly marked on epaulettes. For ceremonial, winter or certain indoor functions, a black wool sweater and a black tie are also worn. For headdresses, a SJA hat/ cap may be worn at outdoor events. A beret/ peak cap is worn for ceremonial or winter functions. Footwear consists of a pair of black boots/ shoes. It is important to note that Officers (with ranks of 1 pips and above) are also entitled to wear their ceremonial (No. 1) uniforms. The uniform consists of an officer's cap, a white shirt with tie, a tunic with metal buttons, pins, rank pips and full medals, a pair of black pants or skirt and black dress shoes.
Air and Ground Ambulance Services are no longer offered by St John Ambulance Councils in Canada. New Brunswick and Northwest Territoires Councils once offered such services.
Ayant pour mission d'informer le public afin de donner aux gens les outils pour sauver des vies, Ambulance Saint-Jean offre diverses formations en secourisme et en premiers soins. Ces formations, offertes à un prix modique, constituent, avec les dons de charité, l'une des principales sources de financement des autres activités de bienfaisance de l'organisme.
Anciennement connus sous le nom de «Brigade», les Services à la collectivité d'Ambulance Saint-Jean rassemblent l'ensemble des opérations des premiers répondants bénévoles, secouristes et intervenant médicaux d'urgence.
Au Canada, ils sont au nombre de 25 000, dont 1800 au Québec.
C'est à Peterborough (Ontario) que le programme de thérapie par les chiens d'ASJ vit le jour. Aujourd'hui, les maîtres-chiens bénévoles sont présents dans les hôpitaux, les unités de soins palliatifs, les hôpitaux psychiatriques, les garderies, les résidences pour aînés, dans les maisons de repos et même dans les écoles. Les bienfaits de la thérapie assistée par les animaux sont multiples; il fut prouvé qu'elle pouvait notamment faire diminuer la pression sanguine et le rythme cardiaque de certains patients, de même qu'une possible amélioration des interactions sociales
Therapy Dog
The SJA Therapy Dog Program began in 1992 in Peterborough, Ontario and has expanded across the country. Partnerships have been established in hospitals, palliative care units, daycare centres, senior residences, rest homes, special needs schools, psychiatric hospitals where people are often restricted from having pets and the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The Therapy Dog program sees a volunteer and their dog make visits to an institution, often on a weekly basis. Before beginning the handler and their dog undergo extensive testing to ensure the animal has the right temperament for the program. There are many benefits to animal-assisted therapy, including decreased blood pressure and heart rate in patients as well as a chance for positive social interaction.
Disaster planning and aid
In times of emergency, SJAC can be placed on standby, waiting to provide disaster relief and emergency services to the affected area. Exactly what procedures are taken greatly depends on local Disaster Management planners, however, the government of Canada has officially recognized the role SJAC fills in the process. Supplies and equipment may vary as well as the number of personnel immediately available in the area, but SJAC does have a plan already in place, in the form of the National Duty Officer, for the callup of additional personnel and equipment to augment local Units. This program is under review in New Brunswick as such a program is no longer established in most cities in the province.
RANKS
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John_Ambulance_Canada
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement & Order of Malta
Canadian Red Cross
