Rebuilding after Christchurch Earthquake: St. John Needs Help - March 2011

Written by Patrick Rushe

At 12:51pm on the 22nd of February, 2011, a normal Tuesday afternoon in Christchurch was shattered by a massive earthquake. In the aftermath, members of St. John Ambulance, New Zealand (St. John NZ) were faced not only with co-ordinating the largest emergency medical response in their history, but doing so with three of six operational ambulance bases damaged beyond use.

Without ambulance stations, staff were forced to operate the fleet of forty ambulances from city car parks and largely rely on the community to provide food, water and hygiene facilities for ambulance crews.

Christchurch’s main ambulance station was completely destroyed. This was actually a new facility put into operation only months ago to replace an original station that had been destroyed by an earlier earthquake in September 2010.

In immediate response to the disaster, St. John NZ set up  a field hospital near the devastated Central Business District (CBD), the scene of so much destruction. The CBD is also home to Christchurch Cathedral, the spire of which collapsed. St. John members were also stationed at welfare centres around the city.

Within the first 24 hours, St. John NZ moved 150 people into Christchurch. Running repairs had to be made to the fleet as dusty roads and potholes affected vehicle filters and suspension.

Over the following weeks, 500 members were cycled in and out and 20 aircraft, 12 mass casualty vehicles and 10 support vehicles were deployed to augment operations in the city.

Now, weeks after the event, St. John NZ is looking for help to rebuild their facilities in a city that is still reeling from its darkest hour. The website www.donatechristchurch.co.nz enables internet and mobile phone users at home and abroad to make a donation to St John and leave messages of goodwill and support on a community noticeboard.

UK-based IT firm Trademobile has set up the website for St John NZ. St. John NZ spokesperson Gerry Fitzgerald said that mobile and internet technology offers people who want to support St John a fast and practical way to do so.

Visitors to the website can donate and download wallpaper images to their mobile phones in acknowledgement of their support.

Despite the huge impact of the earthquake and strain on St. John services, three St John paramedics supported the New Zealand Fire Service Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team in northern Japan, following the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Japan had also sent USAR teams to Christchurch after the quake.

St. John Ambulance, New Zealand is a charitable organisation with a volunteer ethos. It operates independently of Government and business, and provides emergency and non-emergency ambulance services for approximately 90% of New Zealand's population. St John's mission is to prevent and relieve sickness and injury, and to act to enhance the health and well-being of people of all races and creeds anywhere in New Zealand.

For more information about St. John Ambulance, New Zealand visit St. John Ambulance, New Zealand.

The Dominion Post, New Zealand, holds copyright over the photographs of Advanced Paramedic Blair Andrews and Advanced Paramedic Craig Stockdale. Mr. Andrews and Mr. Stockdale were both first responders at the event and told their story in an article in The Dominion Post. The Dominion Post kindly allowed the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland to reuse the photographs on our website. Our thanks to their Assistant Editor Mr Oskar Alley, and the photographer Chris Skelton who was also most supportive.