INTRODUCTION
Civil Defence is the protection of the people by the people for the people and is referred to in most European Countries as Home Defence.It is organised on a National Scale with the aim of training Volunteers to effectively asist the injured, homeless, aged and displaced people in the community during a war situation or National disaster. The organisation of Civil Defence is the statutory responsibility of each Local Authority throughout the country.
Every City Borough and County Council has a Civil Defence Officer who administers the organisation throughout the country including recruitment and training of Volunteers.
MINISTERIAL AND LOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES
At National level the Minister of State at the Department of Defence is primarily responsible for the co-ordination of Civil Defence planning and organisation.
CIVIL DEFENCE SERVICES
There are five services in Civil Defence:
a. The Warden Service
b. The Rescue Service
c. The Casualty Service
d.The Auxiliary Fire Service
e. The Welfare Service
a.The Warden Service
The warden Service is the senior service in the Civil Defence. Wardens provide the direct link between the people in their own area and the County Controller. They are selected from those persons who are known and respected in their own areas. Wardens are trained to carry out such tasks as warning, reconnaissance, reporting, guiding and assisting the public. Post and District Wardens are provided with Radiac instruments to measure and report on the extent of radioactivity to the Country Controls.
b.The Rescue Service The Rescue Service provides teams of trained volunteers to rescue people trapped in damaged buildings or under debris or other dangerous situations in times of war or natural disaster. The Rescue Teams have vehicles to carry the appropriate equipment, and manpacks for use in areas which vehicles cannot reach.
c. The Casualty Service
The Casualty Service is organised to provide First-aid and an Ambulance Service to take casualties from the place of disaster. A high standard of training in first-aid is given under the supervision of members of the medical profession.
d. The Auxiliary Fire Service
The Auxiliary Fire Service is equipped and trained to aid the full-time fire brigades in time of war. It may also be called on in peacetime to assist the Regular Fire Service in quelling serious fires, alleviating or other such tasks.
e The Welfare Service
The Welfare Service is mainly composedof women who are trained to produce meals using manufactured or improvised equipment. Their other duties include the reception and care of the homeless. They also staff mobile feeding units which can provide hot meals where most needed. In times of natural disaster they provide the hot refreshments needed by victims and the other services engaged in rescue work.
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