The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health's Emergency Medical and Rescue Services (EMRS) will be all out to ensure that they provide high quality pre-hospital care to those in need.
Out-of-hospital emergency medical services, also known as pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services, typically refer to the delivery of medical care at the site of the adverse medical incidents. Appropriate services for victims can prevent unnecessary deaths, future fatalities, reduce the amount of short-term and long-term disability, and help those affected to cope with the impact of the incidents on their lives.
The KwaZulu-Natal EMRS has identified pick days for traffic as being those around schools closing dates, factory/industries closing dates, Christmas, New Year and opening of schools and factories. Based on those days EMRS develop a plan called Alpha Operations plan to cater for the increased demand of emergency medical services. The main objective for the operation is to provide rapid and effective response to all incidents within KwaZulu-Natal and its immediate borders and to improve access to EMRS at known accident points.
The operation will start on 11 December 2009 until 12 January 2010 for 24 hours. Daily ambulance fleet will be maintained at 100% through out the festive season. There are 52 additional ambulances to normal daily fleet that will be deployed at strategic points on the KwaZulu-Natal major routes. Additional support will include; 10 advanced life support units, 12 rescue units, seven mass casualty buses, two rotor wing aircraft, one fixed wing aircraft, one South African air force air support, and 23 management units (also provide advanced life support).
"Adequate functioning of pre-hospital care system depends on the availability and coordination of different elements. These elements include an informed public capable of recognising medical emergencies, a network of ambulances and transport units able to provide specialised care to the most seriously ill or injured, an emergency number (10177 in our case), and well-trained pre-hospital and emergency personnel.
Our personnel have to be further imbued with ethos of integrity, compassion, respect, empathy and accountability. We are satisfied that our services will be able to meet the demands of the festive season. We urge the public to use the emergency number, 10177, in case of emergencies" says the MEC for Health; Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
10 December 2009
