By Fazeena Saleem
It is no exaggeration to say that the work done by the Ambulance Service is a matter of life and death. And they are urging everyone: ‘Help us help you’.
In the ongoing campaign ‘Help us Help You’, since 2013 the Ambulance Service of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) acknowledges public support and the will to help save lives.
However, Brendon David Morris, Chief Operations Officer, Ambulance Service, says it’s important to keep reminding the message as the community in Qatar is rapidly changing with new people move in.
“Sometimes we can feel bored with the message but it’s new to many people,” he said.
The campaign addresses the role the public can play in saving lives, and highlights five ways in which people can help the Ambulance Service provide fast and effective care.
It asks the public to do five things to help save lives: Dial 999 immediately in a medical emergency; know your location so the ambulance can reach you easily; answer all questions on the call so the paramedics know what support you need; follow all instructions given by the emergency call handler, as it may help save a life; and give way to ambulances on the road.
“Because it’s been a simple and consistent message, it has been very well received. People are prepared to know what to do at a medical emergency, knowing the emergency number 999, because many people come from different countries, also the willingness to answer all the questions and follow all the instructions of the highly trained emergency medical dispatchers. Because they are able to give the critical life saving instructions over the telephone for the time it takes for the ambulance to get to the place,” said Morris.
An ambulance is immediately dispatched to the scene as soon as the call is received, however the medical dispatcher would continue to ask questions to know the exact condition of the patient.
“If you are calling from a mobile phone, we know your location, and so immediately an ambulance is sent to the location. The call taker who is the emergency medical dispatcher will speak on the phone to ask many questions and give many advices,” said Morris.
“However, many times people get confused. And they should understand that the ambulance is already on the way. The rest of the questions are asked to know do we need to make extra people to come,” he said.
The Ambulance Service receives more than 100,000 calls each year that 1,454 staff, 167 ambulances, 20 rapid response vehicles and two helicopters respond to. The average response time of an ambulance is eight minutes. An ambulance always has two paramedics, and one of them plays a dual role as an emergency driver.
A helicopter is sent in case of a medical emergency outside Doha to bring the patient faster to the hospital. However a regular ambulance is always sent to the scene with paramedics.
Normally the ambulance will arrive and confirm that indeed it’s a medical emergency and will take the patient, perhaps move to Doha. Or the helicopter will arrive before the regular ambulance, or the patient will be transferred from the regular ambulance to the helicopter, depending on the situation.
“If the ambulance has reached Doha the advance paramedic team which has come by the helicopter will follow the ambulance because it will be quicker. Because the patient is in critical condition, we give updated information to the hospital, so that they can be well prepared to give additional live saving procedures,” said Morris.
However, only patients who are in very critical condition will be taken by the ambulance with lights and sirens.
“Not every patient will benefit going with lights and sirens. Only those with specific medical conditions and time critical conditions benefit driving with lights and sirens. The paramedics are well trained to know which is critical,” said Morris.
Also the families of the patients are advised not to follow the ambulance, as it would be dangerous and could cause accidents.
“We also advice the public that following the ambulance when its going with lights and sirens is very dangerous. When you move through the intersections, vehicles will give way to the ambulance, but will not know there is a vehicle following the ambulance,” said Morris.
A new electronic system has been implemented at intersections across Doha that allows emergency vehicles to pass through easily by turning the traffic lights green.
The Emergency Vehicle Pre-Emption System (EVPS) has already been activated at 30 intersections in different areas of the city in the first phase of the initiative. Fifteen ambulances and 10 civil defence vehicles are equipped with remote controller devices that can control traffic lights.
The Peninsula
For the Ambulance Service to provide the best possible service it needs the help and support of the public. By following these five simple steps you will be able to help them provide the best possible response to every incident.
1. Dial 999 immediately - The sooner you call, the sooner the ambulance can get to you.
2. Know your location - As soon as we know where you are, the ambulance can be sent.
3. Answer all questions - The extra details you can provide are critically important to helping save a life. Remember the ambulance is already on its way.
4. Follow all instructions - Important instructions can be given over the phone to help you save a life. Sometimes this is as simple as going out to wave the ambulance down.
5. Give way to ambulances - Remember an ambulance stuck behind you in traffic may well be going to your home.
