On
Friday evening, Executive from EMRI 108 services, Mr B Prabhudoss was at our
SYMA Growth talking to more than 100 students with scores of interested
parents.
He started with the video of our Hon’ble APJ [who unfortunately is not
alive] who was Chairman Emeritus of
EMRI.
The videos
depicting the activities of 108 ~ and the way they respond; the facilities
available inside the ambulance which looks like a fortified hospital capable of
providing critical health care were well received. Mr Prabhudoss drove home the point that
people should readily come forward to help those in distress. It was demonstrated by a call to 108 from a
mobile. At the time of calling, the caller should clearly say the basic
information like : the exact location of the incident [place/ street/ city /
district – identifiable landmark etc.,]; the type of emergency; no. of people
injured and condition of the injured. The caller’s name and contact no. to
facilitate location guidance.
A
couple of new things learnt other than many other useful info : For calling there is no age limit; even
children can call b u t – absolutely no prank calls. Remember that such a play
could harm the attention and care for somebody direly in need of
ambulance. The well-trained drivers are
known as ‘ pilots ’ – the attendants are so well trained that can use
injections on moving vehicle even to extremely delicate kids. Ambulances are
equipped with extrication tools too. People should accompany the injured person,
only when necessary. They can assist by
taking care of the belongings of the injured, informing their relatives and
friends and the like but without exaggerating and without creating too much of
fear and commotion.
Ambulances
will carry those affected persons safely – to the Govt hospital or to a nearby
well-equipped hospital, if the patient or their close relatives decide so.
With so
many vehicles, good infrastructure, motivated people at the helm, trained staff
– the well-meaning initiative of 108 is really doing wonders – in the city
where traffic is always chaotic and not many realize the need for drawing to
the left, leave the right lane clear for the ambulance movement. Simplest of the things that drivers can do –
is – don’t wait till the ambulance is behind you – once you hear the siren or
are aware of the emergency, please do not keep driving, take your vehicle to the left lane – leave a
clear path. One can get delayed to
Office or to a meeting, to a cinema, or anything else - those in ambulance must be taken to the
hospital at the earliest and it is bounden duty of every citizen to ensure that
such a thing happens.
The programme
certainly made a good impact on the minds of listeners. Mr Prabhu further dwelt on another important
service ‘ 104 ’ – an initiative of Tamil
Nadu Health System Project, this service is also operated by GVK-Emergency Management and Research
Institute (EMRI). Understand that they
have mapped the entire public and private health care institutions across Tamil
Nadu. Callers from any part of the State would be directed to the nearest
healthcare with requisite facilities to treat ailments.
The primary
objective of the helpline is to provide the caller with the immediate home
remedies for most aliments such as vomiting and minor injuries. A team of
doctors have been deployed exclusively to man the helpline. However, if they feel that a physical
intervention is required the caller will be immediately referred to a hospital
and the call transferred to 108 Emergency Response services.
SYMA records its thanks and gratitude to GVK EMRI and to Mr B
Prabhudoss.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
12th Sept. 2015.
