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35, 15th September’13, Pages 4
THE AMBULANCE TIMES ~Touch i ng ever yone as soci ated w it h E mergenc y Med ic a l Ser v ice s~
Ambulance Victoria Pg - 4
dna special: In Mumbai, the idea of air ambulances doesn’t fly Aircraft operators in Mumbai prefer to deal with corporates and the film fraternity. High operations cost and a greater demand for chartered planes by corporate houses and the film fraternity has kept aircraft operators from flying air ambulances in Mumbai. From four operators — Deccan Charters Limited, Religare Aviation Limited, Bafna and Taurian Iron and Steal Company Private Limited — who flew to and fro Mumbai till a few months ago, Mumbai is now left with just one operator and one aircraft to fly as an air ambulance.
continued to page - 3 Ambulance Victoria suspends the use of helicopter winches after man dies in rescue chopper mishap Ambulance Vic toria has suspended the use of helicopter winches as it investigates how a patient fell to his death during a rescue operation. The 68-year-old man was bushwalking with a group at Macs Cove, near Mansfield in Victoria’s north-east, when he broke his ankle about 10:30am AEST yesterday. The ambulance helicopter was sent in to rescue the man about midday because of the terrain. However, Ambulance Victoria chief executive Greg Sassella says at about 12.30pm he fell approximately 30 metres to his death while he was being winched into the helicopter with a paramedic. “I understand he was at the door of the helicopter and they were attempting to get him into the helicopter,” he said. “This is devastating for the crew, they spend their whole lives putting themselves at risk for patients and in this instance something’s gone astray.”
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TRADEWATCH
3,66,291 EECO 11,55,644 TEMPO EURO III 10,22,344 TEMPO EURO IV Fuel Price in Delhi 51.97/ltr Diesel 74.15/ltr Petrol
LIFE-SAVING AMBULANCES ‘CATS’ TO BE DEPLOYED IN 16 ACCIDENT-PRONE AREAS New Delhi: In view of increasing fatalities in road accidents in the Capital, the Delhi Traffic Police have identified 16 prime locations, which have been most prone to such accidents. The agency has written to the health department of the Delhi Government to station advanced lifesaving ambulances at these 16 spots. The absence of adequate medical facilities has been one of the main reasons for the high casualty rate. In a letter sent to the health department, the Traffic Police has narrowed down a few areas as most vulnerable zones. Heavy vehicle movements
h ave b e e n nessed in these
w i t-
a r eas as these stretches connect the Capital with neighbouring cities. The
Emer genc y ambulanc e service set to roll out Mumbai, Fri Sep 06 2013, 02:22 hrs Health minis ter Sur e sh Shetty has called for a meeting on Friday to discuss the health care scheme where an individual who dials the emergency number 108 will be attended by a medical team in a well-equipped ambulance. “The minister has called for a review of the entire project on Friday. We plan to begin the scheme by this monthend,” a senior state official said. Under the scheme, Mahar-
ashtra Emergency Medical Services (MEMS), a total of 937 ambulances across the state will provide pre-hospital emergency services. While the National Rural Health Mission will provide 690 ambulances for rural parts of Maharashtra, the state government will provide another 247 ambulances for the municipal corporations of Mumbai, Thane, Pune, PCMC, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagpur. Source : The Indian Express
Woman put on running shoes for breast cancer awareness New Delhi: Women of different age groups on Sunday morning put on their running shoes and joined the ‘Pinkathon’ to create awareness about breast cancer. Nearly 2,000 women, including several breast cancer surviv o r s , got a cheerful applause for every stride they took towards the finishing post during the 10 km all women Pinkathon. The event was organised by Maximus Events, spearheaded by model-actor Milind Soman and HealthCare Global Enterprises (HCG) Ltd, a specialist in cancer care. Expressing happiness over
large participation in the event, Soman said events like these create muchneeded awareness in fighting cancer which, if detected in time, can be cured. “Pinkathon is an activity that not only p r o motes well being but a l s o raises r e s i s tance levels and improves health, to help fight diseases like cancer,” he said. Earlier, as a build up to today’s event, Treadathon was organised at a south Delhi mall last week where men ran on treadmills in relay format and encouraged women to participate in Pinkathon. Source : Zee News
health department is soon to station C ATS ambulances at the se locations.
Gr owing volume of traf f ic, blatant indiscipline, over-speeding and flagrant violation of road rules, potholes and
poor lighting have resulted in the increase of such cases. Immediate and timely medical intervention would help save the injured during “crucial hours” called the “golden hour.” Dr MC Mishra, director, AIIMS Trauma Care Centre, said, “An accident victim can be saved with prompt treatment, during the “golden hour,” a time period lasting 60 minutes. “If a victim gets appropriate medical treatment during that period then chances of survival are that much more. The State health department added that “work will commence from mid September.” Source : The Pioneer
Delhi’s elderly get medical privileges with new card New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday launched the “citizen plus card” that offers medical privileges to the capital’s senior citizens, officials said. An initiative by Max super speciality hospital at Patparganj in east Delhi, the card will help Delhi residents above the age of 55 years avail a range of medical facilities and related amenities at the hospital. The card will entitle holders to avail benefits on all preventive health check-
ups, diagnostic, ambulance and out-patient depar tment services, medicines and room rents resulting in major savings, the hospital said. The card will be issued free and does not have any membership fee. It aims to improve the quality of life of the “fairly large population of senior citizens in Delhi”. “Seniors living in independent households have increased manifold. This age group needs frequent checkups and diagnosis,”
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News
THE AMBULANCE TIMES
In Mumbai, the idea of air ambulances doesn’t fly Mumbai: Aircraft operators in Mumbai prefer to deal with corporates and the film fraternity. High operations cost and a greater demand for chartered planes by corporate houses and the film fraternity has kept aircraft operators from flying air ambulances in Mumbai. From four operators, Deccan Charters Limited, Religare Aviation Limited, Bafna and Taur ian Iron and Steal Company Private Limited, who f lew to and fro Mumbai till a few months ago, Mumbai is now left with just one operator and one aircraft to fly as an air ambulance. With Deccan and Bafna grounded and Religare shifting base to Delhi, Taurian remains the only operator to fly ambulances in Mumbai. On the contrary, Delhi has five operators and 12 aircraft to fly as air ambulance. The only ambulance that operates from Mumbai receives six calls every day on an average. “There are times when the aircraft is not available,” said Brijesh, pilot employed by Taurian Iron and Steal Company Private Limited. Mumbai receives calls from Central and South India. Most patients using these ambulances visit the Lilavati Hospital, Bombay Hospital or Kokilaben Hospital. Operating out of Mumbai costs more than from Delhi. While landing charges for a charter in Delhi are Rs12,000-15,000, in Mum-
bai, they vary from Rs37,000 to Rs43,000. This fee was Rs1,000 till three to four months ago. Also, in Mumbai, if a parked aircraft fails to leave the airport in 48 hours, a penalty of Rs29,000 is charged per day. However, that is not the case in Delhi. “Delhi airport has no penalty charges,” Brijesh said. Religare Aviaition Limited
says the price difference cannot be ignored. “Besides, we have more demand in Delhi and so, we have shifted base,” said Saurabh Bhat, associate business developer for Eximius Business Services. The company that handles marketing operations for Religare. To avoid parking charges at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), the charters are parked at the Juhu Airport. “Ambulances are emergency services. If one is parked in Juhu and has to carry a patient, the aircraft has to be diverted to the main airport. Seeking permission and the time schedule takes a lot of time and defeats the purpose of an ambulance,” said Dr Sanjay Mishra of Air Rescuers, an air ambulance company. Owing to the heavy air traffic during mornings and eve-
nings, CSIA does not allow non-scheduled operators, including air ambulances, to operate from the terminals. “They are not permitted to fly to and fro the airport from 8am to 10am and 5.30pm to 7.30pm. This defies the purpose of having an ambulance and discourages operators,” said Dr Navneet Singh of EM SOS ambulance services. “We do not have any guidelines to give priority to ambulances. However, on special occasions, if the pilot seeks permission, depending on the space available, we sometimes give priority to a m b ul a n c e s,” said G Dasgupta, GM, air traf fic control. For private operators in Mumbai, chartered flying is a profitable compared to an air ambulance. Mumbai r eceives ample bookings from the corporate and Bollywood fraternity. “We are generally booked in advance for corporates and unlike flying an ambulance, no specific clearances are required. It means more business and easy billings for us,” said a private operator. The operators also feel that when corporate houses and Bollywood celebrities book aircraft, the booking is for a longer period and payment comes without much effort or delay. “An ambulance comes with a lot of uncertainty for the operator whereas a charter is a safer bet any day,” the operator said. Source: Zee News
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Now, mini ICU-like ambulances to serve patients BHOPAL: In a major initiative to improve health scenario of Madhya Pradesh, chief minister,Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will unveil special ambulances on Sept e m ber 11. These ambulances are set to prov i d e m i n i I C U like service to patients. At present, there are only three special ambulances in Madhya Pradesh, which are in private sector. For the first times, such ambulances are being introduced in public
sector. It will be significant expansion of 108 service for taking patients to hospitals in emergencies. Each ambulance will be having a ventilator, o x y gen fac i l i t y, blood infusion, l i f e saving drugs, necess a r y equipments for hear t patients and continuous medicare of patient on way to hospital. Chouhan will unveil 51 vehicles. Each vehicle costs about Rs 30 lakh. Source:The Times of India
Accident victim dies as ambulance gets stuck in traffic CHENNAI: A 21-year-old construction worker injured in a road accident died in a hospital after the ambulance that was taking him to a hospital was stuck in traffic for more than 30 minutes at Red Hills toll plaza on Sunday. E Rajesh from Katharampattu village near Tiruvannamalai was riding a motorcycle with a friend when a van knocked them down near Kannigaiper in Periyapalayam around 12.30pm on GNT Road. He suffered severe injuries to his head while R Arvind, 22, who was riding pillion, escaped with minor injuries. The ambulance that was r ushing the injur e d to Stanley Medical College and Hospital got held at the end of a long queue of vehicles
at an under-construction toll plaza between Red Hills and Karanodai. After more than 30 minutes, traffic cleared for the ambulance to pass. Rajesh was admit ted to the hospital but he died at 5.30pm. When news of his death spread, residents and relatives blocked the road near the toll plaza. A relative of the victim filed a police complaint stating that Rajesh died because the ambulance was stranded at a toll plaza due to traffic. Rajesh was visiting a relative at Red Hills and had taken the motorcycle to go shopping. After the incident, police arrested the van driver, M Kalaimani, 28, of Ramanathapuram, for rash and negligent driving. Source:The Times of India
Assam a role model in country’s health sector: Ghulam Nabi Azad G u w a h a t i: A s s a m h a s emerged as role model in the health sector of the country by implementing the highest number of schemes under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Sunday. Inaugurating the 102 National Ambulance Service and Tele Radiology Project along with other schemes under the NRHM here, the Union Health Minister lauded the state government’s initiative in the health sector which he said would be replicated in other states as well. “The 102 service would augment the existing 108 am-
bulance service, which has greatly benefited patients across the country and will provide quality transpor tation of patients to hospitals”, he said. The ambulanc e s er vice would respond and reach patients within half an hour, besides transporting pregnant women and infants from home to hospital and if required back to home as well, the Union Min-
ister said. “The ser vice will facilitate an integrated all- comprehensive health c ar e management providing high end amb ulat e d transportation for appropriate care in the h o s p i t a l ”, Azad said. Azad also launched the Tele Radiology Project, the first in the country to initiate the project under the
NRHM. “We are looking how the project can be implemented in other parts of the country under the Mission”, he said. The Rs 22 crore project has been initiated in 11 districts of the state and the facility would be gradually expanded with patients able to download their reports assessed by experts stationed at Guwahati or Bangalore without taking the trouble of visiting the hospital again, Azad added. The Union Minister further said that cancer cases have been increasing in recent years and there was shortage of radiologists in the
country but “We plan to initiate the tele radiology project to plug the lacunae”. Azad also inaugurated the National Health Mission Free Drug Service, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram, National Iron Plus Initiative, Assam Mother and Child Tracking System and Mother and Child Health Wings in 14 districts of the state. The Union Minister said that during the last nine years of UPA’s rule many schemes have been launched across the country, particularly for the development of the rural sector.
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THE AMBULANCE TIMES
News
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Ambulance - hospital link to save many lives dna special: In Mumbai, the idea SANGRUR: Punjab health minister Madan Mohan Mittal made it clear that photographs of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal would not be removed from ambulances engaged in ‘Dial 108’emer genc y ser vic e. The opposition Congress has been demanding their removal. “Union minister of state for health Santosh Chaudhary, too, has demanded removal of Badal’s photos from the ambulances, otherwise a central grant of Rs 3.5 crore would be withheld,” said sources.
Mittal said in Sangrur on
Tuesday, “Congress’ demand is without any logic. The
party must concentrate on constructive things rather than indulging in petty politics. Congress leaders must come forward to ensure better facilities to patients and not politicize the matter.” He said the state government was clear about not taking off CM’s photos from the ambulances. The government has set right the health services in Punjab and more than 700 doctors have been recruited to provide better care to residents, he added.
Assam a role model in country’s health sector: Ghu l am Nabi Azad
continued from page - 1
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” said Neeraj Mishra, vice president (operations) at the hospital. “Seniors are also likely to have chronic ailments, requiring admissions quite often and hence there is an urgent need to develop a comprehensive health care
ted to a nursing home in Kolkata. As her interview was scheduled on September 4 and she was yet to recuperate, her family approached SSC (northern zone) to help her with this problem. Chair man A b dul Wahab considered their appeal and contacted the Central School Service Commission. At his behest, experts from the Commission helped Sarika give her interview from the ambulance. Sarika and her parents were moved by the goodwill gesture. Wahab said, “Sarika’s interview was satisfactory according to her parents.”
“We are focused on providing quality health facilities to the people living in the rural areas and connecting them with the best available medical facilities in the country”, he added. Azad said that the Centre has so far spent more than Rs 95,000 crore for constructing new hospitals and renovating the existing ones. More than 1.5 lakh doctors and para-medical personnel have been already trained and appointed while nine lakh ASHA workers are working under the NRHM, he said. “Moreover, schemes are being prepared in such a way that all sectors of people are being benefited, particularly in the case of providing free medicines”, Azad added. The minister also announced that Assam would be given Rs 100 crore to provide 200 types of medicines free to the patients. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were among those who spoke on the occasion.
Source: The Times of India
Source: Zee New
Source: Zee News
Aspiring teacher gives School Service Commission interview from ambulance MALDA: Clearing the School Service Commission (SSC) interview was a dream come true for 23-year-old Sarika Khatun, but an accident prior to it almost shattered her dream. However, thanks to SSC, Sarika got her wish fulfilled. Perhaps, she was the first candidate who appeared for the personality test from an ambulance. Sarika, who hails from Bagbari, sat for the English (pass) written test for teachers’ recruitment. She passed the test and could go ahead with the final interview. But, her wish seemed to be unfulfilled when she met with an accident last week that severely affected her spinal cord. She had to be admit-
continued from Page - 1
to the main airport. Seeking permission and the time schedule takes a lot of time and defeats the purpose of an ambulance,” said Dr Sanjay Mishra of Air Rescuers, an air ambulance company. Owing to the heavy air traffic during mornings and evenings, CSIA does not allow
The only ambulance that operates from Mumbai receives six calls every day on an average. “There are times when the aircraft is not available,” said Brijesh, pilot employed by Taurian Iron and Steal Company Private Limited. Mumbai receives calls from Central and South India. Most patients using these ambulances visit the Lilavati Hospital, Bombay Hospital or Kokilaben Hospital. Operating out of Mumbai costs more than from Delhi. While landing charges for a charter in Delhi are Rs12,000-15,000, in Mumbai, they vary from Rs37,000 to Rs43,000. This fee was Rs1,000 till three to four months ago. Also, in Mumbai, if a parked aircraft fails to leave the airport in 48 hours, a penalty of Rs29,000 is charged per day. However, that is not the case in Delhi. “Delhi airport has no penalty charges,” Brijesh said. Religare Aviaition Limited says the price difference cannot be ignored. “Besides, we have mor e demand in Delhi and so, we have shifted base,” said Saurabh Bhat, associate business developer for Eximius Business Services. The company that handles marketing operations for Religare. To avoid parking charges at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), the charters are parked at the Juhu Airport. “Ambulances are emergency services. If one is parked in Juhu and has to carry a patient, the aircraft has to be diverted
non-scheduled operators, including air ambulances, to operate from the terminals. “They are not permitted to fly to and fro the airport from 8am to 10am and 5.30pm to 7.30pm. This defies the purpose of having an ambulance and discourages operators,” said Dr Navneet Singh of EM SOS ambulance services. “We do not have any guidelines to give priority to ambulances. However, on special occasions, if the pilot seeks permission, depending on the space available, we sometimes give priority to ambulances,” said G Dasgupta, GM, air traffic control. For private operators in Mumbai, chartered flying is a profitable compared to an air ambulance. Mumbai receives ample bookings from the corporate and Bollywood fraternity. “We are generally booked in advance for corporates and unlike flying an ambulance, no specific clearances are required. It means more business and easy billings for us,” said a private operator.
With Deccan and Bafna grounded and Religare shifting base to Delhi, Taurian remains the only operator to fly ambulances in Mumbai. On the contrary, Delhi has five operators and 12 aircraft to fly as air ambulance.
Source:The Times of India
Delhi’s elderly get medical privileges with new card system exclusively for the elderly,” he added. The card will ensure that senior citizens are minimally dependent on others when it comes to accessing prompt and quality medical attention.
of air ambulances doesn’t fly
The operators also feel that when corporate houses and Bollywood celebrities book aircraft, the booking is for a longer period and payment comes without much effort or delay. “An ambulance come with a lot of uncertainty for the operator whereas a charter is a safer bet any day,” the operator said. Source : dna
THE AMBULANCE TIMES
News
Germantown ambulances pushed to the limit on hottest day of year A combination of the hottest day of the year and thousands of people at the Germantown Festival pushed the suburb’s new ambulance ser vice beyond its limits Sunday, marking the first time the city called on a private company to help with transports. Germantown fire officials
ture is averaging a high of 92.8 degrees. Only on Sept. 4 has the daily high been under 90 degrees, reaching 88. Meanwhile, rain soaked some parts of the city Monday, but not all. For example, Zwemer Ingram, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service offices at Agricenter,
still were reviewing reports Monday, but as many as nine people were treated at the festival grounds on Poplar Pike, three of them taken to area hospitals, Fire Chief John Selberg said. That stretched the limits of the city’s ambulance squad to the point that they had to call Emergency Mobile Health Care to transpor t some patients. “It got real busy for about 30 minutes,” Selberg said. That came during a day when the afternoon temperature crept to 98 degrees, the highest of the year so far. And through the first week of the month, the tempera-
said they recorded almost a half inch of rain there on Monday. However, while other areas were getting a gully-washer, no precipitation was recorded in other areas, including Memphis International Airport. Last month, only 2.17 inches of rain was recorded, almost half of that on Aug. 11, a testament to the dry conditions in recent weeks. And there was little question about the hot and humid conditions at Germantown on Sunday afternoon, pushing the city’s two-month-old ambulance service past its limits for the first time. After years of study and
Moodbidri: Woman Gives Birth to Child in Ambulance in Transit Moodbidri: There have
health centre in Kuppe-
been many cases of child-
padav in an ambulance
birth taking place in am-
to Mangalore earlier this
bulances while the preg-
week. She developed
nant women were being
birth pangs on the way.
shifted to hospitals. In
Junior health assistant K
most cases, it would be
S Bhavani who was in the
male paramedics who
vehicle immediately took
would be present on the
care of her and ensured
occasion and they have
safe delivery.
been doing a fine job in
The mother and the child
taking care of emergen-
are reported to be in good
cies.
health.
consideration, Germantown finally decided to handle ambulance service in-house beginning July 1. Until then, the suburb paid a per-call share to the Shelby County’s contract with a private ambulance company — most recently Rural/Metro. As part of the plan for the new service, Germantown has the option of calling private companies for help when things are tight. The cit y has t wo fullystaffed ambulances in service around the clock and two others in reser ve-status that can be used with fire personnel. On Sunday, one of those reserve units was staffed and on the festival grounds providing treatment for those at the festival. And while the three people had to be transported from that location, there were other calls across the city that pulled units in other directions. Eventually, all of the ambulances were tied up on calls, leading to the need to call the private provider. The fire chief said officials already have noticed an increase in calls since Germantown got into the ambulance business. And, while everyone received the proper treatment on Sunday, he said, the city is studying whether there is a need for a third ambulance around the clock in addition to the two in reserve. Source: The Commercial Appeal
News
pg
Ambulance Victoria suspends the use of helicopter winches after man dies in rescue chopper mishap continued from page - 1
“I don’t know how the gentleman’s come adrift from the sling, but it’s a really tragic situation.” Mr Sassella says the winch equipment will be thoroughly tested. “The winch operations will be suspended until the companies that provide the helicopters are satisfied and CASA is satisfied that we understand what happened
patient and in this instance something has happened and the patient’s deceased but helicopter operations are high risk,” he said. “We have a very good record here in Victoria but that’s because we do learn and understand what goes wrong when it goes wrong.” Ambulance union secretary Steve McGhie says the man would have been brought up in a sling-like apparatus. “They actually sit in it, is my understanding, or it goes under their arms, and the paramedic’s also harnessed in and both the paramedic and the patient are winched up from the ground,” he said.
and that there’s no potential for this to happen again on other helicopters,” he said. “The standards we set for our helicopter operations here is extremely high and that includes the helicopters themselves. “It includes the qualifications of the pilot, the qualifications of the crewmen and the qualifications of the paramedics.” Police, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Work Safe Victoria are also investigating. Counselling has been offered to the paramedic and the flight crew involved.
The man is understood to have weighed more than 100 kilograms. Mr Sassella says Ambulance Victoria has suspended all winch rescues while the equipment is tested and an investigation is completed. “What we do know is the crews risk themselves to help the patient, they do everything they can for the
Source : ABC News
JOBS ~ MEDICAL EQUIPMENTS ~ HEALTH SERVICES
A woman was being taken from the Kolavoor Boliya
Source: Mangalorean.
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