Dealing with disaster: Rescue 1122 adds four new ambulances

Emergency service marks five years at its headquarters.

PESHAWAR: Rescue 1122 has added four ambulances equipped with ventilators to its inventory, thus increasing its vehicles to 19 in the provincial capital.

This was disclosed by Rescue 1122 Director General Asad Ali as he addressed a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of the emergency service at its headquarters on Friday. He said the tragic Pipal Mandi blast, which left more than 100 people dead, prompted the provincial government to establish a rescue service to deal with such incidents. He added it was started in August 2010 as a pilot project.



“So far, we have responded to around 26,997 calls in total and provided services in 6,431 road accidents, 1,892 fires, 123 building collapses, 314 blasts, 737 crime scenes, 389 drownings and 17,111 medical emergencies,” he said. The official added 6.4 minutes was the average response time. The director general said a total of 1,325,630 calls were received of which many were false, while a large number were simply seeking information.

Ali requested the general public to only call for genuine emergencies and asked motorists to give way to Rescue 1122 ambulances so that the staff can perform its duty in an efficient manner. The emergency service has a 60-strong team in the city which remains on alert round-the-clock.

“We are fully equipped to deal with any emergency situation including medical, fires, building collapses, bomb blasts and road accidents” he added. Ali said his organisation also provided first aid training for Motorway police personnel at the Hangu Training College.

He revealed Rescue 1122 services would soon commence in DI Khan, Swat and Kohat in addition to other areas of the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2015.