Motorbike ambulances responds to 0.17m emergencies in Punjab

Rescue 1122 DG says MAS has enhanced operational efficiency and overcome urban challenges

LAHORE:  

Rescue 1122’s motorbike ambulance service (MAS) has responded to approximately 0.17 million emergencies in Punjab with an average response time of four minutes.

This was revealed during an event celebrating the first anniversary of the mobile service at the Rescue Headquarters. Rescue 1122 Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer was the chief guest.

Speaking at the ceremony, Naseer appreciated the efforts of the staff in providing exemplary services to the victims of 0.17 million accidents and emergencies. It has also been observed that response time has improved significantly. Motorbikes are able to weave in and out of traffic and can manage to pass through narrow streets, he said.

The director general added that first responders on motorbikes have enhanced Rescue 1122’s operational efficiency and have overcome urban challenges to ensure immediate first aid.

During the ceremony, it was revealed that MAS has responded to 89,393 road traffic accidents, 62,827 medical emergencies, 2,976 cases where people had fallen from a substantial height, 5,298 occupational emergencies, 3,824 cases of electrocution, women going into labour and animal rescue, 49 cases of drowning, 2,770 crimes, 1,716 fires, 73 incidents of buildings collapsing and others.

Naseer added that the motorbike ambulances are equipped with lifesaving equipment such as portables oxygen cylinders, blood pressure monitors and trauma kits. On an average, MAS is responding to an average of 550 emergencies daily in Punjab.

The service has utilised resources effectively and has turned out to be a cost effective emergency response model, the DG added.

The motorbike ambulance service was launched on October 10, 2017 at Divisional Headquarters in Punjab including Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sargodha and Rawalpindi with more than 900 motorbike ambulances and emergency medical technicians.