100 rescuers deployed at Mayo hospital

Paramedics trained in chest physiotherapy, use of ventilators

LAHORE: As many as 100 rescue paramedics have been deployed in Mayo Hospital on request of the Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department to facilitate the administration in dealing with the influx of Covid-19 patients.

The rescue paramedics have been trained in collaboration with doctors and nurses of Mayo Hospital at Lahore Expo Coronavirus Isolation Centre for the management of coronavirus patients.

They also practised donning and doffing of PPE, chest physiotherapy, use of a ventilator, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and bed nursing care of serious coronavirus patients at the Expo Centre.

Hospitals overflow as Covid-19 spikes

Rescue 1122 Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer said that Covid-19 is a national emergency. “We have to serve humanity in this challenging situation. Rescue Service always remained a ray of hope for victims of accidents, emergencies and disasters.”

During the Covid-19 emergency, the rescue service shifted 1,1641 coronavirus patients to hospitals and quarantine centres, whereas burials of 1,269 suspected victims of the virus were also performed.

Rescuers are involved in all activities like patient shifting, burial, disinfection awareness, and ration distribution.

“Now rescuers being professionally trained are required to provide their services to deal with coronavirus patients in hospitals. You all had an experience of dealing with coronavirus patients while performing your duties at Expo Isolation Centre, Lahore,” the DG said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2020.