Facilitating first-aid: Hilal-e-Ahmer 1030 Ambulance Service launched

The 12 new ambulances come equipped with essential emergency equipment.

A new ambulance service was launched by President Mamnoon Hussain and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Tuesday, said a press release. 

To address the inadequate mobile health services in the capital city, PRCS has initiated the 1030 Hilal-e-Ahmer ambulance service, a state-of-the-art facility available round-the-clock, with a response time of seven-to-ten minutes.

Hailing the service as a milestone for Islamabad, Hussain detailed that the ambulance fleet consists of 12 mobile units, out of which six ambulances are situated at different locations in the city, while the other six are on standby at PRCS National Headquarters.

The emergency ambulance service will be supplemented with formally trained staff, said Hussain, adding that the facility will be used to the best of its capacity under the leadership and expertise of PRCS Chairman Dr Saeed Elahi.

Elahi explained that each ambulance is equipped with basic medical and first-aid equipment including an oxygen cylinder accompanied by ambulance bag, a blood pressure apparatus, clinical thermometer, stethoscope, pyodine, a folding stretcher, CPR mask and eye-dressing pads.

The service has been developed after a detailed analysis of the current ambulance system of Islamabad Capital Territory and addresses the gaps inherent in the previous facility, elaborated Elahi. The new, improved ambulance system comes with its own designated helpline, 1030, which will be functional round-the-clock. He added that Rescue 15 will also facilitate this service.

Elahi added that the PRCS has already initiated mobile health clinics for the capital’s adjoining rural areas, while the blood donation center will work in collaboration with these mobile health services to facilitate the public.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2014.