EMS faces huge challenges with traffic congestion:
The well known, cancer survivor, radio DJ and Big Brother presenter, Mark Pilgrim returned to his usual slot on Radio Highveld on the 23rd of August after having suffered a major heart attack. The DJ was fortunate enough (if one can say so) to be sitting at his doctor’s rooms when he had his heart attack. On his first show since his heart attack, Mark thanked his doctor for saving his life but said that it took the ambulance an hour to arrive.
There are many reasons for the delays in the arrival of the EMS vehicles; the most common reason is most probably traffic congestion. The country is going through a phase of much needed upgrading of infrastructure. It feels as if no matter where you drive you find yourself surrounded by civil works. Over the past 10 years South Africa has gone through a fairly rapid growth in the economy and as we all know a rapid increase in car sales. This pretty much translates into a huge increase in the number of vehicles on the road. The poor public transport has “forced” people to purchase their own vehicles. The final outcome is an increase in response time for the fire rescue vehicles, ambulances, the private security firms, the police and other emergency response vehicles.
I do not know why Mark’s ambulance was an hour in arriving but I am sure that many EMS vehicles are delayed by traffic congestion, however this cannot emphasizes enough how important first aid training is in saving people’s lives.
It is not just a legal requirement it is a moral responsibility.
EMS faces huge challenges with traffic congestion:
The well known, cancer survivor, radio DJ and Big Brother presenter, Mark Pilgrim returned to his usual slot on Radio Highveld on the 23rd of August after having suffered a major heart attack. The DJ was fortunate enough (if one can say so) to be sitting at his doctor’s rooms when he had his heart attack. On his first show since his heart attack, Mark thanked his doctor for saving his life but said that it took the ambulance an hour to arrive.
There are many reasons for the delays in the arrival of the EMS vehicles; the most common reason is most probably traffic congestion. The country is going through a phase of much needed upgrading of infrastructure. It feels as if no matter where you drive you find yourself surrounded by civil works. Over the past 10 years South Africa has gone through a fairly rapid growth in the economy and as we all know a rapid increase in car sales. This pretty much translates into a huge increase in the number of vehicles on the road. The poor public transport has “forced” people to purchase their own vehicles. The final outcome is an increase in response time for the fire rescue vehicles, ambulances, the private security firms, the police and other emergency response vehicles.
I do not know why Mark’s ambulance was an hour in arriving but I am sure that many EMS vehicles are delayed by traffic congestion, however this cannot emphasizes enough how important first aid training is in saving people’s lives.
It is not just a legal requirement it is a moral responsibility.