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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Ambulance Service witnessed a decrease in the number of calls during the first two weeks of Ramadan compared to last year during the same season, Assistant Executive Director of Ambulance Service Ali Darwish has said.
During the first two weeks of Ramadan this year, the service received 11,798 calls compared to 12,012 calls received in the first two week of Ramadan in 2020.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Darwish said, “We do experience a slight decrease and this is related to the efforts being made by the country to impose some restrictions. We have also experienced a decrease in the number of accidents because people remain at home and keep social distance, besides other measures.”
He however added that the Ambulance Service has experienced an increase in the COVID-19 related transportation cases either from home to hospital, hospital to hospital or quarantine to hospital.
“This is all related to patients requiring further care in another hospital, specialised care or deterioration of someone’s condition in a quarantine facility which needs to be transported to a healthcare facility. Home isolated patients may also require the service if their health deteriorates,” said Darwish.
According to Darwish, they were anticipating a decrease in the number of calls with the decrease in the COVID-19 cases in the country.
Darwish said other reasons that make people call the ambulance include abdominal pains, body weakness, breathing problems, back pains, unconsciousness, fainting, chest pains, traumatic injuries, falls, transportation and traffic injuries (RTAs).
He added that they also receive calls from people suffering from minor cases of heat exhaustion and dehydration.
Darwish said that people should also ‘Know the 5 Save a Life’ which includes Dial 999 immediately; Know your location; Answer all questions; Follow all instructions; and Give way to ambulances.
He said, “Please help us to help you. We need their help so we can help them. They should know their location because if they call and don’t know their location, we cannot help them. They should also listen to the instructions.”
According to Darwish, since the ‘Know the 5 to Save a Life’ campaign was launched years ago, they have noticed a significant increase of public cooperation and road users.
“We have also noticed that, even without the campaign, lots of public awareness and appreciation of the service across the country and we can feel this in our daily activities. We feel that the public awareness has increased,” he said.
DOHA
Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Ambulance Service witnessed a decrease in the number of calls during the first two weeks of Ramadan compared to last year during the same season, Assistant Executive Director of Ambulance Service Ali Darwish has said.
During the first two weeks of Ramadan this year, the service received 11,798 calls compared to 12,012 calls received in the first two week of Ramadan in 2020.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Darwish said, “We do experience a slight decrease and this is related to the efforts being made by the country to impose some restrictions. We have also experienced a decrease in the number of accidents because people remain at home and keep social distance, besides other measures.”
He however added that the Ambulance Service has experienced an increase in the COVID-19 related transportation cases either from home to hospital, hospital to hospital or quarantine to hospital.
“This is all related to patients requiring further care in another hospital, specialised care or deterioration of someone’s condition in a quarantine facility which needs to be transported to a healthcare facility. Home isolated patients may also require the service if their health deteriorates,” said Darwish.
According to Darwish, they were anticipating a decrease in the number of calls with the decrease in the COVID-19 cases in the country.
Darwish said other reasons that make people call the ambulance include abdominal pains, body weakness, breathing problems, back pains, unconsciousness, fainting, chest pains, traumatic injuries, falls, transportation and traffic injuries (RTAs).
He added that they also receive calls from people suffering from minor cases of heat exhaustion and dehydration.
Darwish said that people should also ‘Know the 5 Save a Life’ which includes Dial 999 immediately; Know your location; Answer all questions; Follow all instructions; and Give way to ambulances.
He said, “Please help us to help you. We need their help so we can help them. They should know their location because if they call and don’t know their location, we cannot help them. They should also listen to the instructions.”
According to Darwish, since the ‘Know the 5 to Save a Life’ campaign was launched years ago, they have noticed a significant increase of public cooperation and road users.
“We have also noticed that, even without the campaign, lots of public awareness and appreciation of the service across the country and we can feel this in our daily activities. We feel that the public awareness has increased,” he said.
