Health MEC launches Alpha Operation in readiness for festive season

THE KZN Department of Health has put plans in place to promptly respond to motor vehicle accidents and any other emergency situations that may arise during the festive period.

“December month marks the beginning of the festive season and this causes all major routes throughout KwaZulu-Natal to experience a major influx and traffic congestion. That situation, brings about increased accidents and trauma victims. Our Emergency Medical Rescue Services during this time are the ones we all depend upon to be there on the spot to provide assistance within that golden hour the accident has happened,” said Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, MEC for Health.

An amplified Alpha Operation was launched by the department with the objectives to provide rapid and effective response to all incidents within KZN and its immediate borders, improve access to EMRS services by allocating ambulances on the strategic points on major routes, increase EMRS visibility for public confidence and strengthen collaboration with road traffic inspectorate in a quest to reduce deaths on the roads.

“As the Department of Health, we have made it our task to save as many lives as possible during this period and beyond. This year we are exceptionally prepared for any carnage or disaster especially with our revolutionary Aero-medical Night Vision Goggles system for our Helicopter Emergency Services (HEMS). These are night vision goggles that are specially designed and generally used in military environments. They allow the user better visibility in night conditions as our crew on board the Emergency Helicopters are now able to see a person standing over 183 metres away on a moonless, cloudy night. The two helicopters and a fixed wing aircraft are permanently on standby,” he said.

There are also seven 60-seater disaster buses that have stretches for the transportation of walking wounded as well as critically injured patients in a multi-casualty incident, and 15 medical rescue response units equipped with sophisticated extricating machinery for mangled wreckages.

All EMS vehicles are now monitored by a vehicle monitoring and tracking system which allows for real time tracking. This assists with reducing response times as the nearest vehicle to an incident can be identified and dispatched accordingly.

“All our healthcare institutions are also ready with qualified personnel and equipment to deal with all trauma cases. We also have access to the facilities provided by the private hospital sector as they too have a responsibility of stabilising patients involved in accidents closer to their facilities, regardless of whether the patient is medically insured or not,” said Dhlomo.

Dhlomo called on all citizens to behave well on the roads.