VEMA needs your help
VEMA appeals to residents and local businesses to assist them with their voluntary project.
THE Voluntary Emergency Medical Assistance (VEMA), a non-profit organisation initiated by three Upper Highway residents in 2004 after noticing delays in the ambulance’s response time, needs your help.
According to Shannon Charles, the operational manager for VEMA, the three members decided to use their medical and emergency skills to benefit the community.
“We have played a vital role in keeping patients alive. We are fortunate to have many hospitals in the area and the turn around time for ambulances is a lot quicker. We are still often the first to arrive on scene,” said Charles.
VEMA currently consist of eight members, who provide their services voluntarily. The members include trauma doctors, as well as advance, intermediate and basic life support paramedics.
The VEMA team responds to incidents primarily in the Upper Highway. VEMA volunteers only respond to an incident to stabilise an injured person. They do not transport patients. The VEMA volunteers work closely with the Metro Police, EMRS, Netcare 911, SACAN, ER24 and the Hillcrest SAPS.
Charles said the organisation received between 70 to 90 calls a month and has responded to 771 calls in the last financial year.
“Approximately 60 per cent of those calls involved motor vehicle collisions,” he said.
“All of the VEMA volunteers use their own vehicles and equipment. All travel costs are the volunteer’s own expense. It might seem like an insane sacrifice, but it is all incredibly rewarding when you are able to save a person’s life. All of our members are extremely passionate,” said Charles.
Residents and corporate organisations are urged to contribute to the service VEMA members provide by either donating financially or in any other capacity. “We have had fantastic support from Secure Link, Netcare 911, ER24, Rotary, and the public. We hope to serve the community for many more years,” he said.
Contact Shannon Charles on 0849232012.
