Body found: dead or alive?
A body was spotted in Luipaard Street ... but was the person actually dead?
Concerned residents called Krugersdorp’s emergency services after spotting what looked like a body under a balcony in Luipaard Street.
Pedestrians and employees from shops in this busy street were convinced that the person was dead as he laid bare feet, with an overall on.
An emergency response vehicle arrived shortly after the call out was made to confirm if the person is dead or alive.
The paramedic put on his rubber gloves and gently touched the person who suddenly woke up.
It turns out that the body was indeed a man who fell asleep under the balcony, and slept like a rock through the hustle and bustle of morning traffic.
The News contacted the Krugersdorp Emergency Services Management (EMS) unit who receives a staggering amount of false alarms or no service calls on a monthly basis.
With a total of 788 incidents, and 807 patients treated, 34 of the call outs in March were false alarms where personnel went to a scene of which no service was provided.
A Leading Emergency Service Official, Gladwin Modibedi, took some time from saving lives to chat to the News about the amount of false calls they receive and provided some tips for the community when they find themselves confronted with a body or an injured person.
“The most important thing to remember is not move the body,” advised Gladwin.
He advises to look for other members of the public who can assist you when you do find a body.
It is important to establish if the person is still alive by trying to get a response from the person. You can ask, “Hello can you hear me” or “Are you ok”.
If the person is unresponsive, it is best to contact the police or the EMS.
Try and check if the person is still breathing or has a pulse and look at the surroundings for any clues about the body. If you have experience in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), you can proceed to perform this action on the person.
“Remember that the surroundings such as empty alcohol bottles, needles or even a vehicle can give you important clues which you can provide to EMS officials when they arrive on the scene and could help them save a life,” concluded Gladwin.
