Government unveils new emergency vehicles
“The department would like to plead with community members not to interfere, intimidate or attack paramedics as they attend to emergencies.”
The Tshwane metro unveiled five new vehicles on Thursday to boost response time to incidents as the upcoming festive season approaches.
The vehicles will each go to emergency services department (ESD) district commanders in Bosman, Rosslyn, Centurion, Silverton and Wonderboom fire stations.
The district commander is operationally and functionally responsible for multiple fire stations in a region or geographically designated area of Tshwane.
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams said the new vehicles would be utilised to enhance response capabilities during the festive season and beyond.
“This week, our ESD received five new Ford Rangers to boost the City’s response time to incidents, especially with the upcoming festive season,” said Williams.
Williams said it was essential that a commander was equipped with a reliable vehicle to cover designated areas of operations.
The Gauteng health department also recently unveiled new 25 ambulances for Gauteng scheduled emergency transport (G-SET) to service Johannesburg, Tshwane and the West Rand.
MEC for health spokesperson Tshepo Shawa said the vehicles would also enhance performance and reduce response time.
Shawa said under the G-SET model, hospitals would no longer be required to call EMS centres to transport stable patients as regular shuttles would be availed.
“Other vehicles that were unveiled during EMS Day include 20 rescue response bakkies which can enter hard-to-reach areas especially during rainy seasons.”
MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said the vehicles could not have come at a better time as the department was now gearing up for the holiday season and festive period.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said the Gauteng EMS incidents generally increased during the festive season.
She further reminded community members to take care of these health assets.
“The EMS is not immune to challenges ranging from service delivery protests, damage caused to ambulances and assault on first responders delaying response times to emergencies.
“The department would like to plead with community members not to interfere, intimidate or attack paramedics as they attend to emergencies. The attack of EMS personnel will have dire consequences for communities as our crews will end up not being able to respond to emergencies or being delayed when called by the very same communities.”
Nkomo-Ralehoko urged communities not to allow criminals to deny them their right to access to medical services.
The new vehicles unveiled by the Tshwane metro are equipped with the following necessary tools for operation:
– Battery-operated chainsaw
– Battery-operated Carborundum cutter
– Breathing apparatus escape set
– Water hydrant key
– Bolt cutter
– Halligan tool (forcible entry tool used by firefighters).
– Medical jump bag
– Personal protective equipment.
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