Residents rally to help local emergency team with blankets
The story serves as a reminder that when communities come together, even the simplest act can make a lifesaving difference.
When ComMed Emergency Response ran out of blankets on May 3, the Panorama Residents Association (PRA) stepped up quickly. Within just seven hours of sending out a community appeal, residents had donated 52 blankets to help keep ComMed’s patients warm while waiting for emergency transport.
“It was an easy decision,” said Dave Baxter, chairperson of PRA. “ComMed is always there when we need them. When residents require urgent medical help and public services are delayed, ComMed gets there fast. They’re reliable, and they genuinely care.”
ComMed is a non-profit emergency medical service staffed entirely by volunteers. They operate across Roodepoort, parts of Randburg, and surrounding areas, delivering free emergency medical care to communities where help is often delayed or unavailable.
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Many of the patients they treat are found in informal settlements, retirement homes, or even on the roadside, often with little or no shelter from the cold.
“We may not always have formal campaigns,” Dave says, “but when there’s a real need, our residents respond. This was one of those moments, and it meant a great deal.”
Neil van der Merwe, director and medic at ComMed, said the donation brought more than gratitude – it brought practical relief.
“Besides being extremely grateful for the support, we also felt a sense of relief because the blankets provided a real solution to a real challenge,” Neil expresses. “Working with our communities to make a difference in people’s lives is what we live for – and we can’t do it alone.”
Neil said the blankets have already made an impact in the field. In one recent incident, a man who had been shot multiple times was found lying in the cold at 01:30, having lost significant blood. While waiting for an ambulance, the ComMed team stabilised him and used blankets to keep him warm, critical in preventing hypothermia and shock. “He was taken to the hospital and went into surgery in a reasonably stable condition,” says Neil. “The blankets made a difference.”
He explained that winter conditions present serious challenges for emergency responders. “The cold affects our ability to get accurate vital signs. It worsens shock and illness outcomes, especially in young children and older people. And cold air often triggers asthma attacks and respiratory distress.”
As an NPO, ComMed relies entirely on sponsorships and public support to keep its vehicles running and its medics equipped.
“We’re always looking for corporate and individual sponsors – people who want to invest in better outcomes for their communities,” Neil explains.
“Whether it’s a once-off donation or a monthly pledge, you will save lives.”
