The Hyderabad based Global Hospitals becomes the first hospital in the state to deploy medically trained and equipped personnel on two wheeler ambulances for the rescue of the accident victims. The members of the accident rescue team (ART) will keep an eye on the accident prone zones and rush to the accident spot, render first aid, stabilize patients, requisition ambulances and move them to hospital.
As part of the first phase, the hospital has acquired 10 two wheelers each of which is equipped with life-saving drugs and an oxygen cylinder. Accident victims can be saved from death or permanent disability if they are rendered medical aid within an hour of the accident taking place, said Ravindranath, managing director of the hospital.
It is significant to note, the hospital has opened a state-of-the-art Institute for Neurosciences, Trauma and Orthopedics (INTO) in the city on February 4, this year. INTO, with an investment of Rs.6 crore, is equipped with world class laboratories and blood bank facilities, and would provide cost-effective and high quality care round the clock.
The institute has a 50-bed capacity and a network of ambulances and paramedical staff. The INTO is to tie up with the state government to provide emergency care to road accident victims along the 100-km stretch of the Hyderabad-Mumbai national highway under the proposed Andhra Pradesh Emergency Network.
According to an estimate, over 8000 people die in road accidents every year in Andhra Pradesh and 85 per cent of the victims are rushed to hospital without being given first aid.
The need for emergency care is gaining due attention in the state, in the recent past. Apollo Hospitals has organized a medical conference on emergency medicine and disaster management, 'Emergeindia', concurrent to HospiMedica at Hyderabad during February, this year.
Emergency medicine is one of the most neglected specialties in India, despite trauma being amongst the top five killers in the country and emergencies in total account for over 60 per cent of total deaths.