A team of paramedics from the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) of Canada has come to Chennai to train the volunteers of Trauma Care Consortium, an NGO to help accident victims in the state.

According to Jason Primrose, leader of the team from Canada, the 15-day training programme would focus on reducing the fatality by timely action and preventing inexpert handling of the injured causing to have permanent disabilities. Numerous lives could be saved with timely action and proper medical treatment, and this has been proven by the EMS's activities in the York region of Canada.

According to Dr.Suniti Solomon, Chairperson of Trauma Care Consortium, the NGO operates 16 full-fledged ambulances in the city, with round the clock vigil to attend emergency calls. With a view to ensure easy availability, speed, and quicker stabilization of the road accident victim, the ambulances have well trained paramedics with emergency medical kits, wireless sets, and other support systems. The ambulances are parked in strategic locations in different parts of the city to reduce the transit time. The patient will be taken to a nearby hospital, as Trauma Care Consortium has a tie-up with most of the hospitals in the city. Further, it has entered into a tie-up with the Chennai city traffic police to attend to the victims and for solving the medico-legal issues.

The sources said more than 28, 000 people have joined the organisation in the last few years. The members are enrolled for an annual fee of less than Rs.500, and are offered insurance cover, upto Rs one lakh for fatal injuries and free treatment at the listed hospitals. The insurance cover is also applicable to other accidents.