EMERGENCY
AMBULANCE SERVICE - PAKISTAN RED CRESCENT SOCIETY
Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) was
officially recognized on 20th December 1947 by The Government
of Pakistan under the Pakistan Red Crescent Society Act No.
XV of 1920 (as amended up to February 1974). In accordance with
the 1949 Geneva Convention, PRCS as the only National Red Crescent
Society was officially recognized as a voluntary aid society,
auxiliary to the public authorities in the humanitarian field
and, which may carry out its activities in the Pakistani territory.
In relation to the public authorities the Pakistan Red Crescent
Society maintains an autonomy that allows it to act at all times
in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the Movement.
EMERGENCY
AMBULANCE SERVICE
GENERAL
1.
Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is one of the oldest humanitarian
organization working in Pakistan. The Disaster Management is
the quintessence of development programmes of the Society, initiated
for the community welfare, with focus on strengthening the Disaster
Response coping mechanisms. Besides, natural disasters to which
our country is prone to, people are now also being subjected
to man-induced disaster situations manifested in the form of
terrorist acts in our urban centers. To meet the challenge posed
by the changed security environment the PRCS has decided to
adopt a more proactive approach to combat these hazards.
2. In case of a disaster/ terrorist
act a timely response by a well organized and equipped ambulance
service is critical in saving lives of injured people. However,
at present there is no properly organized ambulance service,
other than Edhi, available in Pakistan to provide an effective
service in case of major disasters, both natural and man-made.
To fill this void and fulfill the mandated responsibility the
PRCS, National Headquarters has decided to organize an Emergency
Ambulance Service, incorporating components of First Aid and
Blood Transfusion in all major cities. As a first step such
a Service, comprising ten ambulances is being organized at PRCS,
National Headquarters for the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Later the same model would be replicated for the Provincial
Headquarters.
MAIN FEATURES
OF EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE
3. ORGANIZATION OF
THE AMBULAMNCES
a. This service
is being implemented by mobilizing the indigenous resources
available with NHQ and different branches of PRCS in twin cities
of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Having organized these ambulances
into an integrated outfit under a central control, these are
deployed in two groups at NHQ, H-8 Sector Islamabad and PRCS,
District Branch (Satellite Town), Rawalpindi.
b. All ambulances have been refurbished, fitted with oxygen
cylinders and provided with First Aid boxes. Each ambulance
has been facilitated with services of a para-medical assistant/First
Aider to provide First Aid to the victims of a disaster/ terrorist
act.
4. CONTROL ROOM
A Control Room established in the premises
of National Headquarters is being manned 24 hours and the staff
on duty will control the employment of ambulances at the scene
of incident and also coordinate with other emergency services,
Police (Rescue 15) and hospitals. The Control Room maintains
a computerized record of ambulances and related data. The Control
Room is also equipped with city maps and charts with location
of hospitals, number of beds earmarked and blood stored for
emergencies. Important telephone numbers are at Annex I.
5. COMMUNICATION ARRANGEMENTS
The communication between the Control Room
and ambulances will be maintained with mobile phones provided
to all ambulance drivers. Phones having following numbers are
available in the Control Room to receive information/ requests
for provision of ambulances:-
i. PRCS NHQ, Islamabad: 051-9250001,051-9250404-5
ii. Mobile Phone No. 0333- 5188832
6. PROVISION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
/ FIRST AID
Each ambulance has been facilitated with a para-medical staff/First
Aider to provide First Aid to the injured/sick. Drivers of
ambulances have also been trained to provide First Aid. Training
Officer at National Training & Resource Centre is responsible
to coordinate the training and provision of First Aiders with
ambulances.
7. PROVISION OF BLOOD
Incharge Blood Donor Centre (BDC) at National Headquarters
is responsible for coordinating the provision of blood in
case of major disasters. Already coordination with Blood Banks
of major hospital of twin cities has been carried out and
they have sufficient blood to meet any emergency. In addition
the capacity of Blood Donor Centre (BDC) at National Headquarters
is being enhanced to meet additional requirement of blood.
The BDC from its own stock will provide blood to hospitals
handling the casualties after ascertaining the requirements.
If needed the BDC will establish mobile Blood Donation Centres
to meet the requirement.
8. STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURE
A Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) has been formulated
in a manner that the ambulances of the outfit would quickly
reach the scene of a disaster/terrorist act in any part of
twin cities. In case of requirement ambulances of one centre
would augment the resources of other centre. The PRCS Blood
and First Aid programmes are also being inter-linked to support
the ambulance service. SOP is attached as Annex II.
ANNEX I
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF
ISLAMABAD / RAWALPINDI
S.NO.
PLACES
TELEPHONE #
OFFICE
RESIDENCE
PRCS NATIONAL
HEAD QUARTER
1
Secretary General
9250407
0333-5242118
5110869
2
Director Operations
9250409
5111433
3
Dy Director Administration
9450410
9270668
4
Blood Donor Centre
9250412
5
Emergency Ambulance Service Control Room
9250001
0333-5188832
ISLAMABAD POLICE
1
Rescue – 15
15
2
Exchange
9261410-1
3
Control
9203333
4
Motorway Police
9266044
RAWALPINDI POLICE
1
Exchange
9260601-20
2
Control
9270013-14
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
1
Bomb Disposal
15
2
Fire Brigade
16
3
Ambulance Service – Edhi
115
HOSPITALS
1
CMH
561-11111
561-32602-03
2
MH
561-116
3
Cantonment
9270907-11
4
DHQ
5556311-4 Ext-350
5
Holy Family
9290321-7 Ext-223
6
Fauji Foundation
5788150-4
7
R.G.H
9290301-7 Ext-2505, 2401
8
CDA
9221334-43 Ext-239
9
PIMS
9261170-79 Ext-2331
10
Poly Clinic
9218300-09 Ext-333
11
Shifa International
4446801 Ext-3006
ANNEX II
STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP)
FOR EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE NHQ, ISLAMABAD
PURPOSE
1. The
purpose of organizing the Emergency Task Force at NHQ and District
Branch, Rawalpindi is to be able to quickly and effectively
respond to emergencies / calamities / terrorist acts to provide
First Aid to the causalities and evacuate the victims to the
nearest hospitals.
2. Ambulance
Service will also be available to general public and medical
establishments on hire for transportation of patients and
dead bodies.
PROCEDURE
3. A Control
Room manned around the clock has been established at NHQ and
it has the following communication facilities:
a.
Telephone No. 9257404 b.
Mobile Phone No. 0333-5188832
4. Minimum
of two ambulances will be kept in stand-by condition for immediate
dispatch at the aforementioned locations.
5. IN CASE OF DISASTER / TERRORIST
ACTS
The Control Room operator on receiving information by telephone
or otherwise will immediately alert the stand-by ambulances
and confirm the information from a Police source (Rescue 15).
Then according to the nature and seriousness of the situation
dispatch the required number of ambulances. Drivers will be
told the name of hospital(s), nearest to the place of the
incident, to which the causalities are to be evacuated. The
Control Room operator will also inform the following:-
a.
Alerting the Emergency Unit of the concerned hospital for
receiving the causalities. b.
Blood Donor Centre, PRCS for the provision of blood if needed. c.
Supervisor of the PRCS, Emergency Ambulance Service for assessing
the situation and accordingly controlling the evacuation operation. d.
Inform Director Special Projects about the incident and obtain
his instructions for further action.
6. FOR TRANSPORTATION OF PATIENTS
AND DEAD BODIES
On receipt of a request from any person/ medical establishment
/ organization the Control Room operator will take the following
actions:-
a.
Within Municipal Limits of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Record the required information and after obtaining permission
from the Supervisor dispatch the ambulance available, according
to the duty roster.
b.
Outstation Duties. Record the request in Message Register
and obtain permission from the Supervisor and in his absence
from Director Special Projects, before dispatching the ambulance.
Maximum distance limit for providing ambulance service is
500 Km.
7. DOCUMENTS
Following documents will be maintained:-
a.
Message Record Register. b.
Vehicles Detailing Register. c.
Driver’s Requisition Slip. d.
Record of Maintenance of all Vehicles. e.
Record of receipt of payments from users. f.
Log Books.
8. PAYMENT CHARGES
a.
For calamities / disasters / terrorist acts no payment will
be charged. b.
For transportation of patients and dead bodies the charges
will be as under:-
i.
Within city limits - Rs. 100/- per trip ii.
Outstation
a. Air-Conditioned (AC) -
Rs. 15 per km b.
Without AC - Rs. 10 per km
c.
No request for any emergency situation will be rejected. Supervisor
will be informed after undertaking the mission.
d.
For individuals who cannot make the full payment, due to weak
financial position, the concession will be decided by Director
Special Projects.
9. PREFERENCE FOR USE OF TYPE
OF AMBULANCE
Petrol Ambulance will be used only for emergency within city
limits.
