Battle for your life in ‘mortuary’ van or ambulance without oxygen
September 3rd, 2009
VADODARA: Just pray that you are not one of those unfortunate ones to have met with an accident on two highways - NH-8 and expressway - connecting Vadodara to Ahmedabad. Chances are that you will be either shifted in a ‘mortuary van’ or in an ambulance that has an oxygen cylinder, but no regulator to pump the oxygen into your body in those precious moments when you are fighting for your life.
Highway ambulances, supposed to act as lifesavers at the time of accidents, seem to be in need of treatment on NH-8 and Vadodara-Ahmedabad Expressway - touted to be among the best in the country. When TOI team did a reality check of ambulances running on these highways connecting two of the most important cities of Gujarat, it came to light that while the ambulance on NH-8 at Vasad toll plaza was actually a mortuary van converted into an ambulance, things were no different even at expressway.
These ambulances are pitched in by contractors appointed by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for maintaining the highways. NHAI has clearly stated in its contract that the vehicles that should be used as ambulances on the highways should have two stretchers, medicines, equipment such as oxygen cylinder with regulator and accessories, ambubag with mask, BP apparatus and a spinal collar apart from two trauma stretchers with scoops to spiral injuries, cabinet for medicines and blankets. At the same time, NHAI contract (a copy of which is with TOI) mentions that paramedical staff having BSc (nursing degree), nursing staff having diploma in general nursing and driver trained for first aid (from recognised institute or hospital) shall be deployed with each ambulance round the clock.
But when TOI checked the ambulance (MH 06 J 3758) running on the 91 km stretch between Ahmedabad and Vadodara on NH-8, it had only one stretcher instead of two. It was neither equipped with any oxygen cylinder nor any medicines and paramedical staff. Instead, half of the space of this ambulance was covered by ice box that is supposed to be used for bodies. Forget about equipment to check BP, this ambulance had spades and a jar to store diesel.
The decent look of another ambulance running on expressway raised hopes that it would be better. But even this ambulance (GJ-23 V 3119) had only one stretcher that can carry only one patient. While there was a single paramedic present and the ambulance even had an oxygen cylinder, but it did not have a regulator that the staffer said had gone for repairs. Ambubag, spinal collar and other equipment were missing even in this ambulance.
Piyush Patel, project manager of Gujarat Construction Company (GCC), which manages NH-8 stretch between Vasad and Ahmedabad, initially refused to admit that it was their ambulance that was being used at Vasad toll plaza. When countered, Patel admitted that their ambulance was ill-equipped. But the only argument he had was that “it may just be a coincidence” that the ambulance did not carry the equipment on Friday.
A NHAI official, looking after the expressway, told TOI that it was only last month that the ambulance managed by Hyderabad-based Ramky Infrastructure Limited on expressway was equipped with oxygen cylinder after he instructed the service provider to do so. “We have hired consultants who have to report to us if the services are not at par. We will surely look into the details and ensure that the best is provided,” the official said.
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