HMC's Ambulance Service operations expanded during winter camping season

In this camping season, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)’s Ambulance Service has expanded its special operations to different beach areas of the country. In any case of an emergency it has helped in transporting patients to the nearest HMC hospitals at the earliest, said Ali Darwish, Assistant Executive Director of the Ambulance Service. 

Traditionally, Ambulance Service supports HMC’s Sealine Medical Clinic working closely with other government entities to provide high-quality healthcare services to campers in the Sealine resort and surrounding areas. 

“As of today, Ambulance Service not only offer services to the Sealine beach area but also to other beach areas around the country,” said Ali Darwish told The Peninsula. 

The service has expanded from Sealine area to several beach areas including Dukhan, Al Ghariya, Al Khor and Simaisma, due to the increase of visitors during the 2021-2022 winter camping season. 

According to Ali Darwish, air ambulance helicopters, paramedics, critical care paramedics, rapid response paramedics, supervisors, liaison officers and operations managers will also be dispatched by the Events and Emergency Preparedness Section at the Ambulance Service according to its predetermined operations plans to ensure optimum ambulance service coverage in Sealine area during the camping season.

He said that Ambulance Service coverage in the Sealine area operates 24/7. During weekends Ambulance Service operates with regular ambulance, critical care service, life-flight and 4x4 vehicles, which are deployed for transporting patients from the sand dune areas to either the clinic, a standard ambulance vehicle, or to the helipad.

 “In other areas Ambulance service operates depending on the number of incidents,” he said. 

He also said that due to the expansion of Ambulance Service operations to different beach areas patients are transported to HMC’s hospitals in Al Wakrah, Al Khor and Dukhan instead of all being transported to Hamad General Hospital. 

“This has helped to reduce the patient load at Hamad General Hospital,” said Ali Darwish.

Speaking about number of cases during the winter camping season, he said, “There is a clear reduction in number of fatality due to awareness created among the public and various restrictions and rules.” 

With the pandemic still in place, campers are urged to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures, including social distancing, wearing masks, regular handwashing, and to take safety precautions seriously.