The Ambulance Service at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has set and implemented an effective plan for any potential emergencies during the Eid Al Fitr holidays. Many ambulances and paramedics are on standby as people enjoy long holidays.
Assistant Executive Director of the Ambulance Service, Ali Darwish, said that the plan will be implemented in the first four days of the Eid holidays. A total of 115 ambulances, as well as critical care paramedics, bicycles, and golf carts, are on standby across the country.
Speaking to The Peninsula yesterday, Darwish said, “We aim to provide people with easy access to effective care during the holidays and the special distribution of ambulances and paramedics will be implemented until the fourth day of Eid.”
According to him, more ambulances are deployed at places that are predicted to attract more people and traffic such as beach areas in Sealine, Gahariya, Al Wakra, Semaisima, and the Corniche. Bicycles and golf carts are assigned at places like the Souq Waqif, Aspire Zone, and Katara.
“The Ambulance Service is also deployed at the Hamad International Airport and Abu Samra border as many people are expected to travel during the Eid holidays,” said Darwish. Three Lifeflights – air ambulances of the Ambulance Service transport more critical cases.
The Ambulance Service received 260 calls on the second day of Eid Al Fitr; among those 41 were minor traumas, seven road traffic accidents, and one person has been transferred to a hospital by an air ambulance from the Sealine area, according to Darwish.
“Although there is a slight increase in the number of cases compared to the first day of Eid, all cases were minor and moderate; none of the cases were critical,” he said adding that all cases were transferred to HMC hospitals for treatment.
Darwish also urged the public to take precautions and keep safe while going to beaches and taking part in sports events and other activities; he also asked parents to keep children safe during the holiday activities.
“We ask the public to keep safe while enjoying the Eid holidays; follow traffic rules and give way to ambulances on the roads,” he said.
HMC’s Paediatric Emergency Centers operate 24 hours throughout the holiday period the main PEC in Al Sadd received yesterday 808 cases and three were seen at the Paediatric Emergency Department at Sidra Medicine due to different medical and trauma emergencies. The number showed a decrease compared to the first day of Eid.
All emergency and inpatient services across HMC’s network of hospitals operate as usual, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
