THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE WILL BEGIN a trial period using paramedics on mountain bikes in heavily populated shopping areas. Using a scheme similar to those in use in some other UK cities, they have started in the Cardiff city center during normal business times of 9 am to 7 pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The trial is expected to run for six weeks. If it is successful, it will be expanded to other Welsh cities.
[photopress:london_paramedic_bike.jpg,full,centered]
London paramedic bike
The mounted paramedics carry 50 lbs of equipment in panniers, including a mini-defibrillator for heart attack patients, and a resuscitation kit, cardiac arrest and chest drugs, and a full first-aid kit. One of the paramedics says:
“In our first seven shifts we attended 28 calls and reached three of them in four minutes, the rest we got to even faster, five of them while the caller was still on the phone.
“The most important benefit is that we can get to the patient’s side really quickly even if they in one of the arcades or in a large store.
“With the traffic and huge amount of building works going on in the city centre it’s much more difficult for an ambulance – but a cyclist can just filter through.
“It’s also gone down very well with the public. They can see us on duty with our bikes and many have said what a fantastic idea it is.”
The South Wales Echo has the full STORY.
Recent Comments