UAE | Emergencies

Ambulance service: Every second counts in saving a life

The sight of an ambulance with its siren on and flickering red and blue lights stuck on a busy road is a recurring scene.

  • By Jumana Al Tamimi, Associate Editor, Gulf News
  • Published: 00:00 February 21, 2011
  • Gulf News

Ambulance
  • Image Credit: Javed Nawab/Gulf News
  • "An ambulance on the way means someone’s life is in danger," the campaign says.
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Dubai: Imagine this scenario. You have severe chest pain and can't breathe. The car rushing you to hospital is stuck on a congested road with several traffic lights and motorists refuse to give way. Every second counts but each one seems like hours.

Have you ever imagined yourself in such a situation? Have you ever seen an ambulance stuck on a congested road and wondered how serious the situation is?

 

The sight of an ambulance with its siren on and flickering red and blue lights stuck on a busy road is a recurring scene. The authorities in Dubai are going all out to provide prompt medical service without being hampered by inconsiderate motorists who often refuse to give way and, in some cases, follow the ambulance, hoping to find an easy way out of the traffic jam. The number of calls from people seeking medical help topped 76,000 last year.

"We want to pass on the information that the way of ambulances should not be obstructed," said Khalifa Hassan Al Darrai, Executive Director of Dubai Corporation of Ambulance Services (DCAS), which has nearly 70 ambulances on duty.

He added that motorists' behaviour is one of the main obstacles facing the life savers on the road.

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Last week, Dubai launched its biggest campaign aiming to promote awareness of the importance of keeping the road clear for ambulances that are often racing against time to take a critically ill patient to hospital.

Many languages

"An ambulance on the way means someone's life is in danger," the campaign says. It includes advertisements in many languages, and distribution of promotional material in 15 shopping centres around Dubai.

"Every now and then we run a similar campaign, but this is [the first] on such a large scale and outreach," Al Darrai told Gulf News.

The one-week campaign entitled "Give way to ambulance" was organised by the DCAS, Dubai Police and Prime Medical Centre.

"We can do our job if people cooperate and help us do our job," Neil Kirby, Ambulance Operation Director at DCAS told Gulf News in an interview. "This is what the campaign is all about."

Asked about the main challenge an ambulance driver faces on the street, Kirby said, "It is going into the minds of the other drivers and to sense what they are thinking. I really commend our drivers for the great job they do. They have to predict what every car will do."

While many motorists blame traffic congestion on the roads for blocking the way of ambulances, officials said in extremely critical cases, there is an agreement between Dubai police and the ambulance service for a traffic officer or a patrol to accompany an ambulance, to guarantee its quick passage until it reaches the hospital safely. In other more intricate emergencies, helicopters could also be involved in the process.

However, other than in an emergency, an ambulance will never run a red light. "We have a policy for ambulances not to run a red light because we have two considerations, one is to get to the hospital quickly and the other part is to do it safely," Kirby said. "The safest thing to do is to wait at the intersection until it is clear and then proceed."

However, he added, "If the police are with us, control the intersection and guarantee our safety, we will cross." In many countries, obstructing an emergency vehicle is sufficient reason for arrest. In Dubai, officials noted, it is allowed to run a red light to clear the way for an ambulance in the absence of other options. But this is subject to police verification.

Do you give way to ambulances? What are the main reasons why people do not let ambulances pass?

Comments (8)

  1. Added 12:39 February 21, 2011

    Actually the authorities should take some responsibility here. In the U.K. If you are stuck at a red traffic light and an ambulance or emergency service comes up flashing, a driver will not think twice, will manoever past it and allow the vehicle to pass. Further to the point, a motorist maybe prosecuted for not moving out of the way when being alerted to do so by an obvious flashing police car or ambulance etc... Over here, it is different. I believe that a driver would still be fined for crossing a light even to allow an ambulance or police past. Even if this is not the case, there is no awareness. I believe that motorists feel they should in fact remain as they are when in front of a red traffic light for fear of committing an offence. The authorities need to make it clear whether a driver in front of a red traffic light should remain idol or move when an emergency service is behind them.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 11:47 February 21, 2011

    I try my best to move as much right as possible when I see the ambulance. And I request other drivers to please please show some humanity and move your vehicles to make way for Ambulances. God forbid someday you or your loved ones were to travel in that, then you will understand how much precious is each minute at that time.

    Nadeem, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 11:09 February 21, 2011

    There is nothing more precious than a life. It's a totally inhuman act on part of those who dont let the ambulances through. While on the road everyone should be always attentive and look out for any such events taking place. If you are maintaining a proper distance between cars, it will be much easier to accommodate such emergencies. The statement "The only difference between life and death may be YOU", literally sends electric jolts across the body. I request all readers to practice themselves as well as educate others around you to give way to Ambulances as well as other service vehicles in emergencies.

    Shoaib Irshad, Abu dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 10:12 February 21, 2011

    I do not agree for whats stated in the newspaper article with regards to people not giving way to the ambulance. I live on Sheikh Zayed Road and my balcony view faces the highway. Accidents are frequent occurence taking place on the highway and I always seen the motorist giving way to the ambulance and police vehicles inspite of all the bumper to bumper trafffic. I always seen these vehicle go out of sight gradually in approximately 5min.

    Shoaib Khan, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  5. Added 09:49 February 21, 2011

    I think people are either not aware of the importance of ambulance on the road or careless to move aside, this is because the ambulance is now privatize once they see police take control of this emergency services, all will abide by the law........as in previous days any accident in the path of the ambulance is guilty who obstructs the path!

    Anonymous, dubai, United Arab Emirates

  6. Added 09:35 February 21, 2011

    I have a question for the Police. Suppose I have stopped at trafic light and behind me there is a Amubulance, there is nto enough space for the Ambulnace to pass without me crossing while the signal is still red. Is that an offence? Readers views welcome. Thanks

    Mousa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  7. Added 09:15 February 21, 2011

    I saw on my way so many times the same situation and i thought by my self i wish the people who dont give way to the ambulance will be inside by them self one day, i learn in driving school that you have to move on the right side if you see or hear an ambulance and in my country you will get a fine if you disturb them and dont give way. But what i here see is that everyone afraid someone else take his way and drive in front him. that's a ruthless and ignorant behavior> so people just imagine that you need this car one day and seconds are deciding. And to all others who dont care i hope you will be fined and your license confiscated for all time of your life!

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  8. Added 08:19 February 21, 2011

    UAE is still better then our countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan etc which are full of jam for an ambulance to reach the house & hospital takes minimum 1.5 housr. But I believe every driver in UAE should be more responsible at least if not for their sake but for the sake of others who are fighting life and death and for them every seconds & minutes make a big difference. When I studied in Lincoln, Nebraska (USA) I learned a very good habit, when any driver while driving sees any ambulance, fire-brigade or police vehicle with their sirens on, the driver should immediately slow down their vehicles if required with hazard lights on and move to the side and stop. All vehicles surrounding that area who can easily see any emergency vehicle including two way roads and four way junctions should stop, green traffic lights are not applicable near Emergency Vehicles. By this, Lincoln had a good statistical report that any Emergency Vehicle reached any area within less then 8 mins. I am sure if something like this could be implemented, might help us a lot. But people need to understand no matter what the mood of a driver is, stressed or relaxed they need to be patient because their action is also saving someone's life and this will be followed by others, keeping in mind if tomorrow they can be in an ambulance too. We can all be in peace when we can all start thinking about others.

    Zubair, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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