Dial helpline to ensure ambulance reaches hospital within golden hour

In an effort to reduce the inconveniences of the patients on busy roads, the Navi Mumbai traffic department launched a new initiative- ‘give way to ambulance’ on Friday.

From now on, if an ambulance driver or any family member of a patients calls on the traffic helpline number 7738393839 and informs about the route to the hospital in advance, the police will clear the road at all traffic signals for the ambulance like they do for VIPs. This will reduce the travel time and also help the patient in reaching hospital in the golden hours.

Radhee Disaster and Education Foundation and Shriram Transport Finance Company Ltd are supporting the police in this effort.

“Several patients die every year as the ambulances cannot reach hospitals on time because of traffic jams. At times patients have to go from one hospital to another due to shortage of beds. It deteriorates the scenario further,” said Arvind Salve, deputy commissioner of police (traffic). Now we will also coordinate with the hospital authorities and ensure seat for a patient, if we are informed in advance. Our official will take help of Google map in the tracing to the route to the hospital,” he said.

Dr Rita Savla, director of Radhee Foundation, said, “Since motorists do not give way, the ambulance drivers have to drive in a zigzag way and it reduces the speed of the vehicle. Therefore it is very important to create awareness among the people.” “Common motorists should lower their speed and move to left so that ambulances can reach the hospital without any hindrance. We are also taking numerous steps for educating the masses about it,” she added.

Navi Mumbai police commissioner KL Prasad said that nearly 55,000 people are carried to hospitals by ambulances every year. “With this initiative we want to save as many lives as possible. We have also asked the toll naka officials to keep a separate lane for ambulances so that patients do not have to suffer.”

BACHCHAN KUMAR Dr Rita Savla, director, Radhee Foundation and Navi Mumbai police commissioner KL Prasad at the Navi Mumbai traffic department initiative ‘Give way to ambulance’.