1,500 trained ambulance volunteers in Dubai soon

dubai — At least 1,500 welltrained and qualified volunteers specialised in ambulance aid will be available by 2020, according to officials.

The volunteers will help disperse gathered public from around the injured person and communicate with the call centre of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) and operations room after describing the condition of the injured to the paramedics.

Officials from DCAS and Community Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday discussed the means of implementing the first aid voluntary programme.

A meeting between officials

The programme contributes to streamlining the voluntary process of first aid work in the emirate, and to roll out principles and values that govern its execution.”

Khalifa bin Darai, executive director of DCAS

also discussed the legal responsibility of volunteers and to what extent they will be questioned on the first aid errors which could happen.

“The programme contributes to streamlining the voluntary process of first aid work in the emirate, and to roll out principles and values that govern its execution on each and every volunteer who provides the first aid or undergoes training on first aid,” said Khalifa bin Darai, executive director of DCAS.

The objective of promulgating the law, according to him, is to encourage the sense of initiative and positive participation of the members of the society, contribute to the society and save lives of the patients by reducing emergency response time.

Abdul Karim Gulfar, directorgeneral of CDA, said the law would be enforced soon in two parts: the first for volunteers who are specialised in medical field or licensed ones; the second for social voluntary work in first aid, determined by certain roles to be played by volunteers.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com