A specialised Bahrain water ambulance service could be introduced for the first time to treat, transport and care for anyone taken ill or suffering injury whilst out at sea.
The Northern Municipal Council unanimously approved during its meeting yesterday, at its headquarters in Budaiya, a proposal by Mohammed Al Dossary to operate a service in the waters surrounding the island.
Dubai Ambulance Foundation launched its ‘maritime ambulance project’ in 2015. Its marine ambulances contain the latest advanced emergency equipment and, the meeting heard, similar services are provided in Sweden, the UK, El Salvador and Italy.
“Water ambulances would uplift the provision of emergency health services in the country,” said Mr Al Dossary. “They would have a highly medically-trained squad of professionals on board, whose job would be to provide assistance to those in the water, knowing that every second counts,” he added.
“There are lives that have been lost because such medical services were not available, despite rescue operations being conducted by Coastguard personnel.
“We don’t necessarily need to replicate Dubai’s project, we could learn from them and introduce our own version.”
He suggested solar-powered water ambulances could provide a cost effective option for the kingdom, with alternative sources of energy available as back up.
“I believe this could make full use of natural resources, reduce energy consumption, save costs and avoid the risk of polluting the sea,” added the campaigning councillor.
Mr Al Dossary said professional water ambulance medical teams would have to be equipped with advanced life support equipment such as respirators, defibrillators and medications.
“The crew could consist of an emergency nurse, two primary care technicians responsible for loading and unloading patients, alongside the water ambulance pilot,” he suggested. “And, an emergency medic could be summoned on board to handle ‘code red’ life-threatening calls.
“The water ambulances would be equipped with blue flashing lights, sirens, two-way radios and radar.”
The cost of running such a service has not be revealed.
The latest drowning incident reported by the GDN involved the body of a 34-year-old Bahraini being recovered in May last year by the Coastguard.
The proposal has been forwarded to Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak to refer to Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Health Minister Dr Jalila Al Sayyed.
The National Ambulance comes directly under emergency services provided by the Interior Ministry, while general ambulances and medical assistance are provided through the Health Ministry.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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