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The Fire Services Department (FSD) will provide post-despatch advice, including first aid advice and time saving advice, for some emergency ambulance calls, commencing May 1, to further enhance the emergency ambulance services, an FSD spokesman said today (April 12).
"Simple first aid advice will be provided to callers for three types of emergency ambulance call so that patients will receive appropriate immediate treatment prior to the arrival of the ambulance crew to reduce the opportunity of having the condition got worse," the spokesman said.
The three types of emergency ambulance call are bleeding; dislocation or fracture in limbs and burn, which are common household injuries.
He said the personnel of the Fire Services Communications Centre (FSCC) would only provide the advice to callers after the despatch of ambulances, so would not cause any delay to the provision of emergency services.
The spokesman said personnel providing the post-despatch advice should have acquired knowledge in first aid and skills in operating communication control panels. He added that FSCC members were capable of providing post-despatch advice to callers, as they had been trained on ambulance aid as well as mobilising and communication skills.
"Callers may decide whether or not to accept and follow the advice. It is on voluntary basis.
"On the other hand, if the FSCC personnel doubt the ability of the caller, such as a child, who may not be able to follow the advice, they would not proceed to do so," the spokesman said.
He added that FSCC personnel would also advise callers some time saving advice so as to facilitate the ambulance crew's work upon arrival, such as bringing along patients' medication, and opening doors to wait for the emergency crew.
Ends/Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 21:28
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