First Time in India- 30 Bike Ambulances Launched in Karnataka

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Mangaluru: Pretty soon in Mangaluru you’ll be hearing two-wheelers blare out ambulance sirens! But do ensure they have the right of way, as these bikers would be zipping by to save the life of needy patients. First Responder Bike Ambulance has been recently launched in Bengaluru, and Mangaluru will be getting one of these bikes too. For the first time in the country, ‘Bike Ambulances’ service was launched on 15 April 2015 in Bengaluru. Out of 30 Avenger 220CC bikes, modified into two-wheeler ambulances that will hit the road in the State, 21 of them will serve in Bengaluru, while the rest nine of them will split between Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Huballi-Dharwad, Davangere, Tumakuru, Vijayapura and Shivamogga districts, where accidents are on the rise. Each of these places will get one bike ambulance.

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The first two-wheeler Bike Ambulance ‘First Responder Bikes’ was flagged off by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah in front of Vidhana Soudha here this morning at a function held under the aegis of the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The two-wheeled ambulances, which will reach the patients and accident victims stuck in congested areas or roads with heavy traffic, is equipped with first-aid kits and oxygen cylinders while the rider will be a trained paramedic with a driving licence. The 30 First Responder Bikes, launched alongside the already existing 711 ‘Arogya Kavacha’108 Ambulances, placed at hot spots in the cities, is expected to reach the scene of the accident within “Platinum 10” minutes to provide care to the affected.

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Minister for Health and Family Welfare, UT Khader speaking to the reporters said, ” This Bike Ambulance service is to serve the patients and accident victims stuck in congested areas or roads having heavy traffic. This novel initiative, being undertaken by Karnataka ahead of other states, and we hope that the service will be helpful and effective. The paramedic will reach the spot in ten minutes and give first aid and start resuscitation measures to save the victim till the four-wheeler ambulance arrives. Each bike ambulance will carry 40 medical items, including stethoscope, pulse oxymeter, bandages and IV normal saline, apart from 53 basic drugs. The government has spent nearly Rs. 2 lakh on each bike ambulance” he added.

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“As soon as the control room gets information about any accident, information about the traffic situation on that route will be analyzed through GPS If the traffic is heavy or if it is found that it is out of reach for 108 vehicles, bike ambulances will be dispatched. Once first aid is provided, and if the injured person is in a condition that he can undertake motor bike travel, he would be taken to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, he would be shifted to the hospital through either 108 ambulance of other vehicle,’ Khader explained.

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‘We have already written to the home and urban development departments to earmark separate lanes for the movement of 108 ambulances in main roads in the city towards ensuring that patients reach the hospitals at the shortest period, which will go a long way in saving lives,’ he said. The minister also said that the government is also planning to use helicopters for serving the needy in emergency cases. ‘This service will also begin from this city. As helipads are not available in all the hospitals, we are discussing the practicability of providing helipads to them at the government’s expense, after holding discussions with private firms,’ he explained.

“We have 40 trained paramedics who are also good at riding bikes, who will be entrusted the task of attending to patients. The service will be managed by the GVK EMRI which presently runs the 108 four-wheeler ambulance service. In metropolitan cities, it is not a viable option to have a separate path designed for ambulance. Thus, we decided to have bike ambulance to attend to emergency cases. Nearly 50-per cent of the accident cases ought to be treated on the spot. About 10-15 per cent need early intervention and those will be attended on priority basis,” he said.

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A list of 53 drugs will be packed in the of Rear Top Box of the bike. A Portable Oxygen Cylinder, Glucometer, LED torch, Finger tip pulse Oximeter, Nebulizer, Digital BP Apparatus, Laryngoscope, Ambu bags Adult, Ambu bags Paediatric, masks, Roller bandage gauge and cotton rolls are among the medical equipment that the bikes will carry.


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