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Hong Kong Ambulance Service
In 2000, the Hong Kong Ambulance Service (which is commanded by the Hong Kong Fire Services Department) responded to 520,160 emergency calls, 92% of which required patient transport to a hospital. That is an average of 1,445 calls a day! There are a total of 212 ambulances in Hong Kong. Around 31% of these are paramedical ambulances, mobilized around Hong Kong, all ready to respond to an emergency. Dialing 999 in Hong Kong When you dial 999 and request an ambulance, you set off a chain of events.
Whether it is serious or not, an ambulance is almost always dispatched. What to Expect The Hong Kong Ambulance Service tries their best during an emergency, however the statistics for survival are not impressive in Hong Kong. The ambulance service pledges to be on-scene 12 minutes after the call has been received. While that may seem like a short time, it is far too long for patients experiencing life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrest.
With delayed response times and the lack of help from the general public, Hong Kong's cardiac arrest survival rate is a mere 1.6% - very low when compared to world standards. Congested streets and high-rise buildings compound the problem of ambulancemen being delayed while trying to reach a patient. What You Should Do
For Cardiac Arrest, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) must be commenced within 3-5 minutes to preserve vital brain cells from dying. It should be understood that doing only CPR compressions, and foregoing mouth-to-mouth breathing, is an acceptable alternative if the bystander cannot bring himself/herself to breathe into the patient in fear of contracting a disease. (However, the risk is minimal). Some CPR is better than no CPR! Get yourself trained and certified in First Aid & CPR ! The general public in Hong Kong should be encouraged to attend First Aid and CPR programs. Your Response Plan
Companies and organizations should consider purchasing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for placement in their buildings. Public venues should also be encouraged to purchase these devices. A recent law in the United States mandates the placement of AEDs in all Federal buildings. These easy-to-use defibrillators are designed specifically for the bystander responder; minimal training is required. By installing an AED you will help maximize the chances of survival during a cardiac arrest. The cost of an AED is only as much as two high-end computers. Training and future of the Ambulance service
Paramedical ambulancemen receive further training in manual defibrillation, intubation and emergency drug therapy. Hong Kong undoubtedly has a fine ambulance service. However, the public must take more steps in preparing and responding to an emergency if we are to expect changes in current statistics. As Hong Kong continues to grow, the ambulance service will also change to meet the demands of this energetic Asian city. Ambulancemen are highly trained and proud individuals. The general public should refrain from using the term 'ambulance driver' to address the ambulancemen. To some them, this term is very derogatory, as the last "ambulance driver" left his job...in 1945 at the end of World War 2 ! ( Contributions from Mark LIAO) |
Hong Kong, China an exciting, busy and congested Asian city. Inevitably, accidents happen. When they do, citizens rely on the Hong Kong Ambulance Service by dialing '999'
Your 999 call is quickly transferred to the Ambulance Command Center where a dispatcher will ask you for information about the emergency. If the dispatcher believes it is an extremely serious emergency, he or she may send for an ambulance motorcycle to get medical care to your location faster.
One study cites that only 8% of cardiac arrest victims in Hong Kong received bystander CPR. Even with CPR, a shock to the heart from a defibrillator (which all HK ambulances have) is needed within 10 minutes to optimize chances of successful resuscitation.
As soon as you hang the telephone up after dialing 999, immediately send a bystander to meet the ambulance. This will help minimize confusion when the ambulance arrives. If the ambulance cannot find your location, the command center will call you. For this reason, make sure you give your phone number, especially if you are using a mobile phone.
Many places in Hong Kong do not have an emergency response plan. What would you do if an emergency happened in your office or your own home? Make up a response plan in English and Chinese and display it in an easy to see location.
Ambulancemen in Hong Kong undergo a comprehensive 24-week training course and are rigorously tested in procedures such as CPR, ambulance first aid, automated external