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Published on October 27, 2007

Surachet Satitniramai said part of the plan was to train the 45,020 rescue volunteers nationwide registered with the ministry. They will receive training at least once a month to improve their life-saving skills, including checking breathing, dealing with serious bleeding and fitting neck collars.

Provincial offices of the Public Health Ministry will evaluate the volunteers, and those who fail will not have their registration renewed.

The ministry would work with local and provincial administrations to extend the network of emergency medical services at the local level.

"We can save victims' lives if we reach them as soon as possible," he said.

According to ministry records, 60,000 people die in emergencies and road accidents each year. The ministry expects that if rescue teams reach victims within an hour 6,000-18,000 lives could be saved.

Minister Mongkol na Songkhla has proposed to the government a national emergency response centre with an easily memorised hotline number for the public to call and report accidents.

Phones will be manned by trained staff who will ask callers about the condition of the victims before dispatching a rescue team to reach the accident site within 10 minutes.

The ministry also plans to install a rapid communication network at 9,000 primary healthcare units nationwide.

The National Health Security Office has allocated Bt558 million for the project.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation