ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Highway Authority (NHA) is taking concrete measures to put up first aid facilities on national highways and motorways to efficiently help out the road users in emergency.
As part of such efforts, an official source revealed the NHA had constructed trauma center building at Pir Khara Sharif on motorway M-2 but the requisite staff and equipment could not be procured due to having no expertise on the subject.
The official adds first aid services would be provided under Emergency Response Center (ERC), including to manage patients with minor injuries, protecting patients from life threatening injures and shift to a major hospital and to stabilize patient before shifting etc.
Other services would include recovery vehicle with crane mounted mobile workshop, fire extinguisher and steel cutter or spare sparts.
Moreover, one center is being operated on M-9 at Nooriabad by FWO and that emergency response centers’ locations on Motorways are Mardan (Rashakai), Service Area Chakari, Service area Kallar Kahar, service area Bhera, Service Area Sial More, Service area Sukhekhi and Nooriabad.
In addition, the source added contacts had been established with Rescue 1122 (Punjab) to see the possibilities of their services on National Highways.
The DG Rescue1122 has principally agreed to provide the operation of ambulance service on National Highways.
In other provinces likewise emergency services provides and health departments were being coordinated for the establishment of ERC, the source added.
The cost of civil works for the construction of single unit emergency response centers is estimated at Rs 10 million, approximately whereas the complete unit was likely to cost Rs 15-18 million.
The source also added motorway police had been equipped with 50 cameras to monitor vehicles’ speed on motorway during night which would help minimize chances of accidents.
However, he added, since the devices were sophisticated, the wardens were being trained to make them conversant with the new technology.
He added tracking-system installed vehicles were at the disposal of the motorway police and they had been directed not to pull up for more than 30 minutes at any point to keep patrolling all along to facilitate commuters.
He also underlined the need for the government to provide assistance for establishing training colleges across the country to impart training to more wardens in line with present day’s requirements.
