Paramedics to quit ambulances for bikes?

02 August, 2008, 06:05

Hundreds of ambulances get stuck in heavy traffic in Russia every day. Precious moments are lost and some paramedics are reaching their patients too late. An idea of motorcycle ambulances could beat the gridlock.

Car crashes and motorcycle smashes are responsible for more than 36,000 deaths in Russia every year – that’s one hundred people per day.

But many fatalities could be prevented if emergency aid could get to the scene on time.

Yuliya Ivanova, an ambulance worker, says sometimes drivers just don’t let the ambulances through.

“The longer it takes for the ambulance to come, the heavier the consequences may be,” she adds.

Vladimir Minin was in an accident in 2004. It took 40 minutes for the ambulance to arrive. So severe were his injuries doctors thought they would have to amputate his legs.

Now fully recovered, he’s spearheading a campaign for motorcycle ambulances.

“It’s more important to help a person right there on the site than taking him to a hospital. Those first minutes after an accident are absolutely critical,” Minin says.

He’s put together a business plan for the project, but says the red tape is just too thick.

“No one is taking me seriously so far. Some officials just want to make money on the project. So we would have to budget 100% in bribes, even though this is a social project that will lower the number of deaths on the road. But I won’t give up,” Minin says.

He does however have the support of others who have suffered.