As South Africans take to the roads to their vacation destinations or to visit family and loved ones over this Easter holiday season, emergency services provider Netcare 911 has announced that it has embarked on a project to upgrade the design of its ambulances ahead of the holiday season in order to further improve the safety of its patients, other road users and its emergency services personnel.<\/p>\n
\u201cNetcare 911 will once again be mobilising its full complement of personnel and emergency vehicles to assist South Africans around the country in the unfortunate event that they have a medical emergency,\u201d said Shalen Ramduth, director of business development and support services for Netcare 911.<\/p>
According to Ramduth, most of the changes to the vehicles have to do with improving their visibility on the roads.<\/p>\n
\u201cTime is of the essence in a medical emergency and it is, therefore, critical for our ambulances to get to the scene as rapidly as possible.<\/p>
\u201cTo achieve this safely, other road users need to be aware of, and to give way to, these emergency vehicles.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have consequently added additional warning lights to the vehicles,\u201d said Ramduth.<\/p>\n
The brand new ambulances, seven of which have already been delivered to Netcare 911, have been fitted with a large protective bull-bar, as well as floodlights that can be used to light an accident scene or other emergency scenes where this may be necessary, especially at night.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe siren units have been fitted on to the bullbar for maximum audio benefit to road users so that the ambulance siren can be heard from a distance.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdditional LED cluster lights have been added to the bullbar at a 45-degree angle to enhance visibility through intersections,\u201d said Ramduth.<\/p>\n
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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Child airlifted to hospital after Homestead accident<\/a><\/p>\n Three dead, five injured in N3 highway collision in Germiston<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ramduth added that Netcare 911 uses purpose-built Volkswagen T6s to meet its exacting ambulance requirements.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing is left to chance in the design of these vehicles, which are equipped with the latest in emergency medical, navigation and communication technologies.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ambulance has a large cabin area, which gives our emergency services personnel plenty of space in which to care for their patients efficiently and ensures maximum patient comfort during transport.<\/p>\n \u201cThe VW T6 also offers excellent stability, occupant safety, reliability and performance.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of our new vehicles will be developed to the new design specifications,\u201d said Ramduth.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are at all times looking to ensure that the patients in our care are provided with the highest quality and safest emergency medical care.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will, as always, be on high alert over this holiday season.<\/p>\n \u201cShould you find yourself in a position where people are in need of urgent medical attention please do not hesitate to call us on 082 911.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za <\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n