Ambulance is a Blessing, not a Curse

Total number of people served: 5468482. Total number of pregnant women served: 1754019. Surprised? These numbers are often found to generate astonishment. This is the count of patients that have been successfully attended to by 108, serviced by Ziqitza in about 17 states. With over 1200 ambulances, Ziqitza works on a Public Private Partnership with the Government under the National Health Mission (NHM). Stereotypically however, ambulances have always been associated with negativity. Perhaps, it is due to their earlier inefficacy, when ambulances were mostly considered to be hearses. The situation today fortunately, is quite different. It’s the age of breaking myths and stereotypes and 108 services have been up to the same goal. By providing professional medical care, 108 Emergency Services have created a resonance among the national community about their prompt delivery of emergency medicine.

Today, when one hears the siren of an ambulance, more often than not, panic is witnessed. One feels sorry and afraid. 108 services are trying to build a positive sentiment around emergency healthcare. They are the superheroes who ensure quick transport and facilitate medical care through mobile services, equipped with trained staff and other emergency medical apparatus. 108 Emergency Services is a one stop solution for emergency healthcare. If a person around you requires immediate medical help, pick your phone and call 108 Ambulance Services, and all the care required to ensure that the patient gets necessary medical attention is ensured. 108 Services are a 3 step service. From the caller to the tele-operator and to the Dispatcher, who loops in doctors and the Police, if need be. The Dispatcher also uses GPS system to track the nearest hospital to make certain that quick medical treatment is received by the patient. This accelerates the process, by ensuring that the documentation required for the treatment to progress, is in place. The doctor’s advice also ensures accurate medical examination of the patient’s condition so the equipment required could be taken note of. This in turn, helps the dispatcher send the ambulance with all the requisite medical equipment to the location of the patient. 108 Ambulance Services are also completely free of cost, including the first aid medicine that might be needed for the patient while he’s being transported.

Drop a wish when you hear an ambulance. Pray for the patient, no doubt. Move your car or bike away from the ambulance’s path to make way. But in the back of your mind, know that your wishes are being brought into full force by the 108 Services. The 108 Ambulance service is on the job, day and night saving lives off the roads, from homes, offices and so many other locations. 108 is here to listen to your needs and expects you to help it reach all the people who need immediate medical care. The team is making an effort to let no prayer go unheard and take up every patient’s life as though it were their own. 108 is trying to expand from urban areas to the rural, at the fastest rate possible, since the distance to hospitals from villages is more of a challenge. But challenges are thrown only so that they can be overcome. Ambulance today is a blessing; it’s the only way through which a mobile emergency unit comes to the patient’s rescue, just a call away, with all the apparatus required for the patient’s well-being. The next time you hear an ambulance, be sure to smile and make way. And the next time you see a person in need of emergency, be sure to give 108 a call. Help make the world better.

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The Working Process of 108 Ambulance Services in India

Ambulance services in India have been functional since the 2000’s. More often than not however, emergency healthcare has been in debates for the wrong reasons. As of 2014, 22 million people in Delhi had a mere 152 state-run ambulances. The government has, through Public Private Partnerships and other means, tried to improve various aspects to the existing situation. The lack of frequency, dearth of trained medical practitioners on board and inadequate equipment has seen a steady improvement from over a decade. Since 2005, Ziqitza has strived to make 108 Ambulance services in India synonymous with efficient emergency medicine. Till date, Ziqitza operates with over 1200 ambulances in various parts of the country. Its training programmes that are used to maintain an on board crew, is certified by LIHS. Calls are free of cost as well, for all the regions in the country where 108 services are available.

108 Ambulance Services in India is the most professional ambulance service in the country. Due to its prompt and highly recommended service, 108 successfully delivers emergency medical solutions to around 17 states. The processes and work pattern of 108 Ambulance service in India is known for its quick and professional delivery. These are the steps that Ziqitza’s Professional Ambulance services follows in order to continually provide commendable delivery in the field of emergency healthcare: 

1)Once the patient or any member in close proximity to the patient (in case of emergency situations or otherwise) gives a call to 108, he/she is welcomed by a call taker. The call taker will take quick information and forward the call to the Dispatcher. 

2)The Dispatcher will then note details regarding the location, the kind of emergency and number of people requiring immediate medical attention. The dispatcher then uses GPS technology to locate the nearest ambulance to the patient. The dispatcher will also have a doctor on call to ensure the ambulance with necessary equipment is provided. If and when needed, the dispatcher contacts the Police Station in order to ensure a fast process of documentation required for treatment of the patient. 

3)Ziqitza’s professional ambulance services ensure the speedy process in order to deliver the services that are promised. The ambulance, along with necessary equipment and required medical staff arrives at the mentioned location, in order to serve the patient in need. 

The ambulance is equipped with emergency facilities such as Advance Life Support (ALS), cardiac monitors, oxygen cylinders and other life saving apparatus. The service also includes fully trained staff on board. This ensures that the medical care is provided immediately to the critical state of patient. This service is in partnership with the National Health Mission (NHM) and is completely free of cost, despite its efficacy in transport as well as equipment and medicinal services. The picture below may give a clear idea about the call handling process that goes behind 108. 

This short working process of a 108 call has served millions of patients all over the country, so far. If you find any person in need of emergency medical care, do not hesitate. Without wasting a moment, take charge and dial 108. All necessary medical attention will be taken care of, by us. Every other moment, people die in the country due to lack of emergency medical attention. Be part of the movement and save a life. 

What you need to know about the benefits of 108 ambulance services in Punjab?

1, 39, 430 people die every year in road accidents, most of them being cases of emergency. Emergency health care has a vital role to play in the country, especially when the doctor to patient ratio is 1:1700 (as recorded by the New Indian Express). In the current context, 108 Ambulance services in Punjab have striven to connect medical resources to patients in need, in a well-managed and well equipped manner.

Pre-hospital care is as crucial as the medical treatment, in a scenario where every second can save a life. Before the formation of 108, ambulance services were extremely unreliable and prior to that, non-existent. Since 2005 the National Ambulance Service has changed the face of Indian medical care, thanks to Ziqitza Healthcare Limited and other organizations for providing assistance in being the solution to emergency healthcare.

Ziqitza Healthcare Limited has worked on its promptness since its inception; failing very rarely in providing emergency medical facilities, just a call away. What are the benefits of the 108 number in Punjab?

1.  Quick and prompt: Known for its efficiency and fast-paced delivery, Ziqitza Healthcare Limited has been one of the leading service providers in emergency healthcare. We bear in mind the importance of quick transport in providing medical aid. For emergency situations such as a heart attack, trauma or accident, 108 ambulance service in Punjab, is the solution that will come to your immediate rescue.

2.    Technology and equipment: 108 ambulance services in Punjab are equipped with Advance Life Support (ALS), cardiac monitors and lifesaving equipment, along with oxygen cylinders. Emergency medicines and an efficient crew are among other facilities that act as key differentiators.

3.    Quality care: Although ambulance services have been available since the past few years, a strong lack of trained resource has been felt. 108 ambulances have trained staff on-board to ensure good use of the equipment in place. Rigorously trained drivers are also an advantage.

4.  Emergency management system: Ambulance services in Punjab through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) have provided pre-hospital care to emergency medical cases in rural areas that are farther away from medical facilities. The on-board staff is equipped and trained to act as crisis managers in the field of emergency care.

5.    Never fails to deliver: 108 ambulance service uses the pay-per-use model, wherein one only pays at the end of the transport and for the transport charges alone. Once the call is received, our GPS tracker spots the closest ambulance and sends it to the location, ensuring delivery of emergency healthcare.

Advantages of 108 Ambulances over other Ambulances

The state roads in Punjab are notorious for the number of accidents and deaths coupled with rash driving. A 2015 report claims that on an average, 9 people die every day due to road accidents in Punjab. From July to September 2015 alone, almost 1248 people have lost their lives and more have sustained injuries. With the rate of road accidents only increasing, and keeping in mind the importance of the ‘Golden Hour’, an efficient, top quality Emergency Response Service (ERS) can save many lives.

The 108 ambulance service in Punjab, launched in 2010 as a joint effort by the State government and Ziqitza Healthcare Limited, has steadily improved the quality of emergency ambulance services with their state-of-the art mobile equipment and highly skilled medical personnel.

General ambulances usually feature a stretcher, an assistant and basic medical support to help with the transfer from home or accident spot to hospital. The lack of proper medical care has been cited as one of the leading causes of deaths, despite timely response by ERS units. As such, advanced technology and trained medical attendants have been identified as crucial components to saving lives and improving access to medical care.

The fleet of 108 ambulance services in Punjab comprises of both Advance Life Support (ALS), equipped for cardiac care support, and Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances with sophisticated features like defibrillators, cardiac monitors and suction machines, among others. The ambulances are also stocked with a variety of emergency medicines and oxygen cylinders.

The 108 Ambulance service core team consists of a driver, a doctor and a paramedic – all specially trained to respond to crisis and handle a range of critical or trauma-related cases such fever heart-attach, assault, animal bite and more. The drivers undergo rigorous training in navigating city traffic in the safest way possible. All qualified doctors and medics stationed in ALS ambulances have at least one year of ICU experience. The response team also maintains a record of all the treatment and drugs administered to the patients, in addition to the time of the accident and emergency call, and hands it over the doctor in-charge at the hospital. General ambulances lack the sophistication and safety of such systemized procedures.

One of the major advantages of the 108 ambulance service in Punjab is that any person in need of emergency help can dial the toll free number 108 and connect to specially trained communication executives who understand the nature of the emergency and can act in a solution-oriented manner immediately. These executives then locate the ambulance nearest to the site, contact the driver and guide them into reaching the site. They are response team is also briefed on the condition of the victim. Often, the doctor or the paramedic stays in touch with the patient or the people around him via phone call while the ambulance is on the way. This also helps them remain calm and avoid panic.

In comparison to this efficient and empathetic approach of 108 Ambulance Service, general ambulances are often disorganized and lack basic background information on the patient. Combined with lack of specific medical equipment, a patient’s life is put at an increased risk. On the other hand, experienced and professional medical technicians of the 108 team are able to provide quality pre-hospital care and improve chances of survival.

Everything about Swine Flu

H1N1 flu is also referred as Swine Flu, it’s also called Swine Flu because in the past people who caught it had direct contact with pigs. Eventually when a new virus emerged that spread among people who hadn’t been near pigs.

While Swine Flu isn’t scary as it seemed few years back but protection against the same is necessary.

Symptoms of Swine Flu

People who have Swine Flu can be contagious one day before one has symptoms, and as many as 7 days after they get sick. Most symptoms are same as seasonal flu

• Cough
• Fever
• Sore Throat
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Running nose

5 tips to protect against Swine Flu

• Don’t touch your face: Above all keep hands away from eyes, mouth and nose as they all act as pathways for the virus to enter your respiratory tract
• Wash your hands: Wash your hands for 20 seconds using antibacterial soaps a few times in a day
• Use a sanitizer: no sink nearby? Then use a sanitizer, they contain gel that contains alcohol in order to kill bacteria and work most effectively in quick way
• Cover your nose & mouth: When somebody sneezes or coughs, liquid droplets packing flu viruses can travel through air and descend on your nose & mouth. It is best to maintain one arm’s length while talking with somebody
• Fruits & vegetables to boost your immune system: Keep your body well nourished with healthy food comprising of fruits rich in vitamins goes a long way to fight the flu

Declining security for Elderly citizens

Many pan-India survey reveals that almost 30% of India’s elderly people are subject to some form of abuse or neglect by their families. Shockingly 47.3% of abuse against elders is committed by adult care givers, partners or family members.

According to INPEA survey, the problems of the elderly can be broadly categorized as economic, health, disability, and social. In Delhi, the survey revealed that the most prevalent health problems among the elderly related to mental handicap, orthopedic and ophthalmic problems. Loneliness, no source of income, and unemployment were also found to be widespread among Delhi's elderly.

The above mentioned startling figures make one think of the safety for senior citizens who at times are abandoned and live alone.

Few basic tips for senior citizens that will help them in mitigating these risks:

Do’s & Don’ts for Senior Citizens

• Never discuss any financial matter with your servant
• Don’t allow any friends or family of your servant to visit your house
• Make your neighbor & society know that you are staying alone
• Install a peep hole in your door and check the identity of the person before you let anybody inside your house
• Never leave spare keys in open
• Inform your society about the uninformed visitors at your home to enable them check their background
• Have all the emergency numbers handy:
• Police- 100
• Ambulance (Mumbai, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab)- 1298
• Senior Citizen Helpline- 1298
• Your family doctor
• Your neighbors number

All about Ebola Virus Disease

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a rare but deadly virus often fatal to human life. EVD kills up to 90% of people who are infected. As he virus spreads through the body it weakens the immune system and the organs.

Symptoms of EVD

EVD or Ebola fever can feel like flu or other illness and symptoms show up 2 to 21 days after the infection and usually include:

1. High fever
2. Sore throat
3. Lack of appetite
4. Weakness
5. Stomach pain
6. Joint and muscle aches

This is followed by vomiting, impaired liver and kidney function and in some cases internal & external bleeding takes over.

How it is transmitted?

It spreads to people by contact with the skin and bodily fluids, one can’t get Ebola from air, water or food.

Prevention

Few primary prevention measures have been established and no vaccine exists.

Risk of transmission is increased in the healthcare setting where the patient is treated.

1.    Wearing of protective clothing (such as masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles)

2.    Using infection-control measures (such as complete equipment sterilization and routine use of disinfectant)

3.    Isolating patients with Ebola from contact with unprotected persons

Chennai skips a heartbeat to save Mumbai woman

On 16^th June, 2014, a green corridor was created to transport a heart from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to Fortis Malar Hospital in Adyar. This seamless transport helped save a precious life. Check out the entire coverage here:

Times of India 

Times of India 

DNA

The Hindu

Yahoo! News

Business Standard

The New Indian Express

DNA

Road accidents involving children on the rise

Every alternate day we come across shocking news of young children dying in road accidents. This no doubt raises umpteen number of questions regarding child safety, children suffering due to no fault of their own and what corrective measures to be taken to avoid further such casualties.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau 20 children under the age of 14 years die daily in road accidents in India. The nearly 70 deaths between January 2013 and July 2014 are of school students. In all the instances victims were travelling in their school buses which were either hit by other vehicles or rolled down from the slope.

India has only about one percent of the world's vehicles but accounts for 10 percent of the world's road accidents. These stunning figures definitely highlight how grave the issue of child safety is in India.

According to NGO Save Life Foundation’s Founder & President Mr. Piyush Tewari school buses should come as a part of special vehicle like Ambulance unlike commercial vehicles. As this implies even a truck driver can drive the school bus which reduces the probability of sensitivity towards children riding in the bus.

Currently there are no child safety laws, few measures under the same would mitigate the risk:

-          Seat belts & helmets for child

-          An adult supervisor to be designated in all the buses who would keep a check on errant drivers

-          Drivers should undergo formal training and they would need to renew their licenses every year. These drivers should also be imparted training on First Aid in case of any medical emergency.

ZHL featured by The Financial Times

The Financial Times popularly known as FT, features ZHL in their Sustainable Healthcare section, the article covers how social healthcare businesses require patience & deep pockets.

This article features many other social enterprises & NGOs along with ZHL who are working to better the current healthcare services in India.

Ms. Sweta Mangal, Co-Founder of ZHL, shares her experiences on how key stakeholders (including drivers) of this venture require consistent motivation to follow through with the vision that has grown into ZHL.

To read more click here http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5fc81752-e58a-11e3-a7f5-00144feabdc0.html?siteedition=uk#axzz39F0ZXjrN

Ziqitza Healthcare Limited through eyes our investor Acumen Fund CEO Jacqueline Novogratz

When we first invested in ZHL, the company had 9 ambulances with a purely private business model based on a sliding scale pricing structure. Over the past 7 years, partnership with government has driven the company’s growth. Scale and sustainability are possible – and so is a commitment to ethics. At the nexus of both is the constancy of moral leadership.

Before ZHL, a state like Odisha, India’s fourth poorest, provided little in the way of emergency services.  On my recent visit to Bhubaneswar, the state’s capital, I met numerous people who shared horror stories of trying to get loved ones to hospitals using rickshaws, taxis, even bullock carts. Now, by dialing 108, any person with an emergency can expect a quick pick-up and delivery to a public hospital. What is most surprising to users is that the 108 services are actually effective. Average delivery times are less than 25 minutes, despite the fact that 80% of users live in rural, underserved areas with inadequate infrastructure. Prashant, a fish farmer who lost an uncle while trying desperately to get to hospital said that this new ambulance company was like “the gods coming to help the poor people.”

If free, quality services are a surprise, so too is the absence of corruption: bribes are not tolerated.  To ensure this, a quality team is tasked with calling users regularly to inquire: 1) whether the driver has asked them to pay; 2) whether they’ve paid something, even voluntarily; and 3) how they would rate the quality and speed of service. The group also monitors daily calls, currently coming in at 10,000 a day. By year’s end, ZHL in Odisha alone will transport more than a million people to hospitals, proving the potential of a public-private venture to serve the very poor.

The company’s leaders focus vigilantly on re-enforcing its values-based culture.  Sumit Basu, Regional Head for East India, tells the story of the Emergency Medical Technician, Pratap Kumar Sethi, who noticed a wallet containing 21,000 rupees (about $350) beside a roadside accident’s unconscious victim. The driver insisted on bringing the wallet to the hospital and holding it until the man regained consciousness, not trusting doctors to be honest. ZHL ensured the local newspaper covered this act of integrity. The driver earned respect. The idea that good service is possible was reinforced. Everyone gained in dignity. If scaled and buttressed by transparency and ethics, a single company can impact an industry.

This is the idea: patient capital is vital for early-stage investing when the company must confront significant challenges to disrupt an industry. At this stage, few other than philanthropy-based patient capital will take the financial risk the company needs for experimentation. As new standards and practices are established over time, the company serves as a model for others. If all goes well, it moves to profitability and sustainability, so that the company can raise more traditional capital. The poor thus have greater access to freedom, to dignity. How this translates into lives impacted is something we are studying along with the Grameen Foundation, so stay tuned

A death trap called Indian Roads

It’s a fact that, as humans, stories move us more than statistics. What experiences an individual goes through in his lifetime make it easier to relate than analysing how many individuals go through the same experience. 

That’s the reason despite the various statistics released by officials  on road accidents  (over 2 lakh road accident deaths in 2012, 15 road accidents happen in India every hour), it has only now come into public awareness and concern due to the sudden demise of Mr. Gopinath Munde, BJP leader, in a road accident.

Though hypothetical scenarios are being played out on what the outcome would have been had Mr. Munde been wearing a seat-belt or if the driver would have followed basic traffic rules, the fact remains that thousands of such cases go unnoticed every week. It’s a possibility that a road accident has happened somewhere in India as you are reading this.

It doesn’t mean that we downplay what Mr. Gopinath Munde went through. Every loss of life is irreplaceable and so is Mr. Munde’s. But the fact remains that if, as a society, it’s the stories that make us move, we should learn our lessons from this tragic outcome and appeal for a stringent law in spirit and action so that our roads become safer for us and our future generations.

Lets strive together as a society to bring an end to this mayhem that has engrained itself into our daily commute.

What the world needs?

For many a years, mankind has worked towards making human lives better. Different skills were learnt, different practises incorporated, different lifestyles introduced just towards one objective. Improving Human Lives.

This has led to more professionalism, more skilled attributes and a never ending race against time to achieve this single goal.

But at the end of it, turns out all it needs to take improving Human Lives is a little goodness.

Ever experienced any of these?

1.       The goodness to tend a healing touch to the injured

2.       The goodness to assist senior citizens while crossing the road

3.       The goodness to let pedestrians pass

4.       The goodness in understanding that the city roads are shared resources and are to be used responsibly

5.       The goodness in understanding each life is precious and no matter what it cannot be recreated once lost

In this cut-throat competitive world, where the feeling of ‘being all by ourselves’ has become a standard norm, a little ingredient called ‘Goodness’ can bring about a huge change in making the world a better place.

Remember it’s our legacy and it’s our duty to pass it on to the future generations.

And this can only be done by practising it.

Is technology contributing more to road accidents than road safety?

Across India, new roads built with modern technology, proper signage and safety features have failed to bring down accident rates.

But according to analysts of human behaviour, this is not surprising at all. “The smoother, wider and better a road is, the more accidents there are likely to be -- and this is because of natural human behaviour,” said Biju Dominic, chief executive officer of Final Mile, a consultancy firm that uses behavioural science to solve problems for clients.

Dominic and Final Mile’s co-founder Ram Prasad explained the link between good roads and higher accident rates through the concept of risk compensation: the safer the situation, the greater the tendency of people to take risks.

The theory of risk compensation also holds true for the kind of vehicles being used -- high-end cars with sophisticated features are more likely to have accidents than simpler cars, says Prasad. If a car has an anti-lock braking system, the driver knows he can bring the car to a halt in a microsecond, so his mind automatically compensates and he is likely to apply the brakes later than usual.

So, going by this theory, we are at more risk today than previous years and the risks will be far greater in future as the human mind offsets the security offered by technology. Hence, the only solution that can provide safer roads & security to life is the Human Mind itself and the constraints practised on it while driving, caution being the most important element

The significance of 108

Ever wondered why the number 108 was chosen to save people’s lives? It’s a number which goes way back in history and can be found in mathematics, astronomy, in scriptures and beyond. It’s a number upon which some of the key universe elements which form the pillars of life are based. Some consider 108 a sacred number, some say there isn’t enough proof to determine the significance of 108. Below are a few references to the existence of 108 in history and today.

Sanskrit

Sanskrit alphabet has 54 letters, each has masculine and feminine form called shiva and shakti respectively. 54 times 2 = 108.

Pranayama:

It is said that if one can be so calm in meditation to have only 108 breaths a day that enlightenment will come.

Religions:

Hinduism:  The names of Hindu Deities = 108.

Early Hinduism: The Last part of Vedas called Upanishads are traditionally 108 Upanishads.

Islam: 108 is used to refer to God.

Jain: there are 108 virtues

Buddhaism/Japan: A bell is chimed 108 times to celebrate the New Year.

Astronomy:

The distance between the Earth and Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Sun.

The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth.

The distance between the Earth and Moon is 108 times the diameter of the Moon.

Astrology:

There are 12 constellation and 9 arc segments. 9 times 12 equals 108.

Geography:

River Ganga: The sacred river in India, River Ganga spans a longitude of 12 degrees and a latitude of 9 degrees. 12 times 9 = 108.

Martial Arts:

According to Chinese and Indian Martial Arts, Marma Adi and Ayurveda, there are 108 pressure points in a human body.

So, what could be a better number for emergency medical care than 108, a number deeply engrained in us, to make a difference to human existence and give life a fighting chance once again.

8 Tips to beat the heat this summer

Summers are here and let’s face it, it can be quite punishing in many parts of the country because of the soaring mercury levels. Follow the tips given below to beat the heat this summer:

• Incidences of sunstroke among people living in the plains of northern India are very common. The thumb rule to avoiding sunstroke is to avoid exposure to the sun when it is at its zenith.
•  If you are traveling make sure you drink lots of fluids. Wearing light colored cotton clothes can help you beat the heat and cool baths can keep your body temperature in control.
• Eating watermelon, papaya, mango and banana can cool your system. The abundance of mangoes in summers compensates for any discomfort experienced due to the heat. This king of fruits is the ideal fruit for the summer- but don’t overdo it.
•  Diseases in summer are usually water-borne so, it makes sense to use boiled water during this time. You can also use mineral water, but make sure that that you consume water from well-known brands and that tamper proof bottling techniques are used by the brand you consume.
• As the body loses essential minerals due to sweating these need to be replaced without fail or else the body may experience heat exhaustion and cramps. The ubiquitous ‘nimbu pani’ is the ideal summer drink. Again the water you use to make juices needs to be boiled and cooled.
• Do not use commercially made ice as this is a potential carrier of diseases like jaundice and cholera.
• Food that is not refrigerated in time can cause dysentery, food poisoning and other enteric-related diseases. Food rich in fiber should also be taken in plenty.
• Finally, if you are using air-coolers make sure the water is changed often to avoid breeding of larvae as summer is also the time when mosquitoes and other vectors breed rampantly and spread vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. You can also use insect repellents and cover your body adequately to prevent mosquito bites. Covering your body will also give you the protection against sun burns. 

Respect the Fellow Commuters. Respect the Road

India is right there at the top when it comes to the number of fatalities (1.15 million fatalities in a decade) and injuries in road accidents and has maintained its position for years now despite an exponential surge in the development and enhancement of road and transport infrastructure in the country. Though there are laws in place for crimes such as drunken driving & talking on the phone while driving, a majority of these fatalities also arise from the lack of combination of civic sense, and much needed traffic sense (or road sense) among ourselves.

Today what is missing on the road is no courtesy or empathy for the fellow commuters, drivers, pedestrians or vehicles plying on the road, nor do we have any willingness to go by the rule books. A majority of the fatalities occur due to this insensitive nature for which rules only come into force after an event has occurred, but by then it’s too late as lives would have changes forever by then.

Thus, it is imperative to use the roads as a collective resource. Give other vehicles their own space and not making things difficult for fellow commuters. Encroaching into driving space is not only fatal but also a mark of disrespect for fellow drivers who might be equally in a hurry as you are but still go by the rules.
There is also another responsibility we have towards our fellow commuters. In case of any accident, we can make a big difference by placing a single call to 108 & ensure their safety.

Remember, compassion & respect is the building block of any society. Without these, co-existence is impossible be it on  the road or in our homes

What’s happening at ZHL?

We started 2014 on a promising note, bringing in new friends, facing new challenges & striving for new goals. In the past few months, we have begun another chapter in ZHL's history. Take a look at the highlights so far. Click here

When NOT to call an Ambulance

Emergency health care is no doubt critical for patients but there is another group who are equally affected by it, the emergency medical crew.

EMTs face tremendously stressful situations on a daily basis. And it is worse than any of us can imagine because EMTs are routinely exposed to five unique stressors: high levels of uncertainty, high interpersonal tension, and frequent exposure to human tragedy, extreme fear and a heightened physical response to the sound of an emergency alarm, which basically means that after working so long around emergencies, your body goes into overdrive whenever you hear an alarm.

In such a situation, it’s essential that we realize that ambulance services are to be used only when the situation warrants so as to avoid any hassle to the crew or the patients requiring actual help.

Here are some situations when NOT to use an Ambulance:

1.       Feeling lonely: There are help lines which cater to those who need someone to talk. So keep the ambulance lines free to cater those who really need emergency medical intervention.

2.       Immediate attention from doctors: Rest assured even if you arrive in an ambulance you won’t be given priority unless & until yours is a critical case, therefore do not use ambulances to avoid the long queues at the hospitals.

3.       Over-estimating the situation: Everybody loves their dear ones but that doesn’t necessarily mean slipping on a banana peel and spraining a muscle warrants an ambulance even if it requires medical attention

4.       Helpline services: Ambulance helplines are only for emergency situations. The lines should never be used for help in getting directions, residential complaints or general ranting.

Remember, it is a facility for our well-being. Let’s use it wisely.

Phailin: A cyclone that brought humanity together

Phailin not only united people of Odisha but also served as a remembrance of the kind of work done by our 108 Odisha Heroez who work very hard every day to make a difference on the field.

This video is a fitting tribute to Odisha 108 HEROEZ who made us proud by placing their mission to save lives above fear.

Check out the video here http://youtu.be/Sto7iCexnH4