EMRS vehicles to boost fire and rescue services
Published on: Friday, January 16, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: People can expect improved emergency treatment from the State Fire and Rescue Department with the arrival of three Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) vehicles.State Fire and Rescue Department Director Nordin Pauzi said the EMRS vehicle allows the department not only to perform rescue operations but also to provide early treatment to victims at the scene and send them to the hospital for further treatment.He said the EMRS vehicle, which cost RM490,000 each, is equipped with medical equipment of high specification which will enable victims to be stabilised before being handed over to the hospital for treatment. ADVERTISEMENT "A total of 18 EMRS vehicles have been allocated for the State and out of this figure, we have already received three," he said, adding one each will be placed in the Fire and Rescue Stations in Sembulan, Sandakan and Tawau. Nordin said this during a media conference after attending the Fire and Rescue Department's monthly gathering held simultaneously nationwide on Thursday.The event also saw the launching of the EMRS vehicle at the State Fire and Rescue Department in Kolombong, here. "We hope to receive the remaining 15 EMRS vehicles in stages this year," he said, adding that the vehicles will be distributed to strategic locations. ADVERTISEMENT On another note, he said the EMRS vehicle will be handled by Fire and Rescue personnel who have completed several sets of First Responder Basic Course conducted by the Malaysian Society for Traumotology and Emergency Medicine, approved by the Ministry of Health. "Currently, we have 33 EMRS personnel ready to take on the duty," he said, adding that there are an additional 56 personnel who have passed the basic courses and are currently attached with the hospital to complete the 120-hour training requirement to qualify as EMRS personnel.
ADVERTISEMENT
"This shows that we are prepared and have the manpower to make this happen and are just waiting for the remaining EMRS vehicles to be delivered," he said. On another development, he said the department received an increase in number of emergency calls with a total of 5,564 calls last year compared to 4,107 calls in 2013. "For the whole of Malaysia and also Sabah, the increase in fire emergency calls is because of the drought season last year where many fire incidents were reported by callers from the same location," he said. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
He said in terms of preparation for disaster situations, the department is focusing on maintaining the existing logistics to make sure it can be utilised to the fullest at all times. "Apart from logistics, we also focus on collaboration with relevant agencies, such as the Meteorology Department, to enable us to plan, be prepared, respond and recover effectively," he said.