Lack of air ambulance claim lives in Kashmir: DAK

Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Friday expressed concern over “lack of air ambulance service” in Kashmir valley because of which “precious lives are lost”.

“Non-availability of air ambulance is costing lives oftrauma and emergency patients,” said DAK president Dr Nisar ul Hassan in acommuniqué.

   

“Majority of these patients die because they are unable toreach hospitals within the golden hour which is crucial for their survival,” hesaid.

“Time is the essence when it comes to trauma and emergencypatients and sooner they receive treatment, the better the chances ofsurvival,” he added.

Dr Nisar said the only way to reach hospitals in Kashmir isroad ambulance and, in this day and age, that does not meet the requirements ofgolden hour.

“Air transport saves lives because patients get to hospitalfaster when they travel by air,” he said.

“Researchers from the University of Maryland School ofMedicine found increased rate of survival among those trauma patients who wererescued by chopper than those transported by ground ambulance, Dr Nisar saidadding that “a study by Biewener et al in 2004 showed a 50% reduction in themortality rate when patients were transported to a trauma center by ahelicopter.”

He said the geographic and mountainous terrain of KashmirValley renders air transport a far more effective option than regular road transport.

“Air ambulance service is the need of the hour in thevalley, giving its topography where various areas remain cut-off for most partof the winter due to heavy snowfall and rains,” he said.

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