The Western Cape’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has been working tirelessly to provide essential first responder assistance, transport clients to healthcare facilities, and save people’s lives over the festive season.
According to a statement, from December 1 until January 2 the EMS attended to 43 600 medical-related incidents, 11 453 trauma cases, 1 973 road traffic incidents, and 204 fires in the province.
A total of 6 479 inter-facility transport trips were made to ensure that clients received the care they needed in a time-efficient and safe manner.
EMS spokesperson Byron La Hoe said the EMS responded to 5 348 incidents in the province, down from 1 243 incidents the previous long Christmas weekend.
“A total of 44% of this weekend’s incidents occurred in the Cape Metro region. The EMS also responded to 122 road traffic incidents, 55 fewer than the previous weekend. This included 39 pedestrians which account for 32% of this weekend road traffic incidents. There were also two search and rescue incidents in Rooi-Els Bay and Table Mountain respectively,” La Hoe indicated.
Also read: Busy festive period for COCT lifeguards
La Hoe further mentioned that ambulance crews were escorted by SAPS to attend to 50 incidents in Beacon Valley, 39 in Tafelsig, 26 in Hanover Park and 10 in Chicago, Paarl.
The top five incident types for the weekend included non-cardiac pain 883 weapon assault 771 respiratory complaints 453, physical assault 31 and obstetric or gynaecological complaints 310.
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