Sunday, November 20, 2005

Emergency? No...take your time!

Let's get serious for a moment shall we? What will happen to you in a crisis? I was reading an article in the Friday Times about inadequate ambulance services in Kuwait and was shocked of what I read. Out of experience, when I was in the car accident early this year (March 2005), I broke my finger. SO when I called 777 to ask for medical attention, of course....ring ring ring...no answer...for about 15 min. Once I finally got through after numerous times, the guys tells..."i3thirna...il youm '7amees", (Translation: forgive us...its Thursday). What??? I asked him what does that mean...he says that all left for the day. It was about 1 pm in the afternoon and on my way to lunch with the family. So again...I ask...what will you do in a crisis?

So after reading the article in the Firday Times, some of my concerns were answered. Turns out that its not always the fault on the paramedics, its actaully the Ministry of Health. According to the statistics, there are only 25 paramedics for 2.1 million people in Kuwait. Talk about shortage of staff! Another issue was that the Ministry of Health permanently removed the supply pain-killers for fear of abuse. So imagine the paramadics sitting in the back of the ambulance with a victim, feeling helpless because they can't administer anything for the pain. Aside from the ministry, other causes are in effect, such as the daily unnecessary traffic, where people intentionally don't move aside for the paramedics or that there is NO where the cars can move away for the paramedics to get through..(bottleneck traffic).

So, any thoughts?

15 Comments:

At 10:49 AM, Blogger True Faith said...

Take a Tramel 100 mg injection (Powerful pain killer) with you where ever you go; in case you have an accident and you can't bear the pain. And if you are fainted or dead, it's better than waiting.

 
At 11:03 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kuwait will always be Kuwait, yeah let's give away our money to other countries (foreign policy sucks bigtime) while Kuwaitis suffer!

 
At 11:06 AM, Blogger Diver said...

Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait a place where emergency workers leave for the day without someone to take an emergency call. u know sometimes I prefer not thinking of what happens sometimes in Q8 I get so upset. I feel sick. Anyways Allah Kareem.

 
At 12:01 PM, Blogger Erzulie said...

That's why I've dreamed about getting a Hummer. I mean, there is no possible way you could get killed in that thing. But seriously, it is sad. I think it's really important for one to actually know what to do in case of any emergency, whether it be car accidents, drowning, etc. The whole 'In Case of Emergency' package.

 
At 12:18 PM, Blogger Delicately Realistic said...

Yes your right. This year I attended a trauma workshop, and the Dr surprised by saying that most of our paramedic staff are actually very qualified, but the law actually prevents them from doing anything but the basics, because they arent MD's. I think we should have MD's with the paramedics in Kuwait. Imagine being able to save someones life but not being allowed to??

 
At 1:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You know last year my brother was in a terrible car accident while driving back home from the beach house, a police car came by and when they saw the accident one of them said "he seems to be an American let him die then" and they just left!!! My brother couldn't speak because he was drowning in his own blood at that time. Thank god someone saw the accident and called the police (which by the way the same policemen came to the rescue after 30 min). After 2 weeks in a coma my brother's health got better thank god, of course we did report the negligence of the policemen but i doubt they did anything to punish them, that was a near death experience my brother would never forget.

 
At 2:18 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

1. that painkiller abuse thing is just bullshit! how can they do that?!
2. they should hire more staff cuz 25 is just absurd
3. they should start using helicopters during heavy traffic hours

this is just so embarrassing and sad! :(

salamat 3an ur finger..

 
At 3:35 PM, Blogger Evil Knievel said...

I always thought that it's bad in germany... but shit!! The little i know about emergency respond and emergency services could maybe save hundererts of lives a year here. 45min average respond time is just not right!!! Average respond time in Germany is 8 minutes!!!!!!! And Germany is much bigger with 100.000nds of kilometres of higway and roads...

Abuse of medication -
our medics have to keep a log of what medication was given to whom and why. This way you can keep track of it AND you can refill your stock soon as you arrive at the hospital.

MD with the ambulance-
We have an "emergency" MD in almost all of our ambulances. Depending on the case they might send an ambulance without an MD. Should it be necessary they'll send more then one or two MD's to the accident.

Ambulance stuck in traffic-
Should i not make way for an Ambulance in Germany i lose my license and pay shitloads of money. Should the victim die because of me i might even go to court and spend some time in jail... Very simple and effective.
I can't believe that cars don't move when they see the ambulance come rushing... maybe a sticker at the front of the ambulance saying: " I am on the way to save your familymember!" could help a little... AND get rif of them green lights!!! During the day they are hard to see!!

Helicopters-
They have a freaking helicopter to watch traffic... that thing is not equiped with first aid shit and is not capable of taking someone to the hospital?? WFT !!
Most of the rescue helicopters are from the german military or from private organisations. Your military has medics, helicopters and everything else you need to establish an air rescue service!

Cops refusing first aid-
LAND IN JAIL in Germany!!! It's their god damn duty! No matter if he is Arab, American, Indian, Nigerian or chinese ... the are humans and need help!!

Just can't believe things in this country that has the money to provide first class medical service and doesn't do shit!

Really really worried ...
Whom do i need to talk to to make changes in the country???
TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER!

 
At 5:05 PM, Blogger dishevelled said...

I wish Kuwait would use that surplus of money they have and buy some of their officials a brain...
could do us all good!

And the parliment could give up dropping the loans already..

 
At 7:19 PM, Blogger Nunu-San said...

Every one should take medical insurance every where he/she goes!!

 
At 11:00 PM, Blogger Caffeinated said...

It might take an MP's family member that gets seriously injured and gets a slow resonse for things to change here...how sad :-(

 
At 8:34 AM, Blogger U.E. said...

Great subject Jazz. Seems like E.K. covered all the bases and more. As for the pain killers, my though was WTF!? You can get ANYTHING without a freaking prescription at the pharmacy anyway, for shit's sake.

Reema: That's horrible! Oh, I'm soooo sorry for what you and your family went through. I'm so glad your brother is O.K. now. :-(

 
At 8:56 AM, Blogger Jazz Central said...

True Faith: You think? Good idea, but kinda scary to carry that around.

Reema: True, the foreign policy does need help. And I so sorry to hear about your brother. That sucks that the cops just let him sit there. But I seriously glad he's ok now. Thank God. Talk about experience, huh?

diver: You're right...allah Kareem.

erzulie: Yeah, it is a good idea for people to self-trained in case of emergencies. After this post, I am thinking of talking a training course.

Delicately Realistic: How sad is that, they spend money to be trained professionals, but are prevented to utilize their newly trained skills. Thats just frustration. Where can I join a workshop like that?

Mar: Sorry you feel like that. My intention was not to scare people, but actually to be careful, prepapred, and think of recourses that can help them.

snookie: The helicopter idea is a good one! I was thinking of that. But why did the government not think of that? I'm sure private hospitals can afford to get some. They suck out people dry with medical bills!

evil knievel: So detailed, and so true. Kuwait needs to look at other countries as benchmarks.

deshelved: LOL...getting a brain is the easy part. Using it is another.

7tenths: True, but they already are.

Nunu: Exactly!! I have private medical insurance, best thing I ever did. I'm never going to a government hospital again...even if they pay me.

caffeinated: I know, its sad, but it also true. b3eed il shar in shaa allah

unkown entity: I was shocked too about the pain killers. Not everyone in pain will get addicted. Victims NEED it for the pain...not for the pleasure of getting high. How absurd!


THANKS GUYS FOR ALL YOUR INPUT IN THIS SERIOUS SUBJECT. I HOPE SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN VERY SOON TO HELP THE SITUATION.

 
At 3:39 AM, Blogger Delicately Realistic said...

Well it was only for medical students, but im sure they offer courses like that at the hilal ala7mar, is that what its called? e e e it is :) I'll ask around if your interested. :) Oh by the way, I think Im way over due on something. My sincerist apologies. :) Im bad.

 
At 8:20 AM, Blogger Jazz Central said...

At first I thought I the last comment was spam (which suprised me since I have the word verification), but then realized it was a blog about cat urine...

 

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