Ambulances set aside to carry swine flu patients

DUBAI // Two of the emirate's ambulances are being used exclusively to transport people suspected of having contracted swine flu. One is permanently stationed at Dubai International Airport for inbound travellers who may be infected with the H1N1 virus, while the other is available around the clock for house calls. Both vehicles have been specially kitted out to handle swine flu patients.

"The vehicles are meant to transport only swine flu patients, to hospitals in the emirate that are equipped to treat those infected," said Khalifa al Drai, executive director of the Government-run Centre of Ambulance Services (CAS). "The centre's specified ambulances have transported 46 cases since June - both confirmed swine flu cases and people who had severe flu symptoms and were suspected of being infected.

"The airport is the entrance portal into our country of this disease, so it is important we have a designated ambulance there to take patients or suspected patients to the infectious diseases department at Rashid Hospital. "Each ambulance is equipped with special tools and equipment of world-class standards, and CAS has trained all its paramedics on how to deal with swine flu patients." The vehicles were set aside after the World Health Organisation said swine flu would become a pandemic, said Mr al Drai.

Paramedics in the swine flu ambulances wear disposable uniforms to help prevent infection and the spread of the virus. Most small items of equipment are disposable and are thrown away once used. The vehicles are sterilised thoroughly after transporting each patient "because prevention is key in containing swine flu", said Mr al Drai. "We have equipped every ambulance with extra oxygen tanks to help patients who have difficulty breathing, which is a major symptom of swine flu," he added.

Patients are covered with special blankets and sheets that protect the paramedics and the driver, who each have facemasks, extra gloves and sanitising materials. "We spared no expense on these ambulances," said Mr al Drai, who would not say how much the measure cost. Dr Omar al Saqqaf, the emergency medicine consultant at the centre, said 660 paramedics had been trained in treating swine flu patients and preventing the spread of the virus. None had so far contracted the disease.

Providing the special ambulances was "a much needed service", said Dr al Saqqaf. "Patients are transported in mere minutes in ambulances that do not deal with other cases, keeping transmission to a minimum. This is how it should be dealt with." Dr Ashraf Hussain, a general practitioner at the Wellness Medical Centre in Jumeirah, said: "Thankfully, the CAS has enough ambulances to warrant that kind of a decision.

"Getting medical care for patients in the first 48 hours of the disease is preferable, so timeliness is crucial." hkhalaf@thenational.ae