STOP ROAD ACCIDENTS BEFORE THEY STOP YOU

ROAD SAFETY IN INDIA

In 2011, as per official figures, some 4.98 lakh road accidents caused 1.42 lakh deaths and injured more than 5 lakh persons, irreversibly disabling many.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

• At the site of Impact

– There is lack of awareness about the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) System

– The general public does not possess basic first aid skills

– There is no standardized toll free national access number to call for emergency medical help

– Adequate number of First Responders/Ambulances are not there

– There are no standardized protocols &  medical directives for EMS• In Transit to a definitive care health facility

– Non availability availability of appropriate appropriate & safe transport transport for the injured injured patient in the form of road ambulances, air ambulances etc.,

– The real concept of an Ambulance is missing in India. Existing
ambulances ambulances aremore like transport transport vehicles vehicles and any vehicle vehicle suitable to lay a patientis called an ambulance without
consideration to the overall ambulance design( patient care, comfort & ergonomics.

– Currently there is no ‘National Ambulance Code’ in the country
which specifies the minimum National Specifications for various
types of Ambulances, lances, viz ALS, BLS, First Response responder etc.

– The ambulances are inappropriately/inadequately equipped
– In‐adequate care during transportation due to lack of trained
Emergency Emergency Medical Medical Technicians Technicians(EMT s) (EMT’s)in the country country& unskilled existing manpower

– Lack of StandardOperating Procedures(SOP’s)for pre‐hospital
triage and transport transport to appropriately appropriately designated designated hospitals hospitals in sync with the type and gravity of the injury

– Remuneration of paramedics and drivers are not in sync with theirskills at the Healthcare Facility
– Appropriate Appropriate healthcare healthcare facilities are not available available within reasonable distances

– There is a mismatch between the healthcare facility capacity vis a vis the catchment area resulting in overcrowding atthe limited number of available
facilities

– Infrastructure at the existing healthcare facilities is deficient due to lack of funds or poor planning

– Inadequately equipped healthcare facilities due to lack ofNational Standards and Guidelines regarding the same

– Sub‐optimal quality care at the existing health facilities due to inadequately  skilled manpower

– Lack of SOP’s regarding the handling of a patient on his arrival at the healthcare facility

– Lack of accountability and monitoring mechanisms to ensure timely and optimal care

 Miscellaneous
       Laws like Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and CMVR 1989 which have been in vogue since 1980 s’ and have not been updated updated since then

– This is lack of coordination between agencies resulting in a mismatch between the existing resources

– There is no appropriate database for  the evaluation and enhancement of the services being rendered

– Post Trauma Rehabilitation Facilities for the injured are deficient

– Research into post crash response and emergency care is not there

– There is lack of awareness regarding Hon’ble Supreme Court of
India’s directives regarding the Right to Emergency Care for RTA
victims & the protection available to good  Samaritans who offer help to a RTA victim.

– There is no provision to ensure adequate compensation to an RTA
victims  in case the accident  causing vehicle doesn't  have a third
party insurance

– Majority of the drivers do not have a personal mediclaim policy to
cater to their emergency  medical needs in case of an accident