Dhaka: A total of 60 state-of-the-art Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances are being introduced on the country’s highways soon to quickly rescue and take injured people, who fall in road accidents, to hospitals and to utilise the important ‘golden hour’ after any accident.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, at the initial stage, the service will be started on a pilot basis on some important highway corridors with these ambulances, as stated by Chief Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) Md Moniruzzaman in an exclusive interview at Sarak Bhaban. He mentioned that after receiving news of an accident, the nearest ambulance will be dispatched to the location through a central call centre. Plans are also in place to position trained volunteers or ‘bystander care’ workers at certain intervals along highways.
Moniruzzaman emphasized the potential to save lives by promptly transporting injured individuals to hospitals immediately after accidents. Often, delays in ambulance arrival and lack of first aid facilities exacerbate the situation. To address this, an integrated emergency ambulance service is being launched on the highways.
The primary objective of this initiative is to maximize the ‘golden hour’ post-accident. The ambulances will arrive swiftly, deliver basic life support to the injured, and transport them to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible. Advanced basic life support facilities will be ensured in the ambulances.
Instead of a simultaneous nationwide rollout, the service will initially be piloted with 60 ambulances deployed in specific highway corridors. Selected corridors include Chandra-Elenga to Rangpur, Hatikumrul-Natore-Katakhali in Rajshahi, and the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. The ambulances will be strategically placed at approximately 10-kilometre intervals within these corridors to ensure rapid response.
A central call centre, operational 24/7, is being established to streamline the ambulance service. Upon notification of a road accident via a designated hotline, calls will be routed directly to the call centre. Officials will collect necessary information, such as the caller’s location, accident site, and number of injured individuals, and subsequently dispatch the nearest ambulance.
In addition to call centre coordination, trained health technicians will be present in each ambulance to provide round-the-clock medical support. These technicians will work in eight-hour shifts, ensuring that trained personnel are always available. Ambulance drivers will also work in shifts, allowing for immediate departure upon accident notification.
The ambulances, equipped with essential medical supplies such as oxygen bottles, will provide emergency basic life support. While not ICU ambulances, they will serve critical functions in stabilizing patients en route to hospitals. The service is planned to be free for accident victims, who will initially be taken to the nearest hospital, with further transfers to Dhaka if necessary, based on medical advice.
A ‘bystander care’ system is being implemented to provide interim first aid before ambulance arrival. Local residents along highways will be trained as volunteers to administer first aid. Typically the first responders at accident sites, these volunteers often lack the necessary training, sometimes causing harm while attempting to help. Hence, training is being provided to volunteers stationed every 200 to 300 meters along designated highway corridors. They will work without pay, equipped with first aid kits and identifiable uniforms.
The pilot project aims to gather practical experience and identify potential issues for swift resolution. This trial phase allows the department to refine the system for broader implementation. If successful, the service will be expanded to other crucial highway corridors across the country, ultimately aiming for nationwide operation.