Ambulance 118 expands fleet, services<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
An elderly neighbor falls down. Blood is streaming down her face
\nand she is crying in pain. You do not know first aid. What do you
\ndo?<\/p>\n
Don't panic. Dial 65303118. It works like 911.<\/p>\n
In an emergency situation, Jakartans can dial this number to
\nconnect with an ambulance service that will respond quickly with
\nfully equipped emergency medical technicians (EMTs).<\/p>\n
\"People can dial 65303118 and connect directly to us. For true
\nemergencies, we will first send an EMT and emergency equipment on
\na motorcycle, which can get through Jakarta's traffic faster than
\nan ambulance,\" Asti Puspitarini, an EMT and a marketing officer
\nat Emergency Ambulance 118, told The Jakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
\"With our current fleet we can serve 80 to 100 patients a day.
\nBut right now we are only receiving 20 to 30 patients a day,\" she
\nsaid, adding that Emergency Ambulance 118 had started advertising
\nits services at schools.<\/p>\n
Asti said 118 used to be the emergency phone number for the
\nservice, but in 2002 the government changed 118 to connect
\npatients with the nearest hospital.<\/p>\n
\"The change created some problems because not all hospitals
\nhave ambulances ready to be dispatched,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She added that if a patient called up a hospital for an
\nambulance, the ambulance would only deliver the patient back to
\nthat hospital.<\/p>\n
\"By using our service, patients can choose any hospital in
\nJakarta,\" Asti said.<\/p>\n
Since August last year, Emergency Ambulance 118 has had about
\n50 ambulances and five motorbikes stationed at some 40 locations
\nthroughout Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The fleet, our office and all the equipment belong to the
\ncity administration. But the service is managed by the
\nAssociation of Indonesian Surgeons,\" Asti said.<\/p>\n
With its extensive fleet, Ambulance 118 can respond to a call
\nin between 10 minutes and 15 minutes with an ambulance. The
\nresponse time for motorbikes is even quicker.<\/p>\n
Among the 50 ambulances belonging to the service are five
\nspecial \"paramedic ambulances\", which carry more medical
\nequipment than the other ambulances.<\/p>\n
Ambulance 118 charges patients a flat rate of Rp 200,000, no
\nmatter how far the trip or whether patients require a special or
\na regular ambulance.<\/p>\n
The service is free for poor Jakartans who can show proof of
\ntheir financial status.<\/p>\n
\"We started charging for the service in 1991. Previously we
\nserved patients for free,\" said emergency medical technician H.
\nHerbart, who has been with the service since 1976.<\/p>\n
Ambulance 118 was set up in 1971 by the Association of
\nIndonesian Surgeons, with the support of the local government.<\/p>\n
The association established the service to transport victims
\nof road accidents, but in 1978 the city administration expanded
\nthe service to deal with all emergencies.<\/p>\n
\"In the 1970s we only had four ambulances stationed at Cipto
\nMangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta,\" Herbart said.<\/p>\n
He said ideally the ambulance service would be free for all
\npeople, with the service paid for by the government as part of
\nthe public health program.<\/p>\n
\"However, there is a catch if the service is free. Some people
\nwill call an ambulance for, say, a case of the flu.\"<\/p>\n
Though Ambulance 118 does charge patients, it still depends on
\na government subsidy for its survival.<\/p>\n
\"If we did not receive a subsidy from the government we would
\nsuffer a loss, because sending an ambulance costs us an average
\nof Rp 500,000,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asti said Ambulance 118 also offered emergency training
\nworkshops for the public, covering such topics as basic life
\nsupport and responding to medical emergencies.<\/p>\n
\"Many companies, like oil, gas and mining companies whose
\nemployees work outdoors, take the eight-hour training course,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
In addition, Ambulance 118 also provides services for event
\norganizers.<\/p>\n
\"We can provide ambulances for concerts or wedding parties,\"
\nAsti said.<\/p>\n
Ambulance posts<\/p>\n
Ambulance 118 headquarters<\/p>\n
Jl. Sunter Permai Raya No. 1<\/p>\n
Ancol Podomoro, North Jakarta<\/p>\n
Tel. (021) 65303118, 64717089, 118<\/p>\n
Some ambulance posts:<\/p>\n
South Jakarta<\/p>\n
-Pancoran Police Post<\/p>\n
-Puri Cinere Hospital<\/p>\n
-Tendean Medical Center<\/p>\n
-South Jakarta Mayor's Office<\/p>\n
Central Jakarta<\/p>\n
-National Monument Square<\/p>\n
-Pejompongan Police Post<\/p>\n
-Central Jakarta Police Office<\/p>\n
North Jakarta<\/p>\n
-Ancol Dreamland<\/p>\n
-North Jakarta Mayor's Office<\/p>\n
-Cempaka Mas Police Post<\/p>\n
West Jakarta<\/p>\n
-Kalideres Police Post<\/p>\n
-Harapan Kita Hospital<\/p>\n
East Jakarta<\/p>\n
-East Jakarta Mayor's Office<\/p>\n
-Kebon Nanas Police Post<\/p>\n
-UKI Hospital<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ambulance-118-expands-fleet-services-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }