ZZS Praha 2021: Record number of trips and deaths
Last year, emergency medical service operators handled 210,000 phone calls, most of which were followed by a crew trip. On an average day, the emergency services received approximately 575 emergency calls and dealt with almost 350 events. Air rescuers took off for 862 events. “Due to the autumn wave covid-19 was the busiest month of November, when paramedics traveled to almost 12,000 events, “Said Poštová.
She added that usually the busiest December remained tight. This was followed by October and March, which again showed the influence of Covid-19. The least hits, namely 9,400, were recorded by rescuers in April. Nine of the ten busiest days were in the covid-hit last quarter, with a record of 18 October with 434 events. On the contrary, the rescuers recorded the smallest number of departures on January 23, when they set out for 248 events.
Twenty-half of the patients were seniors over the age of 65, to whom ambulances went in 61,000 cases. Rescue workers treated about 2,000 children under the age of three. The most common reason for calling an ambulance was breathing difficulties with 16,000 cases and an overall worsening of the patient’s condition, which led to 11,000 trips. In both cases, the collapses and suspected heart attacks led to about 5,000 treatments, and paramedics dealt with drug or drug poisoning during 4,000 trips. Most patients had to be taken to hospital, and in 11,000 cases, on-site treatment was sufficient.
Injuries and births
Last year, rescue teams dealt with about 20,000 falls and other common accidents, 2,000 accidents, 282 serious burns and also 328 births, of which in 54 cases the child was still born in an ambulance. More than 700 patients, according to the spokesman, rescued in a state of clinical death and had to start recovery, in about half of the cases it succeeded. Last year, coroners performed almost 4,000 examinations of the bodies of the deceased, which, according to Poštová, is also a record number in the history of the Prague rescue service.
ZZS launched last year by palliative care designed for patients in the final stadium of incurable diseases. Another novelty, according to the spokesman, was the introduction electronic transmission of information about patients using tablet. The rescue service also procured special ambulance for interventions, there is a risk of leakage of hazardous substances, or for the care of patients with highly contagious diseases.
This year, the Prague Rescue Service will celebrate 165 years since its founding. It has more than 20 exit bases and is gradually building more. The building in Korunní Street has housed an emergency medical service since 1999. The organization’s annual budget is about half a billion crowns.
Rescuers sounded horns in honor of all the paramedics on May 12 on International Nurses’ Day. David Malík
Prague ambulance ambulance. illustrative photo
Author: David Malík