Emergency Accident Plan for “hard-to- reach” roads

PALMA
THE Emergency department in the Balearics is to map out a plan of action to respond to car accidents on mountain roads, with particular provision being made for crashes in which there are numerous victims, Director Jaime Coll said yesterday.

Coll was speaking after a meeting with all organisations which would need to become involved in such rescues. He said the Emergency department is to provide a draft procedure which will be submitted for analysis and discussion. “After all parties have provided their input,” Coll said, “we will have an operational guideline on what procedure to follow in the event of serious accidents.” The Emergency department is also looking to place emphasis on accident prevention. It wants to reduce the potential risk posed by the presence of large vehicles such as tourist coaches on mountain roads, typically Sa Calobra or Formentor. It is just such scenic areas which are so popular during the summer season, where rescue teams would encounter extra difficulty in aiding accident victims, he explained.

Coll said that the crux of the plan which the Emergency department is putting together is to cut the time necessary to reach accident victims in remote areas and get them to hospital.

Perilous terrain provides particular problems for landing emergency relief helicopters or for setting up “field hospitals” which would otherwise be the course of action on level ground, Coll said.