Expert Guest Post by Dr. Shibal Bhartiya, Leading Eye Surgeon at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurgaon
That Saif Ali Khan had to be rushed to the hospital in an autorickshaw after being stabbed is a stark reminder of the gaps in our emergency response system. In situations where life hangs in balance, when every second counts, this lack of awareness can make the difference between life and death.
Here’s what you must never forget:
1. Ambulances are not just transport—
ACLS ambulances are not just big cars that take you to a hospital. They are mobile intensive care units, equipped with life-saving tools and staffed by trained paramedics who can stabilize patients in transit. And it is this pre-hospitalization care that saves lives. In case of stroke, heart attacks, trauma and accidents- they are critical to outcomes!
2. The first few minutes matter—
The first response, very often, determines the final clinical outcome. Delayed responses and poor decision-making can have dire consequences.
3. You need to know what to do—
The solution isn’t just about increasing the number of ambulances or introducing more technology or the BlinkIt twenty minutes to your door-ambulance.
All of us need to learn how to recognize a real emergency, how to act in those first crucial moments, how to call for an ambulance, and whom to contact for assistance. It’s time we moved beyond just building infrastructure- we need to focus on building trust and awareness.
There’s no reason why you should not be trained in BLS- Basic Life Support. If you don’t know whom to ask, reach out to me. Hospitals will be the happiest to organize it for your organization, your condominium, or your school.
PS: Hope Saif Ali Khan gets well really soon, and that his family- especially his children- find strength in one another, and may love and support surround them as they recover from the darkness. As a parent, I don’t even want to think of what the family has endured.
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Meet Our Expert Guest Author: Dr. Shibal Bhartiya is Director (Dept of Ophthalmology), Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurgaon, and is also the Program Director for Community Outreach and Wellness, at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurgaon, and Faridabad. Specializing in Glaucoma, Neuro ophthalmology, and ocular surface diseases, Dr. Shibal boasts an impressive track record with over 20 years of experience in the field of ophthalmology.