Code red? Local ambulance service offers a lifeline

Advertorial

EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS NEWS - Relay EMS is a private ambulance service operating in and around Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, Graaff-Reinet and Cradock.

Registered as an Advanced Life Support practice with the Board of Health Care Funders (BHF), the Relay EMS team consists of dedicated emergency care staff registered with the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The team is qualified in Advanced Life Support (ALS), Intermediate Life Support (ILS) and Basic Life Support (BLS).

After having recently established itself firmly in Graaff-Reinet and Cradock, Relay EMS is further improving their service to the residents of these two towns with the addition of a fully-equipped vehicle dedicated to Emergency Response & Rescue.

The Emergency Response & Rescue vehicle is staffed by an Advanced Life Support (ALS) Paramedic.

An ALS Paramedic can provide lifesaving on-scene medical care and treatment, for conditions such as cardiac arrests, strokes, myocardial infarction, seizures, head injuries and patient stabilisation before transport to a hospital or medical facility.

They also provide patients with advanced life support such as defibrillation, airway management (intubation), intravenous medication and drugs for patient pain management.

This additional vehicle and its equipment, along with their current ambulances and staff based in Graaff-Reinet and Cradock, will provide the community with professional Emergency Medical Services.

Calling for help in any emergency medical situation can be stressful, however, Relay EMS is on hand to get you through those difficult moments when you need it the most.

When calling their 24/7 emergency number 0861 061 061, you will reach their state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

Through this centralised emergency number, Relay EMS's EOC manages multiple calls each day, which means you can rest assured, knowing that your emergency call is in capable hands.

The Relay EMS home base in Graaff-Reinet.

As all their vehicles are equipped with and monitored by live tracking and computer-aided dispatching, the EOC can quickly dispatch the closest vehicle and crew to your location.

In addition to providing an all-inclusive emergency response service for all medical and trauma-related emergencies, Relay EMS also offers inter-hospital patient transfers; assistance with Injury on Duty (IOD) and Road Accident Fund (RAF) claims as well as Event Medical Services and Training (First Aid Level 1 to 3 and BLS for Health care Providers).

Relay EMS provides you with the right people, training, equipment and response with professionalism, clinical excellence, compassion, innovation and integrity.

Relay EMS is contracted to all medical aids and offers private rates for non-medical aid patients.