Bengaluru: Asia’s first two-wheeler Bike Ambulance ‘First Responder Bikes’ was flagged off by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah in front of Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday April 15, at a function held under the aegis of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
The two-wheeled ambulances, which will reach the patients and accident victims stuck in congested areas or roads within the heavy traffic, is equipped with first-aid kits and oxygen cylinders while the rider will be a trained paramedic with a driving licence. The 30 First Responder Bikes, launched alongside the already existing 711 ‘Arogya Kavacha’108 Ambulances, placed at hotspots in the cities, is expected to reach the scene of the accident within “Platinum 10 minutes” to provide care to the affected.
To begin with, as many as 30 Avenger 220CC bikes, modified into two-wheeler ambulances hit the roads today, April 16.
Of the 30 bike ambulances, 21 will be stationed at strategic locations in Bengaluru while Mysuru, Mangaluru, Kalaburgi, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Davangere, Tumakuru, Vijayapura and Shivamogga will get one each.
“The paramedic will reach the spot in ten minutes and give first aid and start resuscitation measures to save the victim till the four-wheeler ambulance arrives,” said Health Minister U.T. Khader. Each bike ambulance will carry 40 medical items, including stethoscope, pulse oxymeter, bandages and IV normal saline, apart from 53 basic drugs. The government has spent nearly Rs. 2 lakh on each bike ambulance.
