Jaipur: SMS Hospital has put emergency teams on 24-hour alert from Nov 6 to 11 to handle firecracker-related burn, eye and other trauma cases during the festive period, amid concerns over injuries reported in previous years, particularly among children.A senior hospital administration official said one assistant professor or senior resident each from burn and plastic surgery, ophthalmology, neurosurgery and anaesthesia will be posted in the emergency unit round the clock. Departments have been asked to submit duty rosters to the head of emergency medicine and the nodal officer for emergency services.The administration has also directed all concerned departments to ensure adequate stocks of medicines, emergency supplies and treatment facilities for the immediate management of burn, eye and fire-related injuries.Meanwhile, govt ambulance services have issued a list of dos and don’ts for safe handling of firecrackers. Madhusudan Bhomia, State Head, EMRI GHS Rajasthan, which operates govt ambulances, said the 108 ambulance service and 112 police emergency response support system are free and available round the clock.He urged citizens to dial 108 or 112 in medical or police emergencies and use the helplines responsibly to ensure that life-threatening cases receive immediate assistance.EMRI GHS said 1,094 ambulances are currently operational across Rajasthan to handle any rise in emergency calls during the festive season. It is also operating 1,000 police mobile vans under the Dial 112 Emergency Response Support System.The agency has stepped up preparedness through night inspections of 108 ambulances by senior officials, strategic deployment based on five-year festival and seasonal emergency trends, adequate medicine stocks and trained paramedics. Ambulance pilots and EMTs have been instructed to drive cautiously during statewide festival operations.Officials also warned against unsafe bursting of firecrackers.
