Ahmedabad: Everyone wishes for happy and safe Diwali celebrations but emergencies do mar the festive mood each year. EMRI 108 emergency services have forecast that this year, they could see a possible rise in emergencies on Diwali and New Year days across Gujarat. The projections, officials said, are based on trends over the past few years. Diwali day could see a 16% rise in emergencies, while the spike could be 29% on New Year.“The highest rise is generally seen in road traffic accidents (RTAs), burn cases and falls. On New Year day, the trends also indicate a rise in respiratory issues. The projections help us assign ambulances and attend to maximum emergencies,” said an official.Meanwhile, the annual ‘Doctor on Call’ initiative by Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) was launched on Thursday in association with Ahmedabad Family Physicians Association (AFPA).Dr Kalpita Dave, president of AMA, said that the initiative will remain in effect from Nov 7-13. “This year, we have appointed six coordinators as 60-odd doctors are part of the initiative. First, the doctors will assess the issue and then assign specific doctors for a patient,” she said.Dr Maulik Sheth, secretary of AMA, said that the service will include a dedicated primary coordinator who will field incoming calls. “They will offer immediate medical counsel and provide basic guidance at no cost. Special referral support will be provided when advanced or emergency care is required,” he said.
