Problem parking can cost vital seconds
October 2015
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is reminding motorists to park sensibly to avoid obstructing routes that could cause delays to emergency vehicles.
In an emergency situation seconds lost can cost lives and it is vital that our staff and responder volunteers can get to the scene of an incident as quickly as possible.
Following a recent incident at Durdle Door, Dorset, a vehicle causing an obstruction meant that crews had to abandon their vehicle and continue to a casualty on foot. Fortunately in this instance a first responder was already providing treatment to the patient.
SWASFT’s director of operations, Neil Le Chevalier, added: “Parking inappropriately can lead to delays in our crews getting to the scene of an incident. In an emergency situation, where seconds really can make a huge difference to the outcome for our patients, it is vital that we are able to get there as quickly as possible. I would urge the public when parking vehicles in narrow roads to have a look around and think about whether there would be enough space for an emergency vehicle to get through.”
