Vietnam HCMC to Set Up Emergency Aid Stations

Ho Chi Minh City plans to set up emergency aid stations in many places to provide first aid more effectively given its heavy traffic, state media reported. The health department has proposed cooperation with an Australian university to train paramedics to man the 25 planned stations, or an average of one per district. Setting up such centers is appropriate for a crowded city prone to traffic jams, said Tang Chi Thuong, deputy director of the health department. The emergency stations, which can use spare ambulances at district hospitals, would make sure patients get first aid promptly before they can reach a hospital, he said. In addition, each emergency care station will be staffed and equipped to provide first aid for people of all ages and various conditions from injuries to strokes, something no hospital in the city can currently do. (thanhnien.vn Aug 22)