The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : SAFE card for accident victims launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 08, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

SAFE card for accident victims launched

By Our Staff Reporter

The Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, presenting the Sri Devi Accident Facility and Emergency Card to actress Manorama in Chennai on Wednesday. Looking on (from left) are: K. Senthilnathan, managing director of the hospital, Ujagar Singh, special secre tary, Tamil Nadu Government, actors Vivek and Vindhya. — Photo: S. Thanthoni

CHENNAI, APRIL 7. Launching the SAFE card, an insurance scheme for treatment of accident victims, the Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, on Wednesday called for synchronisation of trained medical and paramedical personnel during emergencies.

With "the thoughtfully and humanely worked out scheme" of Sri Devi Accident Facility and Emergency (SAFE), Sri Devi hospital "should rise to the occasion and respond with speed, care and concern," he said.

First aid education must be made compulsory for students and urged hospitals to consider a tie-up with organisations such as Red Cross and St. John Ambulance Association.

Recalling his son's death in a road accident, Mr. Barnala said treatment was delayed for want of identity and money though the victim had been taken to a Government hospital. As treatment was not administered during the golden hour, the victim died.

Actors Manorama, Vivek and Vindhya, who also felicitated K. Senthilnathan, the managing director of Sri Devi group of hospitals, were the first to receive SAFE cards from the Governor.

P. Vijayalakshmi, Director of Medical Education, urged two-wheeler riders to wear helmets. She suggested that the hospital popularise the emergency phone number (105906) to enable doctors to come to the rescue of the victim.

Walter. I. Dawaram, vice-president of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, said the authority would take the initiative to enrol every athlete in the scheme.

C. Ravindranath, consulting physiatrist, said under the insurance scheme a person who paid a premium of Rs. 250 a year would be insured for treatment worth Rs. 50,000 in any hospital in Tamil Nadu. A person may also insure for up to Rs. 1 lakh.

The insurer may produce the card and seek treatment. Outside the State, the insurer would bear the expenses, which would be reimbursed on his return to the State. The scheme covers accidents at home, on road or rail and sports injury.

R. Sivaraman, pro vice chancellor of SRM Deemed University, Ujagar Singh, special secretary to Government, Special Initiatives Department, consumer activist R. Desikan and journalist Lena Tamilvanan also felicitated.

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