KOCHI: Timely help can save precious lives. But quite often, timely help is hard to get. Even those who want to help accident victims may not remember the contact numbers of ambulance services.

A common number, that could be easily remembered, should be the ideal solution. A high-tech service that is accessible even to remote areas will soon be a reality, according to the Ambulance Access for All Foundation, a non-profit organisation.

A common ambulance service number, 1298, accessible from any part of the State, will be introduced in the State soon. The system has successfully been implemented in Mumbai with CDMA and GSM networks, according to the representatives of the Foundation.

The project aims to operate more than 10 ambulances in each district. The chain of ambulances will have radio equipment connected to a central control unit and a 24-hour call centre capable of replying to calls in Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada in addition to English and Hindi.

The ambulances will be positioned in different locations to facilitate speedy service. The control room will be capable of locating them with the help of computerised geographical positioning system. The network will be of immense help in disaster-hit locations because it depends on a radio network and not on the mobile services.

The ambulance services in Mumbai could save many lives during the serial blast when the mobile services were blocked, according to Foundation sources. The Foundation has invited voluntary bodies in Kerala willing to be part of the chain. Hospitals too can join the network, the Foundation sources said. The service is to be activated within two months, the sources said.

With the accident rate being high in the State, the service is expected to be of immense help to the people, especially in areas where good medical attention is scarce.

The Foundation is supported by several organisations such as the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, London Ambulance Service and Harvard Humanitarian Initiative.

Training will be provided to the selected ambulance service providers for operating advanced equipment such as collapsible stretcher, portable ventilator, cardiac monitor and resuscitation kit.

While the Foundation is operating its own ambulances in Mumbai, it is willing to entrust the high-tech ambulances with NGOs in Kerala.

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