KUWAIT CITY, Oct 13: Director of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department Dr. Ahmad Al-Shatti affirmed the importance of researching and evaluating the factors contributing to traffic accidents to develop an effective preventative strategy. In an interview with the daily, he highlighted that routine data analysis is essential for identifying problem areas and implementing proactive measures. Dr. Al-Shatti shared recommendations from the EMS department’s third quarter report for 2024, which highlighted the need for a comprehensive strategy to reduce traffic accidents and enhance community awareness. According to the report, approximately 7,774 road accidents were handled during the first nine months of this year, with 454 cases of arrivals and departures at Kuwait’s ports.

Among these, 59 cases required medical evacuation in coordination with the Ministry of Health. From January 1 to September 30, 2024, a total of 121,852 cases were handled by the EMS department. This included approximately 803 cases transported by air ambulance and 100,370 cases by ground ambulance. In addition, 28 mock exercises were conducted to ensure preparedness. During the same period, there were about 96,970 requests for assistance, of which approximately 69,722 were transferred to hospitals and medical centers, and about 30,648 were reported as non-urgent cases. Dr. Al-Shatti praised the promptness of emergency response teams, highlighting a reduction in response time from an average of 8.5 minutes in 2023 to 7.8 minutes in 2024, which is a decrease of 0.7 minutes.

He said that this improvement in response time highlights the effectiveness of medical teams and the importance of investing in technology and training to enhance response times and overall performance. Furthermore, Dr. Al-Shatti called for the implementation of several regulations aimed at preventing traffic accidents. He explained that ongoing education can significantly reduce accident rates. These include strengthening awareness campaigns about the dangers of irresponsible driving, urging the use of seat belts, and encouraging adherence to traffic laws.

Dr. Al-Shatti stressed the importance of following traffic laws, indicating that there are severe penalties for violations such as speeding and driving under the influence. He affirmed that effective law enforcement can deter risky behavior among drivers. Dr. Al-Shatti highlighted the need for infrastructure development, asserting that safe and well-maintained roads, along with functional traffic signals, play a huge role in reducing accidents. He emphasized the importance of utilizing modern technological tools, such as surveillance cameras and smart navigation systems, to improve road safety. Dr. Al-Shatti urged the public to use applications that provide real-time traffic and accident information, promote safe driving practices, and avoid distractions, such as using a phone while driving, or driving when fatigued. He stressed the necessity for relevant authorities to study and analyze past accidents to understand their causes and develop strategies for prevention. Such measures can empower drivers to respond more effectively to accidents and ultimately save lives. In addition, Dr. Al-Shatti highlighted the importance of community training and offering First Aid courses for both drivers and passengers.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff