[Johannesburg East, GP 27 May 2012]
The ER24 Discovery Medicopter team and ER24 JHB East team had a busy afternoon today, the Medicopter being called out to assist at three incidents, while the ground crew stabilised and treated the patients.
An accident at the corners of Snake Road and Dewald Hattingh Road happened at around 13:00, where a Mercedes SLK and Nissan Quashqai collided into one another. Both men in the SLK were flung out of the vehicle, as the convertible top was down. One of the men died on the scene, despite efforts by paramedics to save his life. His injuries were too severe and he was later declared deceased. The second patient, believed to have been the vehicle’s passenger, was airlifted to Union Hospital as he had suffered critical injuries and required urgent medical attention.
A 32 year old woman and her six month old baby had been in the Nissan at the time. They had both suffered moderate injuries and were treated by paramedics on scene. They were then taken to the local provincial hospital for further assessment and care.
At approximately 15:00, the Medicopter received their next call out. This time, paramedics required assistance with a woman who had been flung from a horse at a farm in Springs. Because of the possible injuries that the 28 year old woman may have sustained to her back, the Medicopter would be the best possible way to get to hospital quickly and smoothly. She was stabilised on scene and taken to Union Hospital for treatment.
On their way back to their base at Lanseria airport, the Medicopter was once again called out to assist with a patient in a critical condition. This time, a man was critically injured in an incident at his home in Witfield, Boksburg. The man had sustained a critical head injury and ER24 JHB East paramedics were once again quick to call out assistance to get the man to hospital as rapidly as possible.
While they stabilised the 67 year old man on scene, the Medicopter landed on a nearby field, after which the man was airlifted to the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg.
Vanessa Jackson, ER24
