Lifeline on the move

B D Bansode,who has been working as an ambulance driver for the past 23 years,says,“I have been working for Deendayal Memorial Hospital for two years now. Initially,when I ventured into this profession,I used to feel apprehensive. The pressure at times was too much for me to handle. I would easily get nervous when I had to bring patients of burn cases. This was something that I had to really work upon. Now,as time has passed,I have molded myself into a much more mature person – I don’t let my emotions come in the way of my job.”

Now,when Bansode attends an emergency call,he leaves behind all his fears and nervousness and streamlines his focus; the only thought that he carries at that critical moment is – “I have to reach the hospital as fast as possible,as the life of the patient lies in my hands.”

Ambulance drivers are trained to be strong; their confidence levels are so high that even the scariest of situations – cases of life and death – don’t shake their courage and determination. “When we joined this profession,we were provided with basic life support training. When I go for a call,I am always accompanied by a ward boy,who mostly does the job of basic medical support like installing oxygen cylinders and applying first aid methods. However,as I am also a part of the entire process,I believe my training could be of immense help during extreme emergencies,” explains Pawar Pushkar,ambulance driver of Sancheti Hospital.

The speeding vehicle certainly leaves behind an air of tension and touches upon the nerves of every passer-by. But has anyone stopped to think about how stressful it is for the ambulance driver to drive in such crazy traffic,knowing the responsibility of someone’s life lies in his driving skills? “With the increasing traffic of Pune,the life-saving responsibility has become more critical. I try my best to drive as fast as I can but on several occasions young people try to cut across the vehicle. It’s sad that they don’t understand the severity of the situation. We are allowed to break traffic rules and traffic policemen cooperate with us and help in clearing the way,” says Milind Gogawale,ambulance driver of Ruby Hall Clinic.

Amidst all the humdrum of rushing to an emergency case,bringing the patient to the hospital by maneuvering through crazy traffic,dealing with the emotions of the patient’s family and undergoing constant pressure from the hospital,the drivers feel the contentment of lending a helping hand in saving a life. Nagnath Umage,who runs a private ambulance service,shares that one moment that he will remember all his life. “Last year,when I was in Poona Hospital,I received an emergency call to attend to a patient who was undergoing a cardiac arrest. I rushed out of the hospital,got into my ambulance,turned the siren on and headed towards the site. While coming back,I had to drive through a ‘No Entry’ to save time. Few hours later,when the situation was under control,the patient’s relatives profusely thanked me for being prompt. This really touched me and I will always remember their gratitude,” he says.