GEMS paramedics always there for you

Paramedics are usually the first healthcare professionals on the scene and they assess the patient's condition and provide medical treatment before admission to hospital. They work in rapid response ambulance units to deal with medical emergencies, such as sudden illness, road accidents, criminal violence, fires and other incidents.

The primary goal of paramedics is to meet people's immediate treatment needs. They resuscitate and stabilise patients by using advanced life support techniques, administer drips, drugs and oxygen, and apply splints, and also assist with complex hospital transfers.

Mrs Mgoiwa* was one lucky patient who benefitted from the specialist knowledge of paramedics. She was at home with her 12 year old grandson when she experienced numbness in her arm. She phoned the emergency line where one of the GEMS EMS dispatchers, a qualified paramedic, took the call. Mrs Mgoiwa* complained of stiffness on one side of her body and explained that when she looked in the mirror it seemed as if one side of her face was pulling down. Her grandson had helped her out of the bed but there was nobody else at home. The paramedic also asked Mrs Mgoiwa's* grandson about her condition. He said that his grandmother was slurring when she talked and one side of her body was not moving.

The GEMS paramedic could hear the panic in the teen's voice and quickly got him to provide an address to the house and a contact number. In the meantime the paramedic was already making arrangements to dispatch the nearest ambulance to the scene. The paramedic had stayed on the line to keep Mrs Mgoiwa's* grandson calm and to get constant updates on her condition. Minutes later the ambulance crew knocked at the door of Mrs Mogoiwa's* home.

A week later Mrs Mgoiwa's* son phoned to thank the paramedic on duty that day. Mrs Mgoiwa* was still in hospital but in a stable condition.  He believed the quick response had saved his mother's life.

The GEMS Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Provider Network provides unlimited emergency medical assistance to members.
Emergency medical services include:

• Emergency assistance via the telephone;
• Emergency medical response by road or air to the scene of a medical emergency;
• Transfer by road or air to the closest, most appropriate medical facility and
• Repatriation of a patient where medical intervention is required.

The Emergency Medical Evacuation Dispatch (EMED) can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0800 44 4367.

*Not her real name