Nowadays ambulances are an integral part of health infrastructure .They all should be equipped with emergency medicine, medical instruments and oxygen. Oxygen being the most important medical help during the time of crisis but unfortunately many a time ambulances don’t have required material or only empty oxygen cylinders.
In remote areas and villages, patients and especially sick babies and children are forced to be transported in general vehicle without any support system. Even if they get ambulance most of the time it will be without oxygen. This is the harse reality and situation faced by medical practitioners working in these areas.I receive many brought dead infant and children every month.
I do believe if such unfortunate babies are somehow supported with oxygen during transportation some might get breath & lease of life.Covid has taught us the importance of oxygen. We have a very useful tool in the form of oxygen concentrator(OC)which can make this life saving gas available as per our need. At present oxygen concentrators operate with AC current so useful only where electricity is available. If we can make its size smaller and operable with 12 Volt DC current, it can be fitted in all the ambulances and all other vehicles too.
It will be beneficial in following ways-
1. There won’t be any need to fill the oxygen cylinder and oxygen will be available once engine is on.
2. If fitted in all Public transport vehicles, it can be readily available in emergency situation like heart attack , syncope or injury.
3.In remote areas where supply of oxygen cylinder is not available or practical but vehicles public or private is available OC can be a source of oxygen in emergency situation.
4. During any natural disaster or accidents large number of victims need oxygen in a short span of time, It can be easily available if all vehicles are fitted with oxygen concentrators OC.
5. all coaches of Railway can be equipped with OC so that oxygen is available in running/moving trains if there is an need or emergency.
I request all to give it a thought and explore the possibility of fitting all vehicles including ambulances with oxygen concentrators.It can be made mandatory.
Dr. K K Dokania
Paediatrician
Kanpur