Qatar- QRCS team rescues 347 swimmers in 6 years
Date
5/28/2016 9:51:05 PM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Members of the rescue team of Qatar Red Crescent Society bringing a swimmer to the shore after he shouted for help.
DOHA: The rescue team of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) handled 347 drowning cases at the Sealine beach in the past six years, under its marine rescue programme.
Other cases include injuries involving 1,851 people, of whom 1,841 taken to the clinic.
A total of 110 cases were referred to Hamad General Hospital. Since 2010, the programme has served 4,039 people.
According to a statement issued by QRCS, 33 percent of drowning cases were ascribed to drifting, 28 percent caused for not having proper knowledge about swimming, physical fatigue accounted 20 percent of cases and 19 percent cases involved other reasons.
The Medical Affairs Department of QRCS issued a report on its marine rescue programmer, conducted at the Sealine resort for the sixth year, as part of a memorandum of understanding signed with Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).
The programme is monitored in conjunction with QOC in line with its overall objective, using follow-up data from records of the Emergency, Ambulance Service, and the rescue centre.
In relation to implementation, QRCS coordinates with QOC for funding, monitoring and recommendations. An engineering office is hired to support and facilitate work.
Other partners include the Ministry of Interior’s Coasts and Borders Security Department and South Security Department.
The Ministry of Public Health provides medical licensing and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) receives serious cases.
The programme comprise six lifeguards, an ambulance, one doctor and two nurses permanently stationed at QRCS’s clinic in QOC’s Sealine camp.
Staff are tested by swimming 400 metres in less than 10 minutes. They also attend basic and advanced training courses in first aid, marine rescue, and jet ski rescue.
The Peninsula