The Gauteng Department of Health has reported that the current average response time for an ambulance in Gauteng ranges from 30 to 60 minutes. Internationally, the standard is only seven minutes for life-threatening emergencies ⏳
The EMS and ambulance crisis in South Africa is making it less likely that patients will get the help they need in time.
Long response times may, in some cases, be due to the lack of ambulances available. In 2018, South Africa had only 1971 state-run ambulances on the road. This falls well short of the recommended 5700 ambulances, or one per every 10 000 people. Since then, the situation has worsened significantly.
Delays in getting a patient to a hospital can result in a worsened medical condition or death:
- In 2021, for example, a diabetic woman collapsed in Witfield. Callers were told that an ambulance was on its way – but no vehicle arrived. The woman subsequently died.
- An earlier case in the Eastern Cape resulted in a young pregnant woman losing her baby. After a four-hour wait, the woman’s parents paid a neighbour to take her to the hospital. The ambulance arrived eight hours after the original call.
How are we helping?
- Once you’ve pressed the in-app emergency button, we instantly have access to your live location.
- Our emergency call centre immediately dispatches the nearest ambulance.
- While you wait, a trained paramedic will keep you calm and provide you with medical advice over the phone.
In addition to doing our very best to shorten emergency response times, our paid RoadSave members also receive up to R10,000 ambulance cover a year 🚑 💰
It’s always better to be safe than sorry, folks!
Drive safely!
Jono 🙋🏽♂️
