RAILWAYS SELF-PROPELLED ACCIDENT
RELIEF MEDICAL VAN
The Railways have
developed a Self-Propelled Accident Relief Medical Van. It is
maintained in a state of readiness to leave within 20 minutes
of a train accident. It has 13 technical and 21 medical experts.
The two-coach
Self-Propelled Accident Relief Medical Van has a power car coach
and a medical coach.
The power car
coach is equipped with diesel engine based propulsion and a hydraulic
transmission unit for quick acceleration at a high speed of 100
kilometre per hour. Besides, it is equipped with hydraulic operated
metal cutter and window bar cutting tools to extricate passengers
from coaches, oxy-acetylene gas cutting tools, powerful electric
spot lights, hydraulic jacks, ropes, ladders, general purpose
tools, light weight tents, folding chairs for setting up control
rooms and to provide rest to injured passengers. A diesel generator
set is provided for power requirement including air-conditioning
for three to four days at a remote site and an industrial quality
Aquaguard with 2000 litres potable water storage facility.
The medical coach
is equipped with an air-conditioned medical ward with 12 beds,
an Operation Theatre for emergency surgery with facilities for
tracheotomy, venesection, amputations and other life saving procedures.
It also has a state of the art anesthesia apparatus, defibrillator,
pulse oxy-metre and a couatary. Sterilized dressing material,
splints, first-aid haversack, blankets and clothing for the injured
and emergency medicines are also provided. Facility for auto-claving
and sterilization, oxygen supply, artificial respiration equipment
and resuscitation kit are also provided. In addition, a data base
of private, civil, medical hospitals, blood banks and voluntary
organizations within 10 kilometres of the railway track is maintained
to provide aid in case of accidents. Besides, modern communication
facilities with internal mobile exchange and digital cameras are
provided.
The Railways
have planned to have at least one Self-Propelled Accident Relief
Medical Van in each of the 67 Divisions to reach accident sites
within first hour. This forms part of the plan for streamlining
rescue and relief measures in the event of a train accident.
