Medics cycle to the rescue

Medics cycle to the rescue
Netcare 911 and its partners have launched South Africa’s first 'Cycle Medics '. DANIEL LEMMER REPORTS.
When ahol¬idaymaker suffers a heart attack or drowns at the beach, onlookers wait for the howl of an ambulance. But from now on, they are more likely to see the quiet ap¬proach of a panting Net¬care 911 ' cycle medic'.
The new 'cycle medic' concept was presented by Netcare 911 at the Netcare Margate Hospital on Wednesday last week.
The event was at¬tended by hospital staff and the cycle medics, lifeguards and sponsors, among them Netcare 911, Winners Cycles, Ubuntu Life¬guards, Stat Tiakeni Medical, Union Mo¬tors and Auto Exec.
The six cycle med¬ics, trained paramedics and lifeguards on bicy¬cles, are the answer to rescue delays when holiday traffic con¬gests roads and slows ambulances down.
''An ambulance takes, on average, about 15 minutes to get to an emer¬gency. The cycle medics can do the trip in four to six minutes", said Chris Botha, in charge of media liaison for Netcare 911.
In the case of a heart attack or a drowning, a few min¬utes can save lives.
The project was the brainchild of Margate Netcare 911 staff, un¬der Craig Botha, the operations manager, and Ubuntu Lifeguards. Its aim is purely to benefit the community and is the only medical cycle project of its kind in the whole of South Africa.
The project, which operates only during the Easter and December holidays, has many other hidden advantages.
"We see things we wouldn't see from an ambulance. We've al¬ready helped a few peo¬ple and some ask for our medical advice," said Dustin Norris; one of the new cycle medics.
The cycle medics are divided into three teams of two, consisting of a trained paramedic and a lifeguard., The first team will cover the area from Shelly Beach to Uvongo, the second will cover the area from Luc¬ien Beach to Ramsgate. The third team will operate from TO Strand to Southbroom.
They have been on the road since Sunday last week.