RESCUE helicopters in the Western Cape will operate for extended hours during the festive season to support the provincial ambulance service and ensure rapid evacuation of critically ill patients.

SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service spokeswoman Venessa Horn said they would operate from 7am to 10pm from now until the end of February. The SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service is a non-profit aero-medical organisation that has transported patients and emergency staff for the past 40 years.

Horn said: "The extended hours is an extension of Fifa funding received by the Department of Health for service delivery in the Western Cape." The service's aircraft will be highly visible at beaches and other tourist spots. On peak festive days there will be two Metro Red Cross AMS helicopters in Cape Town and one covering the Garden Route. They will be staffed by AMS and Metro Advanced Life Support paramedics and will respond within five minutes to calls received via the metro control room.

The service will host a festive season programme at Monwabisi beach from lOam until 2pm on Friday "Monwabisi was chosen because it is one of the beaches with the highest number of drowning incidents reported during peak days. We invite the public to view a close-up of the rescue fleet and rescue simulation." Horn said.

Article:         Cape Argus

Journalist:   Staff Reporter

Date:           8 December 2010