Mysuru: In an effort to reinforce the importance of timely emergency medical care and public cooperation during emergencies, Manipal Hospital Mysuru organised an Ambulance Awareness Rally on the occasion of World Emergency Day recently.  

The initiative, conducted under the Manipal Ambulance Response Service (MARS) Manipal Hospitals, Mysuru, brought together emergency care professionals, ambulance personnel, hospital leadership and traffic authorities to spread awareness about the critical role of rapid medical response. 

The rally, comprising 10 MARS ambulances, was flagged off from Manipal Hospital by K.S. Sundar Raj, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime & Traffic), Mysuru and K.T. Mathews Thomas, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), NR Sub-Division, in the presence of Pramod Kunder, Cluster Director, KMC, AC and Manipal Hospitals, B.J. Sandeep Patel, Hospital Director, Dr. A.R. Maqsood Ahmed, Senior Consultant, Neurosurgery, Dr. C.B. Keshavamurthy, Senior Consultant, Interventional Cardiology, doctors, employees and general public. The rally traversed key parts of the city before returning to the hospital. 

Speaking on the occasion, DCP Sundar Raj said, “An ambulance on the road is carrying more than a patient — it is carrying hope. Every minute lost due to traffic congestion or lack of public cooperation can have serious consequences. We urge all motorists to remain alert, follow traffic rules and immediately give way to ambulances. Creating awareness about responsible road behaviour is essential to strengthening our emergency response system and ultimately saving more lives.” 

ACP Mathews Thomas said, “Emergency response is a shared responsibility between the authorities, healthcare providers and the public. Simple actions such as keeping intersections clear, avoiding unnecessary lane blocking and promptly making way for ambulances can significantly reduce response times.” 

Dr. Maqsood Ahmed added, “In neurological emergencies such as stroke, severe head injuries, brain haemorrhage and spinal trauma, every minute is critical. We often receive patients after the golden hour, when valuable time has already been lost, limiting treatment options and increasing the risk of permanent disability or even death.”  

Dr. Keshavamurthy said “When someone experiences a heart attack, every passing minute means more damage to the heart muscle. We often see patients arriving too late because they ignored early warning signs or got delayed in traffic. Such delays can cost precious heart function — and sometimes, a life.” 

Emphasising the hospital’s commitment to community preparedness, Sandeep Patel said, “Through our Basic Life Support (BLS) and CPR awareness programmes, including initiatives conducted with the Mysuru Traffic Police, we have trained citizens and first responders with essential life-saving skills. A timely CPR attempt by a bystander can make a critical difference while emergency medical teams are on their way.”