Rescue 1122 organizes awareness walk for the victims of Road Traffic Crashes

Lahore: The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) in collaboration with City Traffic Police Lahore, Transport & Road Safety Foundation organized an awareness walk for remembrance of victims for Road Traffic Crashes from Shama Chowk to Rescue 1122 Headquarters on Thursday.

The purpose of the event was to raise awareness about increasing number of road traffic crashes and community participation for prevention of these emergencies.

The awareness walk comprising of school children, teachers, traffic wardens and rescuers started from Shama Chowk, Ferozepur Road, and culminated at Rescue 1122 Headquarters. DG Rescue Punjab Brig. Dr. Arshad Zia led the walk, which was participated by President Transport & Road Safety Foundation K. Z Khushali, Community Safety Wing of Rescue 1122, and traffic wardens from City Traffic Police, Lahore, school children and members of civil society.

The walk aimed to remember the many millions killed or injured in road crashes and their families and communities, as well as to pay tribute to the dedicated emergency services, police and medical professionals who daily deal with the traumatic aftermath of road death and injury.

While addressing the ceremony, the Director General, Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) Brig (r) Dr. Arshad Zia presented the statistics of road traffic crashes in Punjab. According to the data, all District Emergency Services have rescued the victims of some 119, 2261 road traffic crashes in Punjab so far. “Some 3, 287 people die every day globally during road traffic crashes, while 50 people are injured annually,” he said, adding these accidents are the 9^th leading cause of death.

He said that Rescue 1122 is responding to average 500 road traffic accidents on daily basis, involving average 700 victims out of which 400-500 victims are seriously injured, whereas over 200-300 victims are minor injured. Brig. Dr. Arshad Zia said that unless proper action is taken for significant reduction of these accidents, road traffic injuries are predicted to become the 5^th leading cause of death by 2030.

He said that data shows 67% injuries are due to traffic crashes; bikes are involved in 82% traffic crashes whereas 82% traffic crashes victims are aging between one to 40 years. He further stressed upon the teachers to educate students to use helmet while driving motorbikes and always ensure life safety arrangement and abide by traffic laws.

The President Transport & Road Safety Foundation K. Z Khushali said that traffic accidents are affecting each family in Pakistan, but unfortunately media did not focus on such incidents considering them individual cases. He said that Rescue 1122 is doing a commendable job by educating the community members to sensitize them about road traffic crashes.

He further suggested different programs should be launched to create awareness about this leading cause of death amongst youngsters at school and college level. Furthermore, media men should give prime priority by focusing on road traffic crashes for general welfare.