Thai Health Ministry Is Well Prepared For New Year: Minister

[webfact]

Health Ministry is well prepared for New Year: Minister

CHIANG RAI, Dec 25 -- As holidaymakers prepare to leave the Thai capital headed upcountry to celebrate the upcoming New Year’s holidays, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said his ministry has set up a hotline as well as about 100 ambulances, boats and helicopters nationwide to help revelers who may be injured in accidents.

Expressing concerns during the so-called seven high-risk New Year’s holidays which start from December 29 to January 4, Mr Jurin told journalists that more accidents during the period occur every year and people should cooperate to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities.

The Public Health Ministry has prepared medical personnel, neccesary medicines, and the hotline number 1669, he said, adding that ambulances should arrive at the scene of an accident within 10 minutes while they have also prepared about 100 ambulance, boats and helicopters to help transport wounded revelers.

Many road accidents usually occur during New Year’s holidays in Thailand. More than 300 people were killed in road accidents nationwide during last year’s New Year holidays.

Drivers are most important and also behind most car accidents, Mr Jurin said. Motorcyclists must wear helmets while car drivers must wear safety belts.

They should also not drink alcohol before or while driving and refrain from speeding, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-12-25