Monday, December 25, 2006

Pregnant Paramedic injured in Crash

An ER24 paramedic was injured when a taxi drove into the front side of the ambulance on the driver's side. Bernadine Cilliers (23) was busy reversing the ambulance into a driveway in Barbara Street, Germiston - when the taxi collided with the ambulance.

The ambulance was dispatched to a house in the street for a medical emergency. On arrival they found the patient in the house in a critical condition and had to receive immediate medical attention. Bernadine's partner (Marina Divov) was busy treating the patient in the house when the accident occurred.

Due to the layout of the house the ambulance had to be reversed into the yard for easy and rapid transportation of the ill patient. Divov said that Cilliers went out to bring the ambulance into the yard along with the stretcher when the incident occurred. "I was busy with the patient and heard a loud crash, I just knew something had happened to Bernadine", said Divov.

Divov rushed outside and found Cilliers in the driver's seat of the ambulance complaining of severe neck pain. Paramedics stabilized her on scene and transported her with another ambulance to the Glynnwood Hospital in Benoni. She is in a stable condition and will receive routine examinations to ensure the safety and health of herself and the unborn child.

Five people of the taxi were injured on scene. Paramedics treated the patients for minor cuts and bruises. They were all transported to a local hospital nearby. The driver of the taxi did not sustain any injuries and was assessed by paramedics. The taxi came to a standstill on the opposite side of the road with the windscreen and doors smashed.

The patient in the house was transported first from the scene with another ER24 ambulance, in a stable condition, to the Johannesburg General Hospital. Cilliers was transported with a third ER24 ambulance shortly after.

The family of the patient in the house, said they were outside to help Cilliers get the ambulance into the yard when they saw the taxi driving into the ambulance.

It is unclear why and how the accident happened at this stage. The accident will be investigated. Ekhuruleni Metro Police and SAPS attended the scene.

Bernadine is employed as a paramedic for almost six years now.

ER24 would wish to thank the family of the patient for their assistance with Cilliers and the Ekhuruleni Emergency Services - especially Mr. Kevin Dyken - for his assistance with our paramedics and other patients.

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