December 15, 2005
By Sipho Maduna
WHILE the rest of the city is enjoying the Christmas and New Year holidays, emergency management services (EMS) staff are hard at work keeping Joburgers safe.
Dr Audrey Gule, the chief of the EMS, has assured residents that additional resources, like fire engines and ambulances, will be deployed in certain areas, such as Hillbrow and at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.
The Gauteng provincial government has supplied 10 additional ambulances and 80 additional firefighters have been appointed. EMS staff will be strengthened by 500 volunteers, 100 of whom have received special training as firefighters.
Volunteers have received special training as firefighters
"We appreciate the time they are putting in to assist us and the sacrifices they are making," said Malcolm Midgley, the EMS media liaison officer.
"Our main concern is for people to be safe - and they must think before they act."
Citizens have been warned by the EMS to be aware of drunken and reckless driving, small children swimming alone, drunken adults swimming and fireworks, especially on New Year's eve.
Midgley urged parents to keep an eye on children, especially during the festive season as kids were neglected the most during this time.
Joburgers who were driving to holiday destinations, were urged to ensure that their vehicles were roadworthy and drivers should rest every two hours when driving long distances.
Holidaymakers must check if they were heading for a malaria area and take the necessary precautions. Travel clinics could give advice.
In case of any emergency during the holidays, call the Johannesburg EMS on 011 375 5911; the national emergency services number is 10177 or 112 when phoning from a cellphone.
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