LAHORE, Dec 30: The Rescue 1122 received over 1.8 million calls in Control and Command Room in 2006, of which only 26,934 were found genuine, according to a press release issued by Punjab Emergency Service (PES) Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer.

Dr Naseer asked the public to dial emergency numbers only in case of urgent situation.

He said the PES rescued 22,994 people besides conducting 26,934 rescue operations in the city in the year 2006.

The Rescue 1122 helped people in 11,798 traffic accidents, 519 fire incidents, 108 building collapses and 20 explosions. The service responded to 14,489 emergency calls from homes and shifted patients to hospitals.

The service averagely took seven minutes to respond each call with only six stations and 14 ambulances in the city.

The service helped save lives of victims of ammonia gas leakage in a Kot Lakhpat fruit market on Oct 16, a bomb explosion near Rescue 1122 Headquarters on Ferozepur Road on Nov 17 and Islampura building collapse in November.

The staff also acted in time to save patients of spinal injuries and cardiac respiratory arrest.

Dr Naseer said proper management of such incidents had been possible because of good quality training of the rescuers.

He said the initiative would contribute towards a “safer Punjab” as envisaged by the chief minister. —Reporter