The focus keyword in this unfolding situation is ambulance service, as tensions rise between health officials and police following a devastating wildfire in Limassol.
- The focus keyword in this unfolding situation is ambulance service, as tensions rise between health officials and police following a devastating wildfire in Limassol.
On Friday, Charalambos Charilaou, spokesman for the state health services organisation (Okypy), expressed his anger over remarks made by deputy police chief Panicos Stavrou. In a memorandum addressed to parliament, Stavrou had raised concerns about the absence of an ambulance stationed near the coordination centre during the wildfire, which tragically claimed two lives last month.
During an interview on CyBC radio, Charilaou questioned the implication of the police’s demands, asking, “Did they want us to park an ambulance outside the coordination centre to give them Panadol?” He went on to clarify that the ambulance service was actively present in the area, deploying nine ambulances and rescue vehicles to cover the affected zones.
“We had designated personnel for the possibility of airlifting patients and removing them from the fire area,” he explained. A first aid station was established in Kyvides, but as the fire spread, the centre was relocated to Erimi for safety reasons. He firmly stated that representatives from the ambulance service were present at the coordination centre throughout the crisis.
Charilaou further emphasised that ambulances were not idle; they were engaged on the ground, providing crucial first aid to those in need. “It is not possible for anyone to question the presence of the ambulances. We can prove to them where each ambulance was at any given moment,” he asserted, highlighting the use of GPS technology to track the ambulances’ locations.
“With all this data, and with what is recorded electronically, no one can question the response of either the ambulance service or Okypy in general,” Charilaou added, urging the police to retract their statements. He deemed the police’s report as inaccurate and out of touch with the reality faced by emergency responders during the wildfire.
In his memorandum, Stavrou noted that the crisis management centre had received numerous calls for first aid assistance from those affected by the fire. He insisted that the presence of ambulances at the scene or at least at the coordination centre was essential for effective crisis management, raising doubts about their availability.
Additionally, Stavrou directed his criticism towards journalists who were present at the coordination centre, suggesting that their presence led to issues and confrontations. He advised that media personnel should be supported in their work but from a distance, under police or firefighter supervision.
