Letter: Stationing ambulances strategically can save lives

Dear Editor, Here’s my comment on “Emergency response time questioned” and Secretary of Health Bob Williams’ reply.

I am an American expat and have been living on the island for one and a half years. Unlike US and other developed countries and their emergency response time, the Cook Islands have limited resources. It was unfortunate that the incident occurred in Muri, which is further away from the hospital.

While sending my prayers to the victim’s family, I am wondering what about future solutions? Can an ambulance be stationed in the Muri area? What about Avaavaroa Passage down south?

Not just drowning victims but it makes better sense to strategically spread the ambulances across the island to cut down on critical response time. Each village has their own clinic and while the Ministry of Health is getting 24 million dollars to improve health facilities, I would like to see some expansion in the emergency response unit, which will save lives.

(Name and address supplied)