The editorial “Ambulance crews: Heroes, not villains” was truly heartwarming and inspiring. This piece was a welcome breath of fresh air and a relief from the violence and bloodshed that makes up most of the news these days. The media tends to focus on the negative, and I do wish more coverage would be given to those who are actually making an effort to preserve life rather than destroy it. Sadly, it is usually the people most undeserving of recognition — the murderers, the thieves and the corrupt politicians — remain in the media spotlight, while those who truly deserve recognition, such as the brave individuals mentioned in this editorial, are all too often lost in the shadows of less worthy people.

The job of a paramedic certainly is easier said than done. It is easy for us to forget sometimes that paramedics and other first responders are not much different from us and share similar emotions. And while we may cringe upon reading or hearing about some horrific car wreck, they are the ones who must face first hand the real and raw horror of a tragedy; all the while putting their own life at risk to save the life of another.

The only possible suggestion I have is to implement an emergency response system in the Kingdom (if it is not already in use) similar to that is used in the US which enables paramedics to immediately trace the location of a victim without burdening the already distressed caller with the task of explaining the exact address over the phone. With respect to the problems facing ambulance crews in the Kingdom because of a lack of cooperation from family members of the victim, I think it may be beneficial to educate the public, through an awareness campaign for instance, about the important work of emergency responders and what is required of the public to ensure that their work of saving lives is not hindered and that they are able to perform their task successfully.

A campaign could also offer some useful and much needed tips about how and when to call for assistance, what essential information to convey over the phone and what one can expect when paramedics arrive on a scene. What a comfort to know that these ‘real heroes’ are in our midst. They do indeed deserve our support and appreciation. — Muniza Ali, Riyadh