A group of Derry taxi drivers have signed up to provide life-saving “999” treatment.
Twelve drivers in the city have been equipped with medical equipment, including defibrillators, to attend emergencies.They will work closely with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.
John McPolin, from the Ambulance Service, has welcomed the initiative and said drivers would be notified to attend incidents, such as cardiac arrests, if they were in the vincinity.
Mr McPolin stressed the taxi drivers were not an emergency service and were required to work within the law, such as keeping to speed limits.
Eamon O’Donnell, of the North West Taxi Properties (NWTP), said the taxi drivers were looking forward to participating in the initiative.
Volunteers from the NWTP already operate a “Taxi Watch” programme in the city where taxi drivers and others are trained and equipped with life saving equipment, namely the “Balcan Throwline.” This allows the taxi driver the opportunity to make a timely intervention in a life and death situation after someone has entered the water.
To date one line was thrown and the person was rescued from the River Foyle.
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