Contribution from Marieke Brown.
Short answer: A LOT!
Our local Red Cross ambulance and crew have been kept very busy since high season began this year. So far this season, they have treated 47 casualties for a variety of accidents and ailments, including car crashes, deep cuts, severe dehydration, falls, and semi-drownings. The semi drownings are one of the most dangerous kind of incident as these need speed of response for survival. We have had 6 people removed from the water in an unresponsive state this high season, and due to our quick acting paramedics and life guards, 5 of these people were successfully resuscitated and survived!
One key piece of equipment that has been contributing to this high success rate is the defibrillator machine which is used to restart the heart in the event of a heart attack or heart stopping. Terry Richardson and Linda Mulgrew from North Akumal have been working really hard to increase the number of defibrillator machines in Akumal so that we are never more than a few minutes away from one should we need it. Terry tells me that the survival rate from CPR alone is about 5%; however, with the use of a defib machine or AED, the survival rate is over 70%! Each security station in Akumal will have a defibrillator machine, and there are also machines located at Hotel Akumal Caribe and La Buena Vida Bar and Restaurant.
In addition to this, Frank and Jean Lyons, long time visitors to Akumal, have donated a defibrillator unit to the Akumal Red Cross Ambulance so that they can have it with them at all times– they have been borrowing one from Hotel Akumal Caribe up until. Terry Richardson also donated a training unit so that the Red Cross can run training courses here in Akumal to ensure that as many people as possible in our community know how to operate defibs.
The first AED training course took place last week in the CEA conference room with staff from CEA, Las Casitas, North Akumal Security, and La Buena Vida all refreshing their CPR skills and learning how to properly use the Defib unit.
In terms of funding to keep the ambulance running, we have still not hit the monthly number that we need to maintain the ambulance in our community long term. The fundraising dinner at Turtle Bay and many donors who chose to give a yearly donation in advance have helped us cover the short-fall over high season, but we need to keep fundraising to keep the bills and salaries paid throughout the year. We just received a very generous donation from local owner Nancy Schiffer. The wonderful Bruce and Nancy Lohn from Villa Valhalla have also offered to donate rental income from a one week stay at their villa this summer (in addition to their monthly donation), in memory of Akumal Comedy Festival founder and Red Cross supporter Gus Lynch.
THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THE AKUMAL AMBULANCE ON THE ROAD
I’d like to take this opportunity to give a big thanks to the supporters of the ambulanc
- Hotel Akumal Caribe
- Akumal Bay Resort
- Turtle Bay Cafe
- La Buena Vida
- Akumal Dive Center
- Akumal Dive Shop
- Akumal Direct Reservations
- Playa Caribe Condos
- Edventures
- La Iguana Condos
- La Tortuga #10
- Caribbean Fantasy
- Yool Caanal #3
- Vecinos de Akumal Sur
- Bob and Sherwood Anders
- Bruce and Nancy Lohn
- Nancy Schiffer (John Schiffer Foundation)
- Frank and Jean Lyons
- Secrets Resort
- and all of the extremely generous individuals who support our fundraising events, and make one off donations in person or through the PayPal link.
HOW TO DONATE – If you would like to support the Akumal Ambulance, you can make a donation that will go directly to the Red Cross in Tulum by clicking on the DONATE button at the bottom of this Akumal Now article. If you don’t have PayPal, you can also donate using your credit card through the same link.
Right now we have enough commitments for 2016 to cover $37,610 pesos a month. To operate the ambulance, pay the staff, and cover their living expenses requires $50,000 pesos a month (minimum).
That leaves us with a shortfall of $12,390 pesos per month, which is only around $700 usd. If we continue to run short, we risk losing the ambulance and the paramedics who have saved so many lives and treated so many injuries. Some people might ask about only keeping the ambulance in high season, but that is not feasible as it is difficult to assemble a great crew of medics, equipment, and the ambulance. If we let it go for any period it could be more costly to get it back.
So please consider donating any amount, even just a few dollars a month would be fantastic. With link below the article, you can set up a recurring monthly payment of as little as $1. If you live in the greater Akumal area, this ambulance is here for you – often just minutes away. If you are a snowbird or visitor to our lovely area, your support will give you the peace of mind that when in Akumal, help is just minutes away from you and your family.
If you are looking for the Akumal Ambulance, you will find it stationed in our community 24 hours per day. In the day time it is just outside the Akumal Arch next to the taxistas, or close to the Akumal Dive Shop. In the evening the paramedics have accommodations generously donated by the Secrets Akumal hotel.
If you have a medical emergency and need to call the ambulance, the number to call is
Cruz Roja Tulum – 984 802 5521
Thank you all!
Warm regards,
Marieke
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