The four response units of the Hungarian Child Rescue Foundation receive 3,000 calls a year. In every tenth case – be it through illness or accident – the life of a child is in direct danger and depends on help arriving on time, says the press release.
Every day the Hungarian Child Rescue Foundation – along with the Hungarian Ambulance Service – works to assist children in critical condition. Its team of 50 consists of pediatricians experienced in intensive child care, as well as drivers. They operate with four child response units stationed in Budapest, Pécs, Győr and, in the summer, at Lake Balaton.
“Our colleagues are the best in their field, ready to handle any critical situation that involves a child in the most professional way possible,” said Dr. Éva Gesztes, head and professional leader of the foundation. “The main task of our response units is to get the team to the accident scene as fast as they can, sometimes even before the ambulance arrives, since one minute may mean the difference between life and death,” she added.
A child response unit is basically identical to the best-equipped emergency ambulance, minus a stretcher. Each unit carries medical equipment worth HUF 20-25 million, so that the Ford Focuses they use are heavier than those you find in everyday traffic. These might reach a speed of 220 km/h on highways. Due to these factors, the vehicles wear out a whole set of summer and winter tires each year.
“Last November we received a call to rescue a 3-year-old boy who was badly burnt. Our way led through Pilis on route 10, where bends and uphill sections made our way very difficult, while the state of the boy was quickly deteriorating. The grip of the tires was a great advantage, since they effectively kept the unit on the road even with all the sudden braking, and we were able to take turns at a higher speed,” said Richárd Doroszlai, a staff member.
“We have been donating high-performance Vredestein tires to the foundation since 2012,” said Tamás Bakonyi, CEO of Apollo Vredestein Ltd. “These tires guarantee the safety of the vehicle and passengers in any weather. In this way we try to facilitate the work of the pediatricians who dedicate their lives to saving children.”
