Question : First Aid Facilities in Trains

(a) whether first aid facilities including enhanced first aid boxes are available in long distance trains;

(b) if so, whether railway employees are trained to provide first aid treatment to sick/wounded passengers and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether pilot projects in respect of availability of life saving drugs along with doctors and paramedical staff in Duronto and Rajdhani trains have been successful;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps proposed to be taken by the Railways to ensure timely medical assistance/ first aid to the needy passengers during the journey period?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. First Aid Boxes containing essential drugs and dressing materials are provided with the guards of all passenger carrying trains. In addition, Augmented First Aid Boxes with wide range of medicines, disposable medical material, etc. have been provided with the Train Superintendents/ Guards of Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains and some nominated trains. Front line staffs deployed on trains are also trained in rendering First Aid. The Station Masters of all stations have details of doctors, clinics and hospitals, both Government and Private, in the vicinity of the station, so that their services could also be availed, in emergencies. Ambulance services of both Railway hospitals and State Governments are utilized when required.

(c) & (d): No, Madam. A pilot project of deployment of doctors in Duronto Trains was undertaken for a period of two years. During the Pilot Project, it was noted that serious patient could not be treated on board and had to be de-trained for medical treatment at a hospital only because the medical equipments, such as ECG machines etc. do not function properly on the trains due to noise/ vibration etc.

(e): The issue of rendering Medical Assistance/ First Aid to the passengers was examined by Hon’ble Supreme Court and it was ordered that a committee of experts be constituted by All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and recommendations of the committee be implemented by Ministry of Railways. Accordingly, the recommendations of the committee were obtained and have been implemented.

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