Doctor and volunteers stabilise a patient in an ambulance

Picture used for representational purpose only

Bengaluru: On Saturday, a 25-year-old man was struggling for breath and his oxygen saturation level was below 80%. He was unable to get a bed in the hospital and that is when a doctor and few volunteers stabilised him with first aid in an ambulance.

At 10 pm on Friday, Salman, a resident of Lingarajpuram complained of shortness of breath and shivering and called Khalil ur Rahman, a member of NGOs like The Almighty Foundation, Mercy Mission and others.

At midnight, Rahman rushed to Salman’s home with an ambulance. He said, “He had not undergone a Covid test but kept saying he has Covid and wanted to go to a hospital. His oxygen levels had dropped to 88%. I made him lie down in the prone position and began calling people for a hospital but in vain. I turned to Syed Risalath Jah of TAF for help.” Syed reached the place with Dr Mohammed Imran, who runs a clinic offering free service on Tannery road. They reached the house at 2 am and Salman’s oxygen levels had dropped to 65%. He also had a high fever.

Dr Imran said, “We found general beds without oxygen. Rahman had a cylinder in the ambulance, so we administered oxygen between 2 am and 3 am. We kept him under observation and he responded well.” Within three hours, his oxygen level increased to 90%.

Salman got tested on Saturday morning and he is waiting for the result.

Syed told the way Salman responded was miraculous and he realised the importance of building confidence. He said, “I request hospitals to accommodate patients who reach their doorstep, even if it’s in the out-patient section. They should not be sent back for lack of a Covid test. A friend died because he was feeling breathless, had chest congestion and was not given immediate medical attention. After his death, we got the report and he was negative.”

Rahman advised to use marriage halls or schools supported by doctors and volunteers, where oxygen can be provided with beds.

He said, “After helping Salman to his home, we left for sehri (morning meal during Ramzan) and received a call for another burial. Most of our days are like this, devoid of food, sleep. But helping at least one person like Salman makes it worthwhile.”