40 people were trapped… and died in their vehicles in Dubai

A total of 40 people got trapped in their vehicles and died in traffic accidents since the beginning of the year till the end of July, Lt Col Ahmad Atiq Burqibah, Deputy Director of Dubai Police Search Rescue Department told Emirates 24|7.

Col Burqibah added that this was caused by 107 accidents.

“Over the past seven months of this year, there were 107 traffic accidents where we were called to help in releasing passengers and victims who got stuck in their vehicles. In these accidents, 40 people died, 55 suffered from major injuries, 62 suffered from medium injuries, while 77 had minor injuries.”

He pointed out that his department does not get involved in any traffic accident, unless they are called in by the operations department of Dubai Police to free passengers stuck in vehicles.

Col Burqibah added that last year, 40 people died for the same reason, while 83 suffered major injures, 72 medium injures, while 84 had minor injuries in a total of 136 traffic accidents.

“In all the cases where we were involved, we succeeded in releasing the stuck passengers out of the car and handing them over to the ambulance teams.

"We have never came across a case where the stuck passengers died while we were trying to release them. In other cases, we are called to accident sites where the passengers are dead already before we reach them,” he said.

He pointed out that the major hindrance they face is the interference of motorists passing by and people or those standing to watch them while they are trying to save lives.

“This is frustrating as many times we come across people who interfere and get angry at the rescue team which is trying to release the stuck passengers.

"Majority of the people shout and try to teach us from where and how to cut the vehicle to release the stuck passengers which is not good as we know better and we are well trained on how to cut a vehicle to release passengers without causing them any harm or complicating their medical condition.”

He added that if the passenger is in stable condition, they take their time in releasing them with no harm.

“However, if a passengers medical condition is getting worse, then we try to take them out as soon as possible to save their lives. Examples of this could be if the vehicle engine starts burning. We take them out quickly even if that could cause complications or side effects to their cases because the priority in this case is to save the passengers lives.”

Col Burqibah called on all motorists who reach accident sites before the police and the ambulance not to move the passengers or try to release them from the vehicles as this may lead to serious complications or even death of the passengers.

“The one very important advice is not to give the injured people water to drink as this can cause severe complication to their medical condition if they have internal bleeding. Also they shouldn’t try to move the passengers because if they have broken bones, then the sharp edge of the broken bones can cause internal bleeding.

"They must wait for the police and rescue to come and move the injured passengers.”

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