Wednesday 6 May 2015

First responders vying to be first .


Lots of confused tourists in Bodrum today trying to work out why there were so many motorbikes and good looking guys in high visibility jackets in the centre of Bodrum today.  I'm sure a lot of visitors got on the ferry back to are Kos none the wiser.  Those familiar with the number 112 would have understood  that they were something to do with emergency services and maybe realised that they were all paramedics. A relatively new concept in Turkey - first responders on motorbikes; able to get to accidents and emergencies before ambulances arrive.  The guys I photographed had university degrees in paramedics, a course that didn't exist in my day. 


Seventeen Turkish teams and one each from Britain, Hungary and Slovenia were racing in time trials that involved manoeuvring around traffic cones, driving through the busy Bodrum streets and practicing  CPR.  The winning team come back to Bodrum on a free holiday.


There's never a good time to fall ill or over but today was the day.

8 comments:

  1. Judging by the number of accidents I have seen on the roads, these guys are very much needed. Missed my chance to ogle.

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  2. Looks like all happening in Bodrum - liked the idea of free holiday in Bodrum :)

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  3. Helen Devries6 May 2015 at 15:33

    I wonder if they would be awarded extra points if they stopped mid course to go to someone's assistance...

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  4. I'd like to have been there to see it!

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  5. Maneuvering through Bodrum traffic? - which has got to be at least on a par with Istanbul - I'm betting on the Turkish team!

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  6. . . another 'medical' reason that I'm glad I live here in Turkey.

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  7. They'd be queueing up to give mouth-to-mouth!

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