Pearly Beach
EMERGENCY ROOM
082 707 1811
NOODHULPKAMER
Pearly Beach

Pearly Beach now boasts its own Emergency / First-Aid Room, a valuable asset to both residents and visitors. Since its official opening on 31 October 2007, one paramedic and one registered nursing sister have been available to respond to medical emergencies and vehicle accidents in and around Pearly Beach. The Emergency Room is located next to the Rooibier Restaurant in Law Street, at the entrance to the town.

Apart from the four medical personnel, there is a staff of ten volunteers who help with emergency medical aid and manage the administrative side of the initiative. One member of the medical team is always on standby to receive calls on the emergency number (which is 082 707 1811). When a call comes through the appropriate member of the team is contacted telephonically and emergency help is given. However, since the emergency response service is not a clinic, patients will either be referred to a doctor, or the local ambulance service, Ambumed, will be called. In the case of state-patients, the government ambulances are used.

Since the Emergency Room is a private, volunteer-run initiative, it survives through donations and receives no state funding. However, it is fully supported by the government as this letter from Frans Krige, director of the Department of Health in the Overberg states: “The community's initiative is truly praiseworthy and is greatly appreciated by the Department of Health. The whole initiative is supported by the Department."

In order to help raise funds for the Emergency Room, a jeweller from Cape Town has generously donated a necklace (see pic) worth R15 600 for fundraising. It can be won in a raffle, which will be drawn on 31 December 2007 at Die Rooibier. Raffle tickets are available from Die Rooibier as well as the Gansbaai Tourism Bureau and cost R25 each.

So enter 082 707 1811 into your phonebook now, and remember, it's not a clinic - emergencies only!

For more information please phone:
Sandra Prinsloo: 072 129 2400 — Ilse Keet: 083 962 4719