Over 200 Medical Dispatch Personnel Handle Emergency Calls During Hajj Season
The Saudi Red Crescent Authority has intensified preparations at the Medical Dispatch Center, the primary point for handling ground emergency field reports, as part of its comprehensive readiness for the 1446 AH Hajj season.
The authority has deployed over 200 qualified personnel—including doctors, specialists, dispatchers, operations operators, and supervisors—to receive emergency calls via the 997 hotline and the “Asafny,” “Tawakkalna,” and “Sehhaty” apps, providing urgent medical guidance.
Coordinators have been assigned to work with relevant entities such as the Civil Defense, Public Security, and the 911 unified center to support ambulance teams, ensure rapid access to patients, and facilitate passage procedures, helping save time and effort in transferring cases to the nearest fully equipped medical facility.
This year, the authority enhanced the technical capabilities of the Medical Dispatch Center by introducing artificial intelligence technologies to provide real-time translation of calls from non-Arabic-speaking pilgrims, aiming to improve information accuracy and boost the efficiency of emergency response.
The reporting process includes identifying caller information, accurately confirming the incident location using various methods such as automated detection and modern communication tools, classifying the medical case, and determining the number and characteristics of those injured.
This enables appropriate response through smart systems, the provision of pre-arrival medical instructions, and the transfer of the report to the Command and Control Center to dispatch the nearest ambulance team. Reports are tracked until field teams arrive to ensure the efficient and professional delivery of emergency medical care.
This integration and coordination between the Medical Dispatch Center, the Command and Control Center, air operations, and relevant sectors reflects the authority’s commitment to mobilizing all human and technical resources to ensure the highest level of preparedness and provide the best emergency services to the pilgrims during the Hajj season.
