Newsroom
The State Health Services Organisation (OKYPY) has deployed rapid response rescue motorcycles in Limassol for the first time, aiming to cut emergency response times and improve pre-hospital care in the traffic-congested city.
The initiative, launched on April 17, marks an expansion of OKYPY’s rapid response motorcycle program beyond Nicosia, where it was previously confined. The motorcycles, operated by the Ambulance Service, are designed to navigate traffic more efficiently than traditional ambulances, allowing first responders to reach patients in roughly half the time.
“This is a strategic move to address the operational challenges we face in Limassol, particularly due to heavy traffic and traffic islands that hinder ambulance access,” said Riana Konstantinou, Head of the Ambulance Service, in a social media post.
The rollout follows a spate of fatal road accidents in the region, showcasing the urgent need for faster emergency intervention. The motorcycles will work in tandem with standard ambulances, providing critical care until a full medical team arrives.
According to OKYPY, timely first aid is crucial, each minute of delay in cardiac arrest cases reduces survival rates by 5.5% to 10%.
