With Songkran celebrations kicking off this week, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and Sawang Boriboon Foundation are preparing for the inevitable parade of people injured in vehicle accidents and water fights.
At an April 4 press conference, BHP Deputy Director Dr. Supakorn Winnawan said the hospital’s trauma center would be fully staffed with doctors and nurses specifically trained for emergency medicine. It had prepared for the annual Thai New Year carnage by training staff to handle the rampant car accidents that occur during April each year and prepared a dedicated highway-transport service to speed the injured to doctors quickly.
BHP Deputy Director Dr. Supakorn Winnawan and Banglamung Police Col. Suwith Sawaengmongkol (center left and right), hoping for the best but preparing for the worst, say they are ready for the inevitable annual Songkran road carnage.
As part of the preparation, BHP organized 110 hours of emergency medical training for hospital personnel and staff from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation. The two organizations are working with Banglamung Police to facilitate traffic road safety and emergency transport of the injured.
Banglamung Police Col. Suwith Sawaengmongkol urged the public to cooperate with police and follow traffic rules during Songkran. He said any roadside sellers of alcohol would be arrested. In addition to arresting drunk drivers, police also plan to arrest drunk passengers.
Last year, BHP treated 65 people injured during Songkran, 13 of those foreigners. Most were involved in alcohol-related driving accidents.
