How technology is enabling EMS providers to save more lives while supporting paramedics

By Justin Manson, Sales Director at Webfleet Solutions 

South Africa’s emergency medical services (EMS) is in its own state of emergency: the country only had 1,971 state-run ambulances on the road in 2018. Three years later, reports reveal that as many as 350 Gauteng ambulances are out of action due to accidents and only 40 state-owned ambulances are in operation in the City of Johannesburg, adding to the country’s challenge of meeting the growing demand for emergency medical care. 

The growing need to protect EMS personnel and patients– Paramedics and other EMS personnel face a number of challenges in carrying out their critical services. They are often required to put their own personal safety at risk, and bravely face a wide array of scenarios in order to help those in need. For example, the unrest in July not only affected vaccine rollout efforts but also disrupted access to essential healthcare services and chronic medications, such as those for TB, diabetes, and HIV. This placed additional pressure on the already limited number of ambulances in the country.

This is in addition to road infrastructure obstacles across our country’s regions, and striving to ensure they are making the most efficient use of their limited resources to help as many of our citizens as possible.

The role of technology in the EMS sector– Netcare 911’s 24-hour national emergency operation centre (EOC), the single point of access to the full range of pre-hospital medical assistance services offered by its network, receives an average of 55 000 national and international calls per month and relies on GPS data and an emergency resource management centre to assign a vehicle to the emergency as quickly as possible. 

To protect paramedics operating in dangerous red zone locations, the Western Cape implemented a call-taking and dispatch solution that routes emergency calls to a dedicated dispatcher who captures the location and other details of the emergency using an intuitive map. The dispatcher can then alert the responding ambulance if it needs to enter a red zone, and geo-mapping technology can help to ensure that high-risk areas are avoided wherever possible.

These are just a few examples of the immense pressure the country’s EMS industry is under to not only reduce response times but also protect paramedics through effective communication and route planning. 

Telematics a powerful tool for SA’s EMS– The industry is seeing even more solutions being tailored to emergency services, allowing EMS providers like Life Employee Health Solutions and Maponya 911 Rescue to use technology, like telematics, to shorten response times and protect paramedics in the field. 

This advanced technology enables dispatchers to identify the closest ambulance to an emergency, get a detailed view of its location, and determine whether or not the ambulance operator is on duty – streamlining EMS operations, even when operating with limited vehicles. A real-time view of a vehicle’s location also allows dispatchers to assure callers and patients that an ambulance is on its way. Additionally, they can see if an ambulance arrived at its intended destination and send assistance if it hasn’t.

Integrating telematics devices in ambulances allows drivers to stay in touch with the dispatcher and relay real-time updates about a call out. These devices also come with voice control, leaving first responders to focus on the road and arrive quickly and safely at their destination by avoiding traffic and detours.

Emergency responders often need to drive assertively through traffic to respond to patients on time, balancing their own safety with the needs of the patients waiting for them. Thankfully, the data collected by telematics isn’t limited to tracking. Dispatchers can also use it to reconstruct the events leading up to an accident and retrieve critical information required during an accident investigation.

Telematics solutions have a proven track record of streamlining fleet operations and promoting safer driving conditions across industries, and this includes the essential EMS fleets operating in South

Entrepreneurs looking at setting up a car or truck wash

What accessories should you consider? An industry insider shares advice for a successful washing business

In the second part of a two-part series, Hawk Pumps, manufacturers and distributors of quality high-pressure pumping equipment, shares insights into what to consider when setting up a car or truck wash – assisting entrepreneurs and start-ups on their road to success.

“Quality accessories and informed decisions are essential when setting up a car or truck wash, as ill-advised purchases can lead to costly mistakes,” says Melanie Mokawem, CEO of Hawk Pumps.

High-pressure gun and lance – Hawk pressure washers come standard with a 900mm lance. 

When cleaning a car, the lance should not be too long, around 500mm. The longer the lance, the further you will have to stand and if your wash bay is enclosed, there may not be sufficient space for this.

For truck washing, longer lances are preferred to reach further up the vehicle without having to over-stretch or the operator having to stand on a ladder or raised platform.

Nozzles should be of the flat 15° fan type. The lance should have a good rubber nozzle protector fitted to allow the spray to be easily directed under wheel arches without scratching the paint with the nozzle. 

Hoses, booms, reels & tidies – Most high-pressure washers come standard with 10m of 2-wire hose. If you require a longer length, you must state this when ordering your unit. 

The hose must be looked after; if it is left lying on the floor and driven over, the wire in the hose will eventually be compromised, and the hose will leak. Furthermore, moving around the vehicle could result in the hose dragging on the floor and possibly banging against the vehicle, causing scratches and marks. To prevent this, overhead booms are ideal for easily moving around the vehicle and protecting the hose. 

These are available in single or double hose versions. Where a separate foaming gun is used, a double boom is preferred. Alternatively, a range of live hose reels or tidies is available to store the hose off the floor conveniently.

Foaming accessories – Foaming equipment is an effective way to apply detergent for de-greasing. The thicker the foam, the longer the active ingredients will have to do their job. The thickness of the foam will depend on the method you use, and the method you use will depend on budget and preference.

That being said, car washes and truck washes prefer a short turn-around time for cleaning each vehicle. Spending money on expensive foaming equipment isn’t necessary, especially if you are using a good quality foaming chemical.

Available options are:

• Foaming bottle set-up – is the most cost-effective and popular with car washes
• Chemical injector with a foaming lance – The chemical injector sucks up a metered amount of soap and sprays it out through a foaming lance. This delivers a very wet foam which runs off the vehicle quickly.
• Wall-mounted chemical injector – A wall-mounted foam generator delivers a lot of thick foam. However, it requires an air compressor and can be pretty costly.

Under-carriage Whirl-A-Way – Some locations require the underside of a truck to be clean before they are allowed onto the property, e.g., at ports and certain mines. Truck washes servicing these trucks find the Under-carriage Whirl-A-Way a quick and effective way of performing this operation.

HotBox – The Hawk HotBox is an accessory that converts to a hot water unit when connected to any standard high-pressure washer. Some truck washes require hot water for the cleaning to be more effective. 

The advantage of the HotBox over having a hot water unit is that the HotBox can used by multiple users. If the HotBox needs a service, the high-pressure washer still operates as a cold-water washer.

Industrial Vacuum Cleaner – A good quality wet and dry industrial vacuum cleaner should be used for cleaning the inside of the vehicle. 

It is always vital to empty the drum and clean the filters. It is also recommended that you have spare filters on hand so that if you wash one in the cleaner, you have another to use whilst it dries.

Hawk’s Modular System – Hawk offers high-pressure cleaners with a wide range of accessories available so that customers can customise the pressure washer and build onto the system as their needs demands or budget allows.

Firestone FD833 and FS833 tyres now made for South African road conditions

Bridgestone Southern Africa has announced that its Firestone FD833 and FS833 truck and bus radial tyres that were previously imported are now fully manufactured at its manufacturing facility in Brits, Northwest. 

The move is in line with Bridgestone’s strategy of “localising” some of its products in line with South African conditions, says Dries Venter, Technical Manager, Bridgestone Southern Africa. “We began importing these tyres from Europe two years ago. After trials, we identified and made design improvements that would make the tyres better suited for South African road conditions. Our European R&D labs supported with creating a compound that provides higher resistance to cuts and chips,” he says.

Venter says that the Firestone FD833 and FS833 tyres have several advantages over cheaper second and third-tier competitors. The tougher material means that the tyres last longer, even on our bad roads, which means that they need to be replaced less frequently. Their tread design also provides excellent traction and are self-cleaning for consistent performance. Another major plus is that the sturdy construction means that the tyre can be retreaded at least twice—in fact, the Firestone FD833 and FS833 tyres come with a casing confidence pledge guaranteeing this. 

“Local manufacturing is a big plus because it helps protect local jobs and contributes to increasing the country’s gross domestic product—especially as these tyres are also exported to other markets in the region,” says Venter. “From a sustainability point of view, the longer life of the tyre plus its retreadibility are major pluses because they reduce the amount of waste going into landfill. At the same time, Bridgestone is pursuing a strategy making its tyres more recyclable – and fuel efficient. The lighter tyres also contribute to reducing the impact on the environment.”

• Firestone, FD833, FS833 tyres, Dries Venter,

Ensuring Black Friday doesn’t accidentally put your business in the ‘red’

Opinion piece: by Tennille Bell, General Manager: Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO)

Black Friday has become a global shopping phenomenon, characterised by an annual spending spree by shoppers on the fourth Friday of November, with some retailers extending to Cyber Monday, and others even running month-long special deals. While physical brick-and-mortar and eCommerce stores are considered ‘front-end’ for shoppers, there’s a frenzy of back-end activities that need to take place in order to meet the surge in consumer demand accurately, timeously and efficiently. 

For South African businesses to truly take advantage of the shopping frenzy and make a success of the event, they need to ensure that their entire supply chain is geared to handle the seasonal spike. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) can be the answer. A BPO model is accessible to businesses large and small. It is a cost-effective and scalable means of guaranteeing the necessary behind-the-scenes service and productivity to ensure an experience that meets customer expectations while increasing loyalty and keeping businesses in the black. 

From the US to SA – Taking place the day after Thanksgiving in the USA, Black Friday was conceptualised to give businesses the chance to move “out of the red” and “into the black” – to turn a profit. Many other countries followed America’s example, launching their own Black Friday sales. According to a GeoPoll survey, 76% of South Africans reported participating in Black Friday shopping in 2019, which jumped from 64% the year before. 2019 also saw a number of SA retailers promoting not just Black Friday, but a week or even a full month of “Black November” specials.

In 2020, the pandemic interrupted every aspect of life as we knew it, and Black Friday spending was, accordingly, very lowkey. However, in 2021, Black Friday sales showed promising signs of recovery. Despite a lockdown still being in effect, there was a 120% increase in spend on electronics, with banking giant FNB reporting that its cardholders spent a whopping R2.5 billion on the day, and payment gateway PayFast reporting a 34% increase in transactions.

South African reality – Practically speaking, Black Friday is the start of the year-end festive buying, as many consumers start shopping for holiday gifts in November. As much as businesses want to jump on the Black Friday/Cyber Monday bandwagon, a fine balancing act needs to be achieved. While it might be great to sell out in November, it’s important for businesses to have stock that can carry them through the Christmas rush and Back to School periods. No use selling out at discounted prices in November and not being able to turn a profit for the rest of the year. 

Underprepared and overwhelmed – Many South African businesses that choose to participate in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday period underestimate the massive shift in buying behaviour that takes place. It requires a massive increase in productivity and performance, which entails additional resources to cope with the extra load. All of which is a massive ask for the management team of any business, who then has to ready an additional staffing complement and train them up to the required standard. Needing more hands-on deck then puts additional strain on other aspects of the business – from HR to finance. Every department or business function of the organisation is impacted.

Think carefully and be realistic – The decision to partake in Black Friday/Cyber Monday is not one that should be taken lightly. Businesses need to ask themselves “What’s the worst that can happen?” and then take those scenarios seriously. The worst that can happen is that staff cannot cope with meeting the additional demand. From there, it’s all a ripple effect. If customers experience any delay in their orders, there is the risk of reputational harm. An increase in pressure and stress for staff leads to an increase in absenteeism, which further negatively affects operations.  

It’s also important for businesses to be realistic in what they can expect from their own staff, and what is achievable given their own infrastructure. For example, in a warehouse with only 20 confirmation tables – the physical space where orders go to be checked before they’re sent out to customers, it is only physically possible to confirm 20 orders at any given time, which can lead to a backlog in tasks, which then affects the remainder of the productivity chain and then compounds as tomorrow’s problem. 

Outsourcing for success – This is where a BPO partner can make the difference between a business being in the black or plummeting into the red. Wherever the business requires additional resources, a BPO provider has access to a wide pool of fully trained workers across the entire value chain, that can step in and augment any given business process in the commerce space. These can be allocated and deployed into the business as needed, and because they’re paid on a per-unit basis, their productivity is guaranteed for the period that they are required. There is no productivity lost in training, nor is there any additional strain on any other business function, as the BPO provider handles payroll, human resources, industrial relations and all aspects of employment relating to the workers required to meet fluctuating customer demands. 

It’s not just about increasing headcount to handle the extra load. It’s about having properly trained resources available to boost productivity and meet customer demands. This contributes to a consistent customer experience that fosters brand credibility and customer loyalty. BPO assists in improving efficiencies and effectiveness through reducing and eliminating waste, decreasing operational costs and most importantly increasing profits. For this to happen, businesses must choose their partner carefully – only a compliant, results-driven BPO partner whose focus is on boosting productivity and streamlining operations can give retail and ecommerce businesses the flexibility and performance they need to come out tops this Black Friday.

eversa selects Ampcontrol for EV fleet charging in South Africa

Ampcontrol is partnering with Aeversa, a charging-as-a-service (CaaS) company based in South Africa, to offer smart charging solutions for electric fleets. 

In the past years, Aeversa has developed EV charging services and has decided to expand its solution by offering customers intelligent charging software. This partnership makes it possible for Aeversa to tackle key challenges in the South African market, such as grid constraints and power outages, thanks to Ampcontrol’s smart charging management software. Ampcontrol and Aeversa are already successfully working together on a last-mile delivery project and are enthusiastic about the multiple projects already in the works.

“We are excited to work with one of the market’s most driven, forward-thinking CaaS companies. The challenges Aeversa is tackling in the South African market speak deeply into the technology behind our software, and we are eager to keep evolving our product for these extreme conditions,” says Joachim Lohse, CEO and founder of Ampcontrol. 

“The level of technology and thought in Aeversa’s solutions, in combination with our software, will streamline the development of electric vehicle projects in the country.”

“Ampcontrol’s software solutions provide the energy management tools that Aeversa use to give local fleet owners the confidence that a large-scale EV fleet transition is possible, despite the country’s constrained electrical grid,” says Reando Potgieter, Co-founder and COO of Aeversa. “The V2G and programable charging schedules allow vehicle fleets to play a large role in helping South Africa’s power grid to stabilize. Aeversa sees its business of helping South African fleets transition to EVs as a responsibility and a privilege. We are excited by this international partnership, as it is a perfect example of innovative technology that drives change.”