Employees at Bahrain's shopping malls and hotels and the country's entry points among other places could soon be offered training in first aid, it was revealed.

Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer said his ministry was not responsible for providing resuscitation machines, but it could provide training.

He was speaking at the Shura Council's weekly session in response to a question by services committee vice-chairwoman Dr Aysha Al Mubarak on future plans to develop ambulance and emergency services.

The minister said it was one of the solutions to help reduce the risk of someone losing his or her life and ensuring they are treated at the scene without delay.

He said ambulances would soon be fitted with navigation systems to help ensure speedy arrival at the scene and avoid traffic congestion.

"The budget for the navigators will be included in the 2009-2010 budget," he said.

"Remote controls will also be provided in co-ordination with the Interior and Work ministries to control traffic signals for facilitating the movement of ambulances.

"An ambulance-monitoring room is currently available, but it is backdated and in need of major upgradation to provide assistance to ambulances as they move to the scene. This will also be included in the 2009-2010 budget."

Dr Al Hamer said the ministry already had an ambulance specially equipped with incubators dedicated to newborns.

"We are currently working to have a new helipad at the Salmaniya Medical Complex, which will also be available at the King Hamad General Hospital to help receive emergency cases," he said.

"In case of emergency cases at sea, aid is being provided in co-operation with the Interior Ministry.

"The proposal to have an ambulance to carry more than one injured or sick simultaneously is inconvenient and can't be done in Bahrain because those vehicles are slow and their movement in the country's narrow roads is difficult."

Dr Al Hamer said that between 718 and 1,015 patients (an average of 838) visited SMC's emergency department daily, out of which 430 were admitted and the rest were given immediate treatment and discharged.

"An average of 267 adults visit the emergency department daily, accounting for 62 per cent of the total number of visitors, while the number of children visitors is 112 children (26 per cent). The remainder include sickle cell anaemia patients.-TradeArabia News Service