Professional first-aid technicians will patrol key areas of the 2010 World Expo, and medical centers and ambulances will be available day and night, officials from the Shanghai Medical Emergency Center said yesterday.

Local medical authorities are working on plans to deal with medical emergencies and other events that could result in mass casualties, such as chemical or radiation releases.

Budgets for manpower and equipment, including ambulances, medical command vehicles and special first-aid vehicles serving as small medical centers are also under discussion, health officials said.

'About 70 million people are expected to visit the Expo exhibition areas. Proper first-aid and effective measures for all kinds of emergency events and mass casualties are one of the top concerns of local government,' said Dr Guo Yongqin, director of the Shanghai Medical Emergency Center, which kicked off a training course for 160 medical staff from Shanghai and nearby provinces.

'French experts will teach a regular urgent service process, treatment for serious emergencies involving chemical and nuclear accidents, radiation control, patient classification and distribution during catastrophes or emergencies with mass injuries,' Guo said.

So far, the Shanghai Medical Emergency Center has set up a network with 52 district and city-based hospitals in the downtown for immediate contact between ambulances and hospital emergency rooms to enhance the efficiency of rescue care.

(Shanghai Daily September 9, 2008)