Lifesaving

The adventure of an 8-year-old boy who almost lost his life in the sea of Fourka, in Halkidiki, had a happy ending.

A tourist from Norway was rescued by the Fire Service in Crete's Hania region on Tuesday after she was injured while hiking in the Agia Irini Gorge in Selino.

The 65-year-old tourist and her husband were located and transported to a safe area at the entrance of the gorge late in the afternoon. From there, they were picked up by the emergency ambulance service and taken to hospital.

Bulgaria's newly established Center for Air Emergency Medical Services has successfully completed its first mission. After a series of training flights and rigorous preparations, the medical team, consisting of Dr. Vera Ivanova and nurse Georgi Radoev, was dispatched to provide emergency assistance by air.

A concerning new trend has emerged from the WHO Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) in Ukraine: Ambulance workers and other personnel servicing health transport face a risk of injury and death three times higher than that of other health care service workers.  

Bulgaria marked a significant milestone as the country's inaugural air ambulance helicopter, crafted by the esteemed Italian company "Leonardo," emerged from production and was dispatched for comprehensive testing, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Health.

The decision by several hospitals in Athens to contract private ambulance companies to transport patients after the completion of their hospitalization has drawn a reaction from the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Worker (POEDIN) and staff of the EKAV ambulance service, citing an unclear legal framework.

The work of ambulance service employees represents a true "act of care and responsibility", and they are "an example" for us all, said Prime Minister Florin Citu in a message sent, on Wednesday, on the occasion of the National Ambulance Day in Romania.

According to  Ivan Madjarov, chairman of the Bulgarian Medical rapid mass testing of people is now necessary.

He pointed out that the strengthening of pre-hospital care - the intermediate element between general practitioners and hospital care - has already begun.

A Golden Retriever stole the spotlight at the Second International Open Water Swimming Race in the Black Sea province of Zonguldak's Ereğli district on July 28 when it dived into the water to follow its owner and ended up needing to be rescued.

Greece is gearing up for the 36th version of Spartathlon, the ultramarathon race that covers 246 kilometers from Athens to Sparta and starts on Friday.

Treading on the footsteps of ancient messenger Pheidippides, the grueling race will this year have 387 participants who hail from 51 countries. They once again include Greek American ultramarathon superstar Dean Karnazis.