For the first time, Civil Defense personnel will be using special electric scooters in the Jamrat facility to ensure the safety of pilgrims during the stoning ritual, commander of the Civil Defense forces in Jamrat area Brig. Nasser Al-Nahari has said.
“Our personnel will be using the new electric scooters to easily climb all the levels of the facility without obstructing the pilgrims from throwing pebbles or delaying their arrival at the Jamrat,” he said.
Nahari said the use of the scooter will be experimented for the first time this year with the aim of enabling the Civil Defense personnel to arrive speedily at accident places in the facility.
“The scooter will enable us to pass easily through crowded places. This cannot be achieved by using cars or mobile ladders,” he said.
Nahari said the personnel were trained on the use of the scooter since the very first day they were stationed at the Jamrat.
He added that all the Haj Civil Defense forces, consisting of more than 17,600 men, were thoroughly trained on rescue operations and medical evacuation in case of emergency situations.
Civil Defense personnel stationed at the Jamrat facility, he said, were practically trained on accidents that may happen during overcrowding including stampede, falling off the escalators, providing first aid services and evacuating the injured pilgrims to the assembly areas from where they will be rushed to hospitals and health centers in Mina.
“We will be doing this in close cooperation with the security forces, the Saudi Red Crescent and the central department for development projects of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Jamrat,” he said.
Nahari said the Civil Defense forces have been well prepared with cars, electric ladders, fire-fighting equipment and medical evacuation facilities to promptly deal with any emergency situation that may arise from rains or floods.
The commander said his unit will give support to the other Civil Defense forces in Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah and Al-Mashaer Train.
