In an incident embodying the meanings of chivalry and courage, Salama Al Darmaki, an advanced care paramedic at the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority, did not hesitate to intervene quickly to save the life of a young Emirati man who was bleeding from injuries sustained in a traffic accident on a highway.

Al Darmaki was driving her vehicle on her way back from Dubai to her home in Abu Dhabi after a hard day of work and meetings when she witnessed a traffic accident on the highway. Some people had gathered around the scene without knowing how to act, and the ambulances had not yet arrived. She noticed a young man lying on the ground bleeding heavily from his neck.

She told “Emarat Al Youm” that she made the decision to intervene within seconds, realizing the young man’s life was in danger and that he would not survive for even a few minutes until an ambulance arrived. She immediately provided first aid to stop the bleeding and calmed him psychologically, as he was in a state of extreme tension, until the ambulance arrived and transported him to the hospital for further treatment.

She stated that “humanitarian duty requires each of us, especially those with knowledge, to intervene to save the life of a patient or injured person in an emergency. This is what we were raised on in the UAE and is deeply rooted among all citizens and workers in civil defense, rescue, and advanced care fields.”

She expressed satisfaction after contributing to saving the young man’s life and felt she arrived at the right time for this moment.

Salama Ali Al Darmaki graduated from Fatima College of Health Sciences with a Bachelor’s degree in Paramedicine and Emergency Medicine in 2018 and began her professional career in the Ambulance Department at the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority in 2019.

Regarding the qualities required for a paramedic, Al Darmaki emphasized the importance of scientific qualification to be able to provide first aid to the injured or patient, having determination, perseverance, patience, belief in one’s abilities, and confidence in the skills learned, as well as the importance of continuous updating on rescue science and the latest developments to be able to handle all situations and cases.

She said she feels proud of her work in the ambulance field, which enabled her to contribute to saving lives, providing priority care to the injured, alleviating their pain, and offering psychological support.

She stated that Emirati women have proven their competence in the field of ambulance and rescue, with many honorable examples working in this field for many years, known for excellence and distinction. She added that she encourages and advises Emirati women to undertake this experience and work in this field, which adds a lot of practical and humanitarian experience.