Marine officers badly equipped for first aid
A rapid rise in recreational boating has put unprecedented strain on the resources of the marine police, prompting calls for a review of marine safety services in Hong Kong.
With more people than ever using the waters around Hong Kong, police are being expected to respond to an increasing number of accidents.
However, the Sunday Morning Post can reveal that the force's training and equipment have not changed accordingly.
Officers receive only basic first aid training and the vessels carry only a basic first aid kit. They have no advanced lifesaving equipment, such as portable defibrillators used for restarting a patient's heart.
Force policy defines the unit's role as preventing smuggling and illegal immigration, and there are no plans to change that, a spokesman said.
