Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week is upon us again and given the recent events in our province it's not hard to see how important emergency services are to our way of life and to our well-being.
Being a member of an emergency service is not so much a job, but a calling; we are called upon each day in others' hour of need.
We must quickly and accurately assess and interpret each situation -- all the while realizing and appreciating it is someone's life we are caring for. EMS Week gives us an opportunity to acknowledge those who work so hard each day tending to others during their difficult times.
In the province of Alberta, we are fortunate to have a provincial network of ambulances connected to a computerized GPS system that has the capability of pinpointing the location of each ambulance and dispatching the closest and most appropriate ambulance to each 911 call. This means faster response times when it matters the most.
There are three levels of pre-hospital care in Alberta: EMR, EMT and EMT-P. Each level builds on the knowledge and skills learned and developed from the preceding level and they must be completed in order. We are often asked if all ambulances are the same or what the difference is between the levels of care provided.
In Alberta, EMT-Ps (paramedics) are the highest level of pre-hospital care and can do all the same skills and treatments as an EMT, as well as several others, such as administering a greater number of medications, providing advanced airway support, and advanced cardiac monitoring.
An Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance is staffed with two attendants, with at least one being a paramedic.
In Innisfail, Guardian Ambulance Ltd. has three ALS ambulances, staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, along with one basic life support peak period ambulance staffed four days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those four ambulances respond to approximately 4,200 ambulance calls per year -- 911 calls and inter-facility transfers.
We have 20 full-time staff members and several casual staff. Without these dedicated professionals, the ambulance service in Innisfail would be very different. We would like to thank them for their compassion and dedication to the delivery of health care to the citizens of Innisfail and surrounding areas.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our co-responders. Without them our jobs would be a lot more difficult. That includes the RCMP and the fire departments in Innisfail, Penhold and Red Deer County, as well as our local peace officers, members of the Alberta Sheriffs Department, and also the numerous utility workers whose important roles makes our jobs more manageable.
Thank you as well to the local business owners who provide us with services like vehicle maintenance, parts, and medication supplies. Without them we would not have the resources to work.
Finally, a special thank you to Innisfail Hospital and Care Centre staff for working with us to provide our community with the best care possible.
EMS week is a time to take a moment to recognize the roles and responsibilities of pre-hospital care workers and to show appreciation for the service they provide each and every day in a variety of work conditions. Thank you for all that you do and keep up the great work!
John Barry is the general manager Guardian Ambulance Ltd.
