Medical co-response program offered by AHS

Times Reporter   

 

A new medical co-response program between Alberta Health Services (AHS) EMS and rural firefighting associations could see improved medical service in rural areas. 

It was in 2009 when AHS took control of EMS services for the province. In order to maintain the level of care AHS began offering medical direction for first responders in addition to EMS.

Judy Unsworth, fire and emergency management coordinator for Wheatland County said firefighters have always provided medical assistance to the customers in the area but have also enrolled in the program with the Alberta Health Services EMS division. 

“It is a specific program that we’re enrolled in that our first responders, fire crews, are able to provide medical assistance in medical emergencies. So that could be someone having a cardiac arrest at home, or it could be at a motor vehicle accident,” said Unsworth. 

“It offers our responders support and training. The province doesn’t pay for the training; the fire departments themselves are paying for that. They currently do it anyway, so this is just a more formalized process.”

The fire crews will be able to deliver standard first aid and level C CPR or EMR level care depending on their training. They will also be supervised by a medical director, who will offer tips and suggestions where needed on patient care reports.

The province is going to support the program but only in as far as they will exchange equipment, said Unsworth, so if a firefighter were to use a tensor bandage, when the ambulance comes they will give one back to the firefighter. 

The EMR training would cost approximately $2,500 for the first year and $500 each year after that to maintain registration per firefighter. The cost for the standard first aid course is $145 for two days through St. Johns Ambulance and includes CPR C and AED. 

All of the fire associations in the province will decide if they want their members to participate, and it is a voluntary registration for the program. Each of the fire associations will make that decision and then the villages will also have to make the decision if they want to be involved.  

“Wheatland County council has decided they would like that service, they would like to enroll and give permission to have us enroll all the rural fire departments in the program, but of course they don’t have jurisdiction over the villages, so that will be something the villages will decide on,” said Unsworth. 

“It’s something the fire departments have wanted to participate in and something the province has been trying to lead and until very recently they didn’t actually have a name for the program or anyway to deliver it.”

The conversation was brought to council in early July for discussion. At this time it is not known which county communities and fire halls will opt into the program.