Emergency services gives the 411 on 911
Posted By Catherine Griwkowsky News Staff
Posted 21 days ago
Strathcona County Emergency Services gave Strathcona County council a rundown of third quarter statistics, good news, and bad news at an Oct. 20 council meeting.
Fire Chief Darrel Ried and Deputy Fire Chief Vern Elliot told council the good news about EMS dispatch, improvements in chute intervals and response intervals, and training initiatives as well as the challenges of growth in service demand, a greater number of inter-facility transfers, simultaneous calls, and the urban service area performance.
The consolidation of EMS dispatch has meant greater efficiency.
Alarm calls are about the same for this time in 2009 as 2008, but there is a significant increase in the year to date in fire calls of 16 per cent compared to 2008.
Elliot said the motor vehicle collision rescue responses from Quarter 1 to Quarter 3 have been back and fourth.
Ambulance responses have increased by seven per cent year to date compared to 2008. In Quarter 3 of 2009, ambulances responded to 1,038 calls compared to 964 the same time last year.
While there has been a 16 per cent increase in fires, there has been no increase in alarms.
Elliot told council ambulance response has increased by 32 per cent.
"We're doing more with less," Elliot said.
The increase in inter-facility transfers is likely due to the province's takeover of ambulance service, requiring SCES to serve outside of the county's borders.
Coun. Jacquie Fenske asked if a system could be worked out where dispatchers could answer phones from their homes.
Ried said that strategy would not necessarily work with the county's situation.
Coun. Linda Osinchuk said the seamlessof ambulance transition has not been an issue.
She asked if the department was ready for the increase in overall responses.
Reid said that every year the department proposes the resources necessary.
catherine@sherwoodparknews.com
