EMS calls for First Responders in Nipawin area

“They could support us on some very difficult, serious calls where there might be multiple patients, cardiac arrests where extra hands would make things run far more smooth, but mostly just so there’s not that gap in patient care,” she said.

Her letter to council says “At times no paramedics are available to respond, leaving patients waiting several hours for an ambulance.”

Brost said paramedics across the province are struggling with rising calls, and at the same time dealing with factors like long waits to unload patients at hospitals.

Brost said the offload situation at hospitals has actually improved- but it’s still a factor. Other challenges include long distances to travel for North-East EMS, such as taking patients to Saskatoon.

“If we were to do a transfer, get there, be admitted right away, it’s a seven or eight-hour call, add a four to eight-hour offload delay in that, now they’re working a 16-hour day,” she said.

“That’s what the burnout is, it’s just the long distances and wait times and whatnot, and then it depletes us for the next day because people need to be put on fatigue management so that they are safe working their job.”

On Monday, Nipawin’s Fire Chief made a presentation to council, looking at the possibility of having some of the volunteer firefighters with the Nipawin Fire Department trained to be First Responders.

Right now, said Chief Paul Cockell, he is the only person in the department that has the training.

“Whether it’s delivered through the fire department or not, I think its certainly a service that’s needed in the community,” he told northeastNOW.

Nipawin Town Council has asked him to come back with more information.

“Council has requested data to confirm whether there is indeed a need in our community/area before considering further,” Nipawin Mayor Renee Harper told northeastNOW. in an e-mail.

Cockell’s report to council said training would be provided by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. First Responders are licenced through the Ministry of Health and are local volunteers, trained in basic skills like spinal immobilization, airway management, and CPR. His report acknowledges there is the possibility of extra costs, such as more equipment.

Brost said she is hoping to make a presentation to Nipawin council in January, to lay out the need.

“It would be nice to have first responders for the times we are called out of the area and so that the patient receives medical care rather than waiting for us to get into the area,” she said.

Registration for first responders lasts for a two-year period and requires an educational update every two years in order to maintain the licence.

Brost pointed out various communities in the northeast already have first responder programs, such as Carrot River and Zenon Park.

by Doug Lett

EMS calls for First Responders in Nipawin area

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