The City of Campbell River will add its name to a petition calling for the provincial government to put more money into emergency medical services (EMS) and change what it calls a “dysfunctional” EMS delivery model.
The petition, received by council at this week’s public meeting, was started by the BC Helicopter Emergency Rescue Operations Society (BC HEROS), a non-profit organization based in Prince George which “believe(s) the emegency needs of the province are underserved because of the lack of dedicated air ambulance system of helicopters based in strategic locations around the province.”
“Our province has 630,000 more residents than Alberta, has one third more land area than Alberta, a 27,000-kilometre coastline and far more challenging topography,” says BC HEROS executive director Hans Dysarsz in his letter to council explaining the petition. “Yet Alberta has 5,577 more Emergency Medical Technicians (known in B.C. as Emergency Medical Attendants) than B.C.”
In addition, Dysarsz says, only about half of B.C.’s 3,786 registered EMAs are legally allowed to treat and transport patients to a hospital.
“The remaining 3,036 may only treat patients if they are on private property or at a company facility,” Dysarsz says.
The organization also claims that while it will admittedly cost a great deal of money to fix this system, it amounts to “just five cents per person per day,” and that cost would be more than made up for in decreased ICBC insurance payouts, less strain on the hospital system and decreased Worksafe BC Premiums.
“When you start digging into the restrictions and limitations that our current people face, it’s appalling when you compare the service in Alberta,” Coun. Cornfield said on receipt of Dysarsz’ letter, suggesting that the city should immediately back the petition and its goals. “This needs to be addressed.”
Coun. Michele Babchuk agreed, saying that Campbell River is in a privileged postion in some ways, but others aren’t so lucky, and they should support the efforts of organizations like BC HEROS to improve the situation.
“I think that we are very lucky in Campbell River that our firemen are the first responders, as well, so we don’t see the impact that some of these other rural communities certainly do,” Babchuk says.
“I have, unfortunately, had to rely on emergency services and were absolutely bewildered by the amount of money they receive when they are sitting on call, which is very, very little, and the capacity that service has in B.C.”
And so, Mayor Andy Adams was given direction to sign the petition on behalf of city council.