Calgary Fire Department expands unit dedicated to helping those suffering from medical emergencies
The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) will now be able to help more people suffering from medical emergencies thanks to the addition of a second medical response unit.
Medical response units are smaller vehicles, staffed by two firefighters, dedicated solely to responding to medical calls like shortness of breath, cardiac arrest and overdoses.
The medical response unit was reintroduced in 2023 after council brought back funding in the 2023-2026 budget.
It operates out of Station 1 in the downtown core, and responded to almost 6,000 calls in its first year.
That makes it the busiest vehicle in the CFD fleet.
Because medical response units are dedicated solely to medical calls, having them frees up fire engines and other heavy apparatus to respond to other emergencies.
"Fire trucks are designed to fight fires. Bringing a lighter vehicle instead with medically trained staff and equipment will help make sure that we get the right resources to the right kinds of calls quickly," said Chief Steve Dongworth in a news release.
"By having a dedicated medical response unit in our busiest stations, we are ensuring we are still able to meet our response times."
This second medical response unit will operate out of Station 2 in the Beltline.
According to the fire department, it's anticipated the medical response units will collectively respond to some 10,000 calls this year.
The fire department says staff responded to 52,000 medical calls in 2023, up 18 per cent from 2022.
Many of them were for cardiac arrests and respiratory distress.
But there’s one other medical event that takes up a large chunk of total call volume.
"This is a reflection of the ongoing challenges of a drug poisoning crisis," Dr. Jennifer Jackson with the University of Calgary’s Nursing Faculty said.
"The reason why we’re having so many emergency calls is because we don’t have enough spaces to provide support for people, we don’t have affordable housing and we don’t have adequate supervised consumption sites."
From January to October of last year, 1,692 Albertans died because of toxic supply.
When comparing only the first 10 months of that year, 2023 has a higher number of deaths than any other year in provincial history.
In addition, it appears more and more of those events are happening out in the open.
Government data shows 43 per cent of toxic drug deaths took place in a public setting in the third quarter of the year.
"We need to rapidly change our approach to drug policy," Jackson said.
"The recovery basis in our province has a place, but it needs to be one of a complement of options."
"We have seen the opioid epidemic driving that number (of calls) up for sure," Dongworth added.
"(This new unit) can defibrillate, we can provide oxygen, we can provide cervical spine support and we can administer naloxone."
The medical response unit vehicles are not designed for patient transport.
Instead, firefighters remain on-scene with patients until EMS arrive.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.