The new Dryden crew consists of two additional crew members daily, adds six new Primary Care Paramedic staff, and will operate seven days a week from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm. The 2nd Dryden Ambulance will help address the increase in demand for EMS services. The total call volume in the first quarter of 2022 in Dryden has risen 31% compared to the first quarter of 2021. Additionally, Northwest EMS can receive emergent calls that can require an ambulance and crew to travel to a neighbouring community, affecting response time.
“We closely monitor changes to call volume in each of the communities we serve. By allocating additional resources in Dryden, we can better meet the demand for EMS services during peak hours in the area. The enhancement of an additional crew and capacity allows KDSB Northwest EMS to continue to provide the highest level of care to individuals and families in need of emergency response,” says Henry Wall, Chief Administrative Officer of the KDSB.
The KDSB’s Northwest EMS Community Paramedicine program is an additional tool to help alleviate community call volumes. Community Paramedics can operate in expanded roles that provide preventative services to individuals in the community. Through the program, individuals can receive proactive health care for non-emergency situations when they would have previously utilized 9-1-1 due to a lack of access to health care services.
