New emergency plan hailed as good news for fire department

by Chris Daponte

BRUCEDALE

Guelph-Eramosa officials are hopeful a new tiered response agreement with Guelph-Wellington EMS will help eliminate any overlap and produce a more effective overall response to emergencies.

Township Fire Chief John Osborne reviewed the new agreement in a report to council on Sept. 17.

He explained there is really only one difference in the new agreement versus previous agreements with the county’s land ambulance provider. The change was prompted by many instances where the fire department responds to an emergency in which the ambulance has already arrived and is adequately handing the situation.

So, from now on the fire department will only respond to less-urgent calls if the expected ambulance response time is greater than 15 minutes.

But in emergencies with a higher level of urgency - including vital signs absent (VSA) calls, burns or electrocution or inhalations, near drownings, car crashes, and “penetrating traumas” - the fire department will respond in addition to the ambulance.

The new agreement states the Guelph-Eramosa Fire Department will also respond to any farm or industrial accidents. Mayor Chris White said the new agreement is “probably good news” for the fire department as well as township residents who may find themselves in an emergency situation. Council unanimously approved the new tiered response plan.

September 21, 2012