With the weather unpredictable the past couple of weeks across Simcoe County, local paramedics have their own challenges that can roll in with winter storm fronts.
This week, Village Media sat down with two Simcoe County paramedics to talk about the challenges the cold weather can bring, and what the public can do to help make it easier for paramedics to get to an emergency situation faster.
According to JC Gilbert, deputy chief of operations with Simcoe County Paramedic Services, local paramedics face about 73,000 calls per year, or about 200 calls per day.
“We’re very equipped to handle our climate,” he said. “When we see what’s going on, we plan for it.
“The inclement weather will always have an effect, specifically on our vulnerable population," Gilbert added. "Whether it’s cardiac-related and somebody’s overexerted themselves clearing snow, or someone has an underlying chronic illness that’s exacerbated by the cold, that will always have an effect on our call volume."
While Gilbert said there isn’t a general increase in call volume over the winter months, there are increases during acute weather events.
“When you have a day like (Wednesday) when you have quick and severe icy conditions, you’ll see that spike in slips and falls and car accidents. They happen abruptly,” he said.
Gilbert also has some tips to make sure it’s easier for any first-responders to reach you in the event of an emergency.
“General preparedness for an emergency is something we would like to see,” said Gilbert. “So, having well-lit walkways, the house itself being well-lit and clearly visible numbering and signage for your address.”
While manoeuvring a gurney through snow and sleet may be a challenge, Gilbert said changes over the years to engineering has made them easier to use in all kinds of weather.
“They’ve evolved over the years. We used to have a style of stretcher that had, more or less, a castor-type wheel. Now, they have a much bulkier, bigger, rubberized all-terrain wheel on the stretcher,” he said.
“They are better, but it’s still a stretcher that we’re trying to push through some significant obstacles.”
All ambulance vehicles in the county have sensors that constantly monitor temperatures inside. If it dips below a certain point the heaters kick in to protect temperature-sensitive medicine and equipment.
“All of our vehicles are equipped with some pretty sophisticated technology,” said Gilbert.
For the paramedics themselves, preparation is key.
“As far as our own safety, we’re bundled up better than most people out there,” primary care paramedic Sam Layard said with a laugh. “But, like anyone else, we keep things in the ambulance, like salt for traction, an emergency shovel, extra blankets, road flares... we’ve got it all in the truck just in case.
“We’re driving on the same roads as everyone else. We have the same winter tires on. Slips and trips apply to us, too,” he said. “We carry a lot of stuff with us, so when we see those icy driveways, we have to be careful as well.”
Layard said salting and shovelling driveways can definitely help paramedics get to emergencies quicker, as well as moving cars around to offer more easy access.
“If people can’t do that, even if they have a snow shovel handy somewhere, we’re more than happy to shovel a way in or out if we have to,” he added.
Overall, Gilbert said residents should be cognizant of their environment at all times of year.
“Avoid needing us,” he said. “When driving, slow down, be cautious, be over-cautious, especially in inclement weather.
“We like meeting people, but we hope to avoid having to do that through an emergency call,” he said, jokingly. “Really be mindful of that winter weather.”
