“Roaming” ambulance may reduce response times
Administrator | May 06, 2015 | Comments 1
In an attempt to reduce response times in the County, one of Picton’s two ambulances will “roam” to the Wellington area during the day.
The plan will run on a trial basis from May 11 to October 15.
Councillor Janice Maynard, a member of the emergency services committee, raised the issue after seeing 2014 statistics showing Hastings County response times at 8:08 minutes compared to Prince Edward County at 12:30 minutes – more than four minutes slower. In January, response times in the County for Code 4 calls, the most serious, was 10:32 minutes compared to 8:
13 in Hastings county.
When the ambulance is not roaming it will be at the Wellington Fire Hall as a post. When the other Picton base vehicle receives a call, the roaming ambulance will return to Picton base.
The County operates two ambulances, one on duty 24 hours a day, seven days per week and the second, 12 hours a day, seven days per week. The County shares a backup with the Hastings County fleet.
Filed Under: Local News
Perhaps the OPP could take a look at this. Response times and police prescence in the more rural wards appears to be similar if not slower then ambulance services. Roaming cruisers , possibly one or two covering randomly selected wards on a rotational basis. They could use the Firehalls as a home base. This would eliminate some of the reactive policing that is now in place without incurring more police costs. Unexpected police prescence would serve as a deterrent in itself.