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Canmore Fire-EMS maintains two Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances on active duty at all times. A third reserve ambulance can be called into service with volunteer personnel at a moments notice.
Advanced Life Support procedures bring the hospital emergency room to the patient. This is extremely important especially in rural areas where travel and transport times are longer.
All emergency calls are dispatched through 911 in Calgary and are forwarded to the on call crew through a telephone interconnect radio system and is answered directly by the emergency services personnel. Training EMT - Ambulance
Training to become and EMT is provided through SAIT, NAIT, Portage College, and other private companies. Skills are taught in the classroom and practicums are completed in a hospital and on an ambulance. Following graduation and provincial registration EMT-A's may perform the following skills: patient assessment, oxygen administration, splinting/traction glucose testing/administration, CPR, spinal immobilization, and vehicle extrication. Additional training will allow EMT-A's to perform IV therapy, cardiac monitoring, anti shock trouser administration, entonox administration, and semi-automatic defibrillation. EMT - Paramedic
Training to become a paramedic requires two more years of addition schooling. After their training and provincial registration they are allowed to perform the following skills: drug administration, cardiac defibrillation, chest decompression, cricothyrotomy, intubation, gastric lavage, venipuncture for blood specimens, and nasogastric tube insertion. Additional training will allow the paramedic to perform cardiac pacing, suturing, chest tube monitoring, and intraosseous fluid administration. EMT - A's and Paramedics in Canmore are legislated under the Alberta Health Disciplines Act and licensed with the Alberta College of Paramedics. In addition, our EMS staff use physician-approved protocols and are audited regularly by a Medical Director. They are also required to consult with a physician prior to undertaking certain procedures. With ongoing training and recertification we provide the community with highest level of patient care. Our EMS staff are also trained firefighters.
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