See the
infographic below.
When someone calls 9-1-1 for an ambulance, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) dispatches paramedics based on the caller’s description of the medical condition or injury. BCEHS emergency medical call-takers quickly assess the patient’s condition determine its severity. They then assign paramedics, ambulances and other resources to the call.
For time-critical emergencies, BCEHS also notifies first responder agencies that have agreements with BCEHS. These agreements are in place with first responder agencies across the province.
Municipalities cover the costs of sending local resources, such as fire crews, to emergency calls. Each first responder agency decides which 9-1-1 calls it will attend, often based on response times and available resources.
BCEHS notifies first responders about all extremely time-critical calls, as well as:
- Calls involving burns, hazardous materials (hazmat), or motor vehicle accidents
- Mid-level acuity calls (serious but less time-critical) when BCEHS is likely to take more than 10 minutes to arrive on scene
- Calls that require first responder expertise because of clinical, environmental, operational or safety concerns
- Situations where paramedics request first responder support
First responders play an essential role in emergency health services across BC. During medical emergencies, they can provide life-saving care such as:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Defibrillation
- Naloxone administration
The provide this care until BCEHS paramedics arrive and take over patient care.
BCEHS paramedics have extensive medical training and lead patient care at the scene. They continue providing treatment while transporting patients to hospital.
As health care professionals, paramedics work closely with hospital emergency departments and receive support and guidance from emergency physicians.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
