Grande Prairie city council will be advocating to the province for additional funding with the hopes of returning local EMS service levels to what they were before Alberta Health Services (AHS) took over their delivery.
If the additional funding is granted, the Grande Prairie Fire Department (GPFD) would implement a Fire Paramedic Response Unit that would include an advanced life support paramedic and a firefighter deployed in a SUV vehicle to provide care and critical interventions while awaiting EMS arrival.
“This is not replacing our EMS service,” said Grande Prairie Fire Chief Mark VanWerkhoven.
“This would be providing a means to keep our core firefighter resources and fire trucks available for other calls, while potentially awaiting EMS arrival on scene and allow stabilization on scene.”
Mayor Jackie Clayton said medical first response has long been …