Paramedics Get Help To Deal With Overdoses

Nov 27, 2016 | 9:03 PM

BC paramedics and dispatchers will be getting more funding from the provincial government to deal with the opioid overdose crisis,.

Health Minister Terry Lake has announced $5-million dollars for BC
Emergency Health Services.

Lake says over the last week, B.C. had the highest number of overdose-related 911 calls ever recorded.

He says that included a major spike in the Lower Mainland with paramedics responding to 494 suspected overdose/poisoning events in Greater Vancouver.

The minister says the extra funding will allow for medical support units to be placed in high overdoes locations like Vancouver’s downtown Eastside.

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Paramedics will also be able to use more flexible modes of transportation to respond quicker in those areas, such as ATV’s and bicycles .

“Our paramedics are feeling tremendous pressure as they respond to this public health emergency on the front lines. We know they have saved thousands of lives in this crisis, and today we are making sure they are supported in this daunting task with needed resources,” says Lake.

BCEHS will begin implementing the new strategies to boost ambulance resources and staffing in the coming weeks.

The measures will also include more supervisory support to assist paramedics and dispatchers with triaging and more efficient patient handover at busy hospital emergencies, so ambulances can get back on the road more quickly to respond to other calls.