Paramedic FAQs
Which hospital or fire station do you work out of?
Actually, Peel Paramedics work for the Region of Peel, not the hospitals or the Fire Department. Paramedic units work out of 11 different stations located throughout the Region of Peel. At peak times we operate 32 paramedic staffed ambulances, that number drops down to 18 at night. The Region employs over 300 paramedics who work 12 hour shifts providing care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!
Why can some Paramedics do more than others when I call for help?
In Peel Region you will encounter two levels of Paramedic certification; Primary Care and Advanced Care certified Paramedics. Primary Care Paramedics attend a 2 year college diploma program to become certified, they are trained to perform defibrillation and are authorized to administer 6 symptom relief medications. Primary Care Paramedics are the standard in Ontario and make up the majority of Paramedic teams in the province. Advanced Care Paramedics attend an additional year of college after a minimum 2 years road experience as a Primary Care Paramedic. They carry a larger assortment of medications and can perform more procedures, these additional procedures include IV starts, intubation and other advanced airway procedures.
Primary Care Paramedic Skill Set (Level II)
- Basic Patient Assessment
- Cardiac Monitoring
- 12 Lead Cardiac Acquisition
- Semi-Automatic External Defibrillation
- Blood Glucometry
- Symptom Relief Drug Administration
- Aspirin (for poss. Heart attack)
- Nitroglycerin (for angina)
- Epinephrine (for allergic reaction/severe asthma and croup)
- Glucagon (for low blood sugar)
- Ventolin (for asthma attack)
Advanced Care Paramedic Skill Set (Level III)
- Advanced Patient Assessment
- Base Hospital Patching (medical direction)
- Cardiac Monitoring
- 12 Lead Cardiac Acquisition
- Manual Defibrillation
- Symptom Relief Drug Administration
- Intravenous Therapy
- Cricothyrotomy
- Laryngoscopic removal of foreign body airway obstructions
- Oral/Nasal Intubation
- Needle Thoracostomy
- Synchronized Cardioversion
- Transcutaneous Pacing
- Adenosine (for very fast heart rates)
- Amiodarone (for irregular heart rhythms)
- Atropine (for very slow heart rates)
- Dextrose (for low blood blood sugar)
- Diazepam (for seizures)
- Dopamine (for low heart rates/blood pressures)
- IV Epinephrine (for Cardiac Arrest)
- Fentanyl (for severe pain)
- Lasix (for "Water on the lungs")
- Lidocaine (for irregular heart rhythms/head injuries)
- Midazolam (for seizures/sedation)
- Morphine (for severe pain/poss. heart attacks)
- Narcan (to reverse opiate overdose)
- Sodium Bicarbonate (for acidosis)
The Region of Peel is actively training more ACP's and plan to have 60% of regional Paramedics trained to this level in the near future.
Why does the Fire Department show up when I call for Paramedics?
Firefighters are trained in first aid, CPR and defibrillation. They also outnumber Paramedics 3 to 1 during non peak times. In an effort to get help to you sooner, many communities have implemented what is called a 'tiered response' plan, this responds the Fire Department to certain types of calls such as shortness of breath, chest pain or unconscious patients. Firefighters are able to start oxygen, CPR and get an initial set of vital signs for arriving Paramedics. Once Paramedics arrive, they assume patient care and begin more advanced assessment/treament as well as arranging for transportation to the hospital.
Why do Paramedics remain on scene instead of taking me to the hospital immediately?
As mentioned earlier, Paramedics are highly trained medical professionals, especially in the case of Advanced Care Paramedics. We are trained to bring the emergency room to you wherever you are: Your house, your place of work or the side of the road! In many cases these are the same procedures performed in the hospital by a Emergency Department team of nurses and doctors.
Why are there many so many different ambulance services in the Region of Peel?
Peel Regional Paramedic Services are the sole provider of Emergency Medical Services for the Region of Peel and only respond to 911 calls. There are also a number of private medical transfer companies that work within the Region of Peel. These companies use old ambulances and may use logos that you would associate with Paramedics or EMS, but they cannot and do not respond to emergency 911 calls. These companies pick up patients from locations such as nursing homes, or private residences in the case of patients who may require more assistance getting around or are bed ridden and bring them to medical appointments. These same companies will pick up patients being discharged from the hospital who require a stretcher and return them home.
Occasionly ambulances from other Regions will come into Peel to drop off/pick up a patient at one of our hospitals. Additionally, since health care is considered a seamless service, there are no borders when it comes to calls for emergency medical assistance. If, for example, a Toronto EMS ambulance is closer to a call in Mississauga than a Peel ambulance, Toronto EMS will be sent to that call.
How do I become a Paramedic?
In order to become a Paramedic you need to attend a community college for two years, the course includes class room work, scenarios and ride outs with a Paramedic crew. Once you complete the course, you will then need to write an 6 hour provincial certifying exam. Upon successful completion of the college program & exam, you can apply for a job with a Paramedic service.
Why can't I go to the hospital of my choice?
Although Paramedics will make every effort to accommodate your request, there are times when this is not possible. Hospitals with a high patient volume load may request that non-life threatening cases be sent to a hospital experiencing a lower patient volume in order to "spread the load". Paramedic's often will wait with patients on their stretchers for two or more hours while the hospital works to find you a bed in the ER when it is overloaded with patients waiting to be assigned rooms in the hospital itself. When Paramedics are tied up on off load delay, we are unavailable to respond to other emergencies and this can grid lock the system, delaying responses to other emergency calls. In order to help deal with this situation we can be sent out of town to a hospital experiencing shorter wait times.
If you require specialized care that is not available at the closest hospital, or your preferred hospital we will transport you to a facility able to rapidly and appropriately treat your condition. For example; if you are experiencing stroke like symptoms, or a particular kind of heart attack you will be transported to Trillium Health Centre which is our regional stroke/cardiac centre.
Why are the Paramedics not aware of what I told the 911 Emergency Communicator?
The Emergency Communicator will ask you many questions so that they can determine what resources are needed to assist you. ie: Police or Fire in addition to the Paramedics. Furthermore, due to the high volume of calls that are dispatched in Peel Region, there is often not enough time to provide extensive call details to the Paramedics before they arrive. The Paramedic's are given a few key details, but are responsible for determining the specifics when they arrive on scene.
911 FAQ
When should I call 911 to request an ambulance?
In addition to summoning Police and Fire for non-medical emergencies, 911 is the emergency number used when a life threatening medical situation exists that requires a response by a Paramedic team. It should not to be used to ask for medical opinions, to check the status of hospitals, or to request a ride to the hospital for a doctors appointment.
What happens when I call 911?
When you dial 911, your call is answered by a trained Emergency Communicator who will ask you if you require "Police, Fire or Ambulance". They will then connect you to the appropriate dispatch centre based on your answer. When the Ambulance Emergency Communicator answers the line they will ask you some key questions, starting with "What is the problem?", "What is the closest intersection?" and "What is your name and phone number?". Although you may want to get into the details of your emergency immediately, you should remain calm and follow the Emergency Communicator's directions. As you are answering the Emergency Communicator's questions, a Paramedic team is being dispatched to your location to render medical assistance!
What is enhanced 911?
In the Region of Peel we are fortunate to have an enhanced 911 system. The Automatic Location Identification System (ALI) and the Automatic Number System (ANI) is able to determine your address and phone number even if you are unable to do so. This information is still verified verbally (if possible) by the Emergency Communicator to ensure accuracy, and is not available with cellular and other wireless systems as of yet. If you subscribe to VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) you must ensure that your service provider has your most up-to-date location. Unlike traditional landline and cellular telephones which routes the 911 call to your local 911 Centre, VOIP users will have their 911 calls redirected to a National 911 Centre. From there, your call will be forwarded to the local 911 Centre, based on their account information. If it is not accurate, and you are unable to verify your address, your call for help will be severely delayed!
Why shouldn't I program 911 into speed dial?
The three digit '911' was designed for simplicity. This system is used commonly throughout North America, and is designed to be a quick and easily memorized emergency number. Experience has shown that when people program 911 into their phones, unnecessary calls to 911 centres occur more frequently, resulting in delayed emergency responses in some cases. Some key points to remember when using 911:
- Remain calm and speak clearly.
- Answer the questions asked by the Emergency Communicator, even if they seem unimportant to you.
- Do not hang up until you are told to do so. The Emergency Communicator may need to put you on hold for a moment, but please don't hang up.
Is there a non emergency number?
Yes, there is! At times you may require the assistance of Paramedics, but not for an emergency situation. In that case you can call 1-800-668-7821 (in Halton & Peel Regions) to speak with an Emergency Communicator to obtain the assistance that you require.
