Special Ops & Programs
Tactical Paramedic Program
Peel Regional Paramedic Services
Tactical Paramedics
Tim Nykamp - Tactical Operations Superintendent
Peel Regional Paramedic Services currently has a team of highly trained Tactical Paramedics who work closely with the Peel Regional Police Tactical Rescue Unit. Together they respond for calls where weapons may be present, hostage/barricaded individuals, searches and for executing various types of warrants. Tac Medics are there to provide immediate medical care for anyone including suspects, hostages, bystanders and Officers.
Peel's Tactical Paramedics first started in 2006 when Peel Regional Police realised the need to be able to provide patient care in a faster and safer manner following various incidents within the region. Together they created a rigorous hiring process which included a very demanding physical fitness component and the initial training program. 12 Paramedics consisting of both Advanced Care and Primary Care Paramedics later started their 2 weeks training that was facilitated by the Peel Regional Police Tactical Rescue Unit.
Currently the Tactical Paramedic team consists of 12 Advanced care Paramedics with the last one currently finishing training. There are 2 tactical ambulances and 1 tactical Superintendent staffed during each day and night to be able to provide adequate coverage throughout Peel Region. When crews are not assigned to a tactical call they are in the system completing regular calls for service. Over the last 12 months Peel Region Tactical Paramedics have responded to 350+ calls.
Tactical Paramedics are equipped with armour similar to Tactical Rescue Officers who wear ballistic vests, helmets and other various pieces of protection. Specially designed bags and pouches are used to carry the necessary equipment Paramedics may need in a tactical environment including airway management, hemorrhage control and other life saving measures. Tactical Paramedics are also trained in specialized equipment that will help provide better patient care in a tactical environment. Unique patient conveyance equipment is also provided as remote locations are always a possibility which may create difficult extrication situations.
For over 13 years Peel Region has had Tactical Paramedics who have worked closely in hostile environments with the Peel Police Tactical Rescue Unit. The ethos “Protect the Protectors” is a call to duty every time the vest is put on. Together they work as a team to help protect and provide safety to the over 1.6 million residents and the visitors of Peel Region 24/7/365 days of the year.
“Protect the Protectors”
Peel Regional Paramedic Services Rapid Response Unit Program
Presented as a concept design in 2009, Peel Regional Paramedic Services launched the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) program in 2011.The program's objective is to have a single paramedic in a vehicle, positioned in strategic high call-volume location, during peak demand times and ready to move quickly in response to a call.Up to 8 rapid response units are on the road 365 days a year during the peak call period between 10 am and 10 pm.
The RRU program works together with regular ambulance dispatch and patient care is transferred to the ambulance when it arrives.This frees the RRU to be available for another call.
Some of the benefits of the RRU program include:
- Fast response to a person in need
- Quick return to service because the RRU is not involved in patient transport
- Helps to ensure that a paramedic is always available to respond to an emergency
The Rapid Response Unit program has become an important part of the paramedic system in Peel helping to ensure that a paramedic arrives on scene in the critical minutes after a call is placed.
Community Paramedicine in Peel Region - Peggy D'Eath - Program Coordinator
A new Paramedic initiative this year was to introduce Community Paramedic clinics to three seniors' buildings in Mississauga. Funded by the LHIN, a team of paramedics travel to these Peel Living buildings each week to bring wellness resources into the community.
We spend our clinic times connecting with the seniors to monitor their blood pressures and blood sugars, determine if they are at risk for diabetes or falls, and spend some time to decrease the social isolation they sometimes experience. Through this program, the paramedics involved have been able to connect the seniors in need with services like homecare, bathing and dressing assists, medication help, walkers and grab bars, and physiotherapy. A wealth of resources has been available to this group of people, but it has been hard to find. The medics have been able to bring it together in such a way that it is available and accessible.
The seniors aren't shy about giving back, either. Last summer, the ambulances were running low on knitted hats for the newborns delivered by paramedics outside of hospitals. The seniors who have been coming to the paramedic clinics banded together and knitted more than 300 hats to be put on the tiny heads of our newest members of the community.
At Christmas time the Community Paramedic team got together to look out for those seniors who were alone and unlikely to see anyone for the holidays. Through generous donations within the Paramedic service, ten gift baskets were sent out to those deemed amongst the loneliest. Donations of old digital music devices were also collected to give to Peel Adult Day services for their memory programs.
The program is set to expand to other areas in Peel and other buildings specifically in Mississauga.
Peel Paramedic Honour Guard
The Peel Paramedic Honour Guard is made up of Volunteers. The purpose is to provide a formal presence at special events and presentations. In addition to attending Funerals, the Honour Guard can be seen at Remembrance Day ceremonies, Governmental events, and our Honour Guard was chosen to represent First Responders at the 2016 9/11 day at the Toronto BlueJays game at the Rogers Centre, in Toronto.
