Mike Dingle of Calgary EMS poses with Kim Sarsfield, Sal Humberstone and Jay Dell from Edmonton EMS in front of the Multiple Patient Unit, an Edmonton-based emergency vehicle that helped Alberta Health Services quickly relocate patients out of High River and Drumheller during the floods in June.
When the floodwaters started to rise in southern Alberta, an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team from the Edmonton Zone of Alberta Health Services was ready to answer the call.
EMS sent its Multiple Patient Unit (MPU) and a team of three paramedics to southern Alberta where they worked to relocate patients out of High River and Drumheller.
The MPU transports up to five stretcher patients and six seated patients, speeding evacuations.
"These members were on duty at the time they were asked, and left for prolonged assignment without hesitation," says Kevin O'Keefe, Edmonton EMS Metro Supervisor.
On Sunday, June 23, the first team was relieved by a second from Edmonton.
In the lull between response and recovery phases, this team trained Calgary Zone EMS staff in operation of the MPU, while also attending Emergency Operation Committee meetings and remaining on standby for further evacuation responses and repatriation assignments.
"The important part now is helping to get evacuated patients back to their original hospital," says Kim Sarsfield, a member of the second team and acting supervisor for Inter-Facility Transfer (IFT) in Edmonton.
Edmonton's paramedics returned home Tuesday, June 25, but left the MPU to continue to assist the recovery phase in the Calgary and Central zones.
For paramedic Jay Dell, there wasn't even a question if he should give up time off to assist.
"I sat down with my seven-year-old son and showed him pictures of the flooding, and asked him if I should go," says Dell.
This story was provided by Alberta Health Services and was originally posted on their website.