Conversations That Matter: Sounding the ambulance alarm
Imagine that a loved one in your family has fallen and hurt themselves. They can’t move. You call 911 and ask for an ambulance to be sent.
At least that’s what you thought was the best way to care for your cherished family member.
“Now, you can’t help but wonder if an ambulance will arrive,” says Troy Clifford, president of the Ambulance Paramedics and Dispatchers of B.C. union.
Calling for an ambulance and having one arrive in a timely and life saving manner is becoming iffy.
The service, said Clifford, “is on life support and we’re sounding the alarm.”
“It … is failing at the bureaucratic and operational levels. It’s not because our members can’t treat patients.”
The union says over 30 per cent of staff are off work getting treatment for PTSD or working while traumatized and seeking treatment. The union is asking for public support, by asking you to go to soundingthealarm.ca .