EMS improves response times
January 17, 2012 - Kawartha Lakes EMS improved response times significantly in 2011 coming well under the provincial response time benchmark for the municipality.
EMS Chief Keith Kirkpatrick attributes the success in large part to changes in the vehicle deployment plan. “We put response vehicles and ambulances in strategic locations across the municipality which helped us to respond to calls in the northern areas faster.”
The provincial benchmark for response is 18 minutes and 59 seconds and Kawartha Lakes EMS has never been close to this number before 2011. Blended response time, which factors in other services such as Durham, Haliburton, Peterborough, Rama/Simcoe assisting, was 17 minutes and 56 seconds. This is one minute and three seconds faster than the benchmark and hasn’t been received since 1996 when records were first kept.
Kawartha Lakes EMS response time, without assistance from neighbouring departments, is 15 minutes and 53 seconds which is three minutes and six seconds faster than the benchmark.
“I credit our paramedics for this achievement,” said Kirkpatrick. “We also increased the number of Advance Care Paramedics which has enhanced our ability to provide service to our residents.”
In 2009 the City had 28% of the 911 calls serviced by EMS with an advance care paramedic as the primary care giver. This changed to 60% in 2011 and is expected to be 80% in 2012 as three paramedics are about to take their advance care certification exam later in January.
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Media Inquiries:
Communications Officer
705-324-9411 ext. 1355
communications@city.kawarthalakes.on.ca
