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home / 世界杯决赛2022

alberta paramedics mourn unexpected death of one of their own

a paramedic died in airdrie on saturday

by michael rodriguez

dec 20 2021
read time 3 minute read
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an ambulance waits outside the ambulance bay at the foothills medical centre in calgary on monday, december 6, 2021. gavin young/postmedia
alberta’s emergency services community is mourning a paramedic whose unexpected death in airdrie on saturday has renewed questions about ambulance availability.
ahs said on twitter that “a shortage of resources did not play a factor in the care and treatment our colleague received.”
according to the man’s linkedin page, he has worked as a firefighter, a government specialist and a paramedic in many jurisdictions across alberta. he’s held a permit with the alberta college of paramedics since 2002.
former colleagues have identified him on social media as an advanced care paramedic with ahs.
“my heart breaks for the loss of a colleague and friend. i wish to express my deepest condolences to the family and all the friends and colleagues feeling this loss,” said mike parker, president of the health sciences association of alberta (hsaa), a union for health-care professionals in alberta.
“during this very difficult time i encourage all health-care professionals to take a moment for yourself to reflect and to check in with colleagues.”
online posts have stated no ambulances were available when the man — whom postmedia has chosen not to identify — went into cardiac arrest while on duty, raising further discussion of ems staff shortages across alberta.
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advocacy group alberta ems advisory and advocacy coalition says it’s received reports the man was on duty at the time of his death. the group says there were no available ambulances in airdrie to respond to the call, with resources instead dispatched from calgary.
 
the hsaa regularly posts ems alerts to a twitter account. it noted that just before 7 a.m. on saturday, airdrie was on a “red alert,” meaning there were no available ambulances in the jurisdiction. at the same time, a calgary ambulance was called to airdrie for an emergency.
several emergency services organizations are remembering the hard-working paramedic and the time he spent in their communities.
“(he) was soft-spoken and easygoing. he was a member of the calgary ems honour guard during his time with calgary ems,” wrote the alberta paramedic guard of honour in a facebook post. “he will be missed by all that knew him and worked with him.”
those who worked alongside the man describe him as a caring and unselfish person who was passionate about his work in the medical field.
“ahs ems is mourning the unexpected death of one of our own. this is such a sad loss and our thoughts are with the family, friends and loved ones of our colleague,” ahs said in an emailed statement.

the hsaa is working to confirm information before it comments on the situation surrounding the death, but has recently called attention to lengthy response times and staffing shortages.

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“it’s been a steady progression of calls increasing, population increasing and a flatline on resources for paramedics,” parker said in a previous interview with postmedia. “day by day you might not notice it, but over the past several years, it’s become beyond broken.
“we have no capability of responding to any significant events anymore because we continually run on a code red. we are running our paramedics to the breaking point and, unfortunately, it’s putting all citizens of this province at risk now.”
the official cause of death has not been revealed and ahs says it will not discuss additional details for the sake of the family’s privacy.
ahs reminds ems staff or practitioners needing support that they can call employee family assistance program at 1-877-273-3134.
mrodriguez@postmedia.com

twitter:  @michaelrdrguez

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