Firefighters have had to drive ambulances 25 times in the last year due to paramedic staffing shortages on the island.
Posted: Aug. 22, 2022 6:01PMThe Gabriola Fire Department responded to two medical calls this weekend where a firefighter had to drive an ambulance due to a lack of BC Ambulance Service staff.
“We’re getting to the point where the service is getting off-loaded on our community and especially our first responders, and we feel it’s time now that if BC Ambulance isn’t aware of it that they need to step up,” Gabriola Island fire chief Will Sprogus told CHEK News.The current model has the station staffed with paramedics between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, but if there is a callout between midnight and 8 a.m., they can’t work the next day’s shift.
“We feel that if we get called out to a fire, and we’re trying to provide fire suppression operations for the Island, potentially a patient is going to die because we’re not there to drive the ambulance,” Sprogus added. The fire chief says 10 of his firefighters have upgraded their driving licenses on their own time and expense so they can drive an ambulance if needed.“Our only choice is to drive the ambulance and help them out,” Stringer said. “Otherwise, we’re tying up frontline firefighters waiting at that call, potentially for hours until more resources from [BC Ambulance] can come.”Sign up for our newsletter to get breaking news and daily digests sent to your email.
“First responders and local volunteer firefighters are really there for first response, rescue, that sort of stuff. We believe that Gabriola is one of those communities that should be a full-time, 24-hour ambulance,” Clifford said.