A provincial EMS advocacy group holding vigils to honour those severely impacted by poor EMS response times will be in Cochrane on August 31, at 11:00 a.m.
The EMS Safeline, a grassroots advocacy group for paramedicine, intends to hold rolling vigils in municipalities surrounding Calgary and Edmonton to acknowledge and bring awareness to communities hit hardest by the ongoing Emergency Medical Services crisis.
"Those who have suffered unbearable loss due to the EMS crisis should be given the opportunity to tell their stories of how their lives have been changed," says Ali Morrison, an EMS advocate and creator of Safeline.
Through access of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP), Morrison and her paramedic colleague Ryan Middleton found data which suggests critical performance benchmarks for Alberta EMS’s have eroded or been ignored.
This is why Morrison set up Safeline, as a way to provide an outlet for former or current paramedics to report issues with confidentiality in order to bring greater awareness to this ongoing problem, and inspire industry wide change.
Safeline now wishes to honour and give space to families and citizens whose loved ones died or were irrevocably injured due to delays in ambulance response times.
"Medics' stories are horrific," says Morrison. "I know of no other employees in any government agency or company that would be expected to do what these men and women do, day after day, fearing reprisal if they speak out."
This is why EMS Safeline is reaching out to communities to hear from people who have been directly affected. The goal is to raise awareness, while also honouring both patients and paramedics who have suffered due to this issue.
Safeline is inviting those who have suffered due to poor ambulance response times in their community to share their stories and honour their loved ones, as well as paramedics who are seeking a confidential voice unaffiliated with Alberta Health Services to join and connect with the communities they are trying to serve.
Morrison said, “We really want a gathering where communities can tell their stories, and come together for support.”
EMS vigils be held in these areas on the following dates:
DIAMOND VALLEY: SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, at 11:00 a.m.
OKOTOKS: SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, at 2:00 p.m.
COCHRANE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, at 11:00 a.m.
AIRDRIE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, at 3:00 p.m.
OLDS: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, at 11:00 a.m.
DIDSBURY: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, at 2:00 p.m.
CARSTAIRS: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on the upcoming vigils, individuals can visit EMS Safeline’s page on Facebook.
