** Winnipeg paramedics fundraising for practitioner injured in explosion
** Population growth, inadequate resources fueling low morale amongst Alberta paramedics, survey says
CANADA NEWS
** Winnipeg paramedics in Manitoba have started a fundraising campaign to help a provider injured in a house explosion last week. The Winnipeg Sun (Jim Bender/September 25) said the the online fund for Corey Schroeder, 35, raised some $15, 565 by Sunday afternoon. According to the newspaper, the Courage for Corey effort can be found at
www.gofundme.com/eyui3w. A union fundraiser also took place Friday at a city Burger King. Schroeder, meanwhile, remains in isolation at the Health Sciences Centre. His home and belongings were destroyed in the blast. His pregnant girlfriend and daughter were not at home at the time the accident occurred.** Alberta paramedics are apparently suffering from low morale. That is the word from the Edmonton Journal (Alexandra Zabjek/September 26) which quoted from an EMS union survey finding 81 % of respondents believed morale had dipped in the last two years. According to the newspaper, inadequate resources, rapid population spikes, and increased call volumes are running practitioners ragged. Health Sciences Association of Alberta president Elisabeth Ballermann said no meaningful increase in prehospital resources has been seen in a city like Edmonton for the last six years. AHS President and CEO Vicki Kaminski, meanwhile, said the union’s concerns are valid. Kaminski said the matter is under ongoing review to improve the situation. AHS stats indicate 270 replacement ambulances have been put on the road since 2010. Fifteen new ambulance stations have also been built since 2012. In 2013, red alerts, where no ambulances can respond, averaged 95 minutes per month;in 2014, the average is 107 minutes.
Sep 28, 2014 | Comments Off on Monday, September 29, 2014
