Algoma EMS Deployment Strategy
| COMMUNITY |
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM |
7:00 PM to 7:00 AM |
| Elliot Lake |
2 ambulances*(on-site) |
1 ambulance (on-site) |
| Blind River |
1 ambulance (on-site ) |
1 ambulance (on-call) |
| Thessalon |
2 ambulances* (on-site) |
1 ambulance (on-call) |
| Richards Landing |
1 ambulance (on-site ) |
1 ambulance (on-call) |
| Wawa |
1 ambulance (on-site ) |
1 ambulance (on-call) |
| Dubreuilville |
1 ambulance (on-site ) |
1 ambulance (on-call) |
| White River |
1 ambulance (on-site ) |
1 ambulance (on-call) |
| Hornepayne |
1 ambulance (on-site ) |
1 ambulance (on-call) |
*The second ambulance is staffed from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
As you can see above, there is typically one ambulance available in each community at any given time. While history tells us that this is normally adequate to provide emergency coverage for our call volume, our ability to respond in a timely manner to emergencies is affected greatly when that lone ambulance is used to transport patients between medical facilities (non-emergency work).
In addition to the ambulance deployment above, Algoma EMS has two (2) Ford Expedition 4x4 SUVs and one (1) Ford F150 4x4 pickup truck. These vehicles are primarily First Response Units (FRUs) that can be upstaffed to provide emergency coverage when resources are stretched. There is one FRU assigned to our bases in Blind River, Richards Landing and Wawa. EMS management personnel use these vehicles for:
- administrative duties
- responding to emergency calls as a first responder
- responding to emergency calls to support on-scene Paramedics
- responding to large scale incidents requiring on-scene command
The movement of our vehicles and assignment of calls is controlled directly by the Sault Ste. Marie Central Ambulance Communication Centre (CACC), operated by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care’s Emergency Health Services Branch. Putting it briefly, we provide the CACC with our deployment strategy and they make the decisions with regard to how these resources are used. We try very hard to work collaboratively with the CACC to ensure that our ability to respond to an emergency call for help is not delayed for any reason, including non-emergency work.
Reaction Time
While on-site paramedic coverage is available (see chart above), it is the goal of Algoma EMS to commence a response to all ambulance calls within two (2) minutes of notification by the dispatch centre.
While on-call paramedic coverage is available (see chart above), it is the goal of Algoma EMS to commence a response to all ambulance calls within eight (8) minutes of notification by the dispatch centre.