Emergency calls

A memorial, shown on June 8, 2022, in the back alley of a home in Calgary where an 86-year-old woman was attacked by dogs. She was taken to hospital and later died. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colette Derworiz

Alberta orders outside review into ambulance response time to dog attack victim

EMS initially triaged the “dog bite” as non-life-threatening based on 911 call centre information

A memorial, shown on June 8, 2022, in the back alley of a home in Calgary where an 86-year-old woman was attacked by dogs. She was taken to hospital and later died. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colette Derworiz
An air ambulance like this one landed at the Fuller Lake Arena parking lot. (File photo)

Update: 2 taken to hospital after Chemainus accident involving a motorcycle and a vehicle

Rider of the motorcycle taken by air ambulance for treatment

An air ambulance like this one landed at the Fuller Lake Arena parking lot. (File photo)
Police surround an ambulance in Calgary on May 28, 2008. Alberta Health Services says it is investigating why it took 30 minutes for an ambulance to respond after dogs attacked an 86-year-old woman in Calgary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal

Alberta Health Services investigates EMS response time in fatal Calgary dog attack

It took 30 minutes for an ambulance to respond after incident happened

Police surround an ambulance in Calgary on May 28, 2008. Alberta Health Services says it is investigating why it took 30 minutes for an ambulance to respond after dogs attacked an 86-year-old woman in Calgary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal
RCMP, Firefighters and B.C. Ambulance paramedics prepare to leave the scene after an injured man was placed in an ambulance following an alleged assault in Caledonia Park in Nanaimo on Friday, June 3. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Man taken to hospital after reportedly being beaten with a stick at Nanaimo park

Suspect arrested shortly after argument at Caledonia Park on Friday, June 3

RCMP, Firefighters and B.C. Ambulance paramedics prepare to leave the scene after an injured man was placed in an ambulance following an alleged assault in Caledonia Park in Nanaimo on Friday, June 3. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
RCMP, Firefighters and B.C. Ambulance paramedics prepare to leave the scene after an injured man was placed in an ambulance following an alleged assault in Caledonia Park in Nanaimo on Friday, June 3. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Man taken to hospital after reportedly being beaten with a stick at Nanaimo park

Suspect arrested shortly after argument at Caledonia Park on Friday, June 3

RCMP, Firefighters and B.C. Ambulance paramedics prepare to leave the scene after an injured man was placed in an ambulance following an alleged assault in Caledonia Park in Nanaimo on Friday, June 3. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, shows where a homeless person living behind the building plugged in electric bike, a move that blew up the battery of the bicycle and set part of the building on fire. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Blown electric bike battery sets Chamber building on fire in North Saanich

RCMP took the person in custody, said Al Smith of Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, shows where a homeless person living behind the building plugged in electric bike, a move that blew up the battery of the bicycle and set part of the building on fire. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
E-Comm says the organization is understaffed and underfunded while facing a record level of calls for service. (E-Comm photo)

‘Understaffed and underfunded’: E-Comm struggling to meet demand for B.C. 911 calls

Staff shortages and increased call volumes straining E-Comm’s resources

E-Comm says the organization is understaffed and underfunded while facing a record level of calls for service. (E-Comm photo)
Members of the Saanich Fire Department stand with one of the new reflective address signs being made available to residents. The highly visible signs help emergency crews more quickly locate a home. (Courtesy of District of Saanich)

Help yourself be more findable in an emergency, says Saanich Fire Department

Department’s new reflective signs designed to save valuable response time

Members of the Saanich Fire Department stand with one of the new reflective address signs being made available to residents. The highly visible signs help emergency crews more quickly locate a home. (Courtesy of District of Saanich)
Nanaimo RCMP Const. Ross Beisel pulls over a driver during a ‘slow down, move over’ drivers awareness campaign Friday, April 29. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

100 Vancouver Island drivers pulled over in roadside worker safety reminder

Nanaimo RCMP, BCAA and Mid Island Towing partner on ‘slow down, move over’ awareness campaign

Nanaimo RCMP Const. Ross Beisel pulls over a driver during a ‘slow down, move over’ drivers awareness campaign Friday, April 29. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
MV Island Responder captains who are always at the ready for an emergency, from left, include: Bob Mollet, Brian Francoeur and Chris Mullin. Absent: Harmen Bootsma. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Official ceremony launches Island Responder into a new era

Dockside commemoration in Chemainus of marine ambulance features special Penelakut blessing

MV Island Responder captains who are always at the ready for an emergency, from left, include: Bob Mollet, Brian Francoeur and Chris Mullin. Absent: Harmen Bootsma. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Brian Francoeur at the Chemainus dock beside the Island Responder that’s been in service for a few months and making such a difference to residents of nearby islands to get medical treatment quickly. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Commissioning of first purpose-built marine ambulance in B.C. waters takes place Thursday

Ceremony postponed from November due to another emergency – the weather

Brian Francoeur at the Chemainus dock beside the Island Responder that’s been in service for a few months and making such a difference to residents of nearby islands to get medical treatment quickly. (Photo by Don Bodger)
More than 40 per cent of non-emergency calls made to the Vancouver Police Department through E-Comm were abandoned in the first quarter of 2022, according to VPD. (Facebook/E-Comm911)

‘Public safety issue’: 40% of non-emergency calls in Vancouver going unanswered

E-Comm says increased call volumes, staff stress leave contributing to ongoing issue

More than 40 per cent of non-emergency calls made to the Vancouver Police Department through E-Comm were abandoned in the first quarter of 2022, according to VPD. (Facebook/E-Comm911)
In recognition of Emergency Service Dispatcher and 9-1-1 Awareness Week April 10 to 16, the Saanich Fire Department is acknowledging the service of its dispatchers. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Fire Department)

Saanich fire dispatch shares 9-1-1 tips for awareness week in B.C.

Fire chief reminds residents that dispatchers are available 24/7 for service

In recognition of Emergency Service Dispatcher and 9-1-1 Awareness Week April 10 to 16, the Saanich Fire Department is acknowledging the service of its dispatchers. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Fire Department)
B.C. Emergency Health Services and Island Health have announced a partnership that will make blood for transfusions readily available for air ambulance paramedics. (Photo submitted)

Blood becoming ‘available at all times’ for trauma patients on Vancouver Island

Island Health and B.C. Emergency Health Services announce partnership

B.C. Emergency Health Services and Island Health have announced a partnership that will make blood for transfusions readily available for air ambulance paramedics. (Photo submitted)
A Nanaimo firefighter runs with tanks of oxygen to where emergency crews are working to save the life of a man who was found in the waters of Departure Bay on Monday, March 21. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Kayaker dies after being found in the water at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay

Emergency crews worked for more than 30 minutes on beach attempting to save man’s life

A Nanaimo firefighter runs with tanks of oxygen to where emergency crews are working to save the life of a man who was found in the waters of Departure Bay on Monday, March 21. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
A 15-year old hockey player waited 42 minutes for an ambulance response after suffering a severe injury at Penticton’s Memorial Arena on Wednesday morning (March 16). (Black Press file photo)

Youth hockey player with neck injury waits 42 minutes for ambulance in Penticton

‘We know it can be stressful waiting for an ambulance,’: BC Emergency Health Services said

A 15-year old hockey player waited 42 minutes for an ambulance response after suffering a severe injury at Penticton’s Memorial Arena on Wednesday morning (March 16). (Black Press file photo)
The Island Responder provides a valuable service to Thetis and Penelakut Island residents. (Photo by Don Bodger)

First purpose-built marine ambulance in B.C. waters a valuable commodity

Island Responder operating off Chemainus for island residents features an on/off ramp for stretchers

The Island Responder provides a valuable service to Thetis and Penelakut Island residents. (Photo by Don Bodger)
One person was taken to hospital after a boat caught fire on land at Ladysmith’s Fishermen’s Wharf early in the morning of Feb. 26. (Photo submitted by Mike Christensen)

UPDATED: One taken to hospital after early morning boat fire in Ladysmith

Fire chief attributes cause to a wood-burning heater, RCMP investigate

One person was taken to hospital after a boat caught fire on land at Ladysmith’s Fishermen’s Wharf early in the morning of Feb. 26. (Photo submitted by Mike Christensen)
One person is dead after a scuba diving accident in Ladysmith. (Photo by Tyler Hay)

Scuba diving accident results in fatality in Ladysmith

A boat was met by paramedics at Ladysmith Fisherman’s Wharf

One person is dead after a scuba diving accident in Ladysmith. (Photo by Tyler Hay)
The opioid crisis has left B.C. paramedics struggling with mental health issues. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE

Trickle-down effect: never-ending opioid crisis driving B.C. paramedics to exhaustion

‘Most of us are exhausted.’

The opioid crisis has left B.C. paramedics struggling with mental health issues. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE