Vehicles

The Emergency Support Unit (ESU) is a command post used to support paramedics and other emergency response personnel during a disaster. In a disaster situation, the senior duty officer would staff the ESU. It is also equipped with the extra supplies that would be required to provide patient care to many injured people at the disaster scene, while they wait for ambulances for transport to the hospital. ESU's are posted in Thunder Bay, Marathon, and Geraldton.

The Paramedic Response Unit (PTU) provides a fast first response capability for Superior North EMS in Thunder Bay and the surrounding area. Staffed 24 hours a day by a fully qualified paramedic, the vehicle will be used when all ambulances are tied up with calls, or when there may be a prolonged response time for a paramedic crew. While the vehicle is not designed for transporting patients, it does allow a paramedic to be at the patient's side quickly so that medical care can be provided.

Ambulance

Superior North EMS uses 36 ambulances as part of its fleet. In recent years, modular type of vehicles have been purchased to facilitate performing advanced skills in the patient compartment. These modular boxes are mounted on a Ford or Chevy chassis and in time can be remounted to reduce costs if and when the chassis has reached its life expectancy. All vehicles are certified to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Card Vehicle standards. They are purchased via Demers Ambulance in Beloeil, Quebec or Crestline in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Each year our fleet travels 666,000 kilometres to respond to service requests in the District of Thunder Bay.

From a program developed by Manitouwadge paramedics, the Wilderness Response Unit (WRU) is a snowmobile with a specially equipped sleigh. It is designed specifically to transport ill and injured patients cross country under difficult circumstances to a waiting ambulance. Paramedics trained in snowmobile operations will travel to the remote scene, treat and if necessary immobilize the patient, and then return to the roadside ambulance. The WRUs are assigned to Thunder Bay, Manitouwadge, and Geraldton but will be available to travel to remote areas.