About
A large populated rural area surrounds the City of Thunder Bay. This rural area is serviced by a dedicated group of 16 volunteer First Response Teams.First Response Teams provide emergency first response services until the arrival of paramedics. These teams have been around since the 1980's providing a service to their communities in which they live. They are a group of dedicated volunteers who are on call 24/7 and respond to medical emergencies, motor vehicle collisions, and provide standby support for their fire departments during a fire.
We have 16 teams surrounding Thunder Bay:
Three to the east:
Shuniah, Pass Lake, and Jellicoe which is halfway between Beardmore and Geraldton
Two to the north:
East Gorham and Lappe
Six to the west:
Conmee, Kaministiquia, Connor, Oliver, Paipoonge, and Shabandowan
Five to the south:
Neebing, Pearson, Scoble, Gillies, and Nolalu.
These dedicated volunteers from their communities have undergone a 44-hour Canadian Red Cross First Responder course and written a 100-question exam. A mandatory recertification for First Response is required every three years and a yearly CPR retraining is required for all team members. Each team has their own Instructor who has undergone a 20-hour instructor course and a 44-hour co-teach session with another qualified instructor. For most teams, this instructor is also their coordinator. The coordinator oversees all aspects of the team, including all paperwork submitted to Superior North EMS, maintaining of supplies and reporting to their superiors. Coordinators/training officers organize training sessions anywhere from once to four times a month to keep the skills of their members sharp.
Each team coordinator reports to Norman Gale, Manager of Quality Assurance and Training with Superior North EMS. Norm, together with his support person, Tuula Maunula, assists each team by providing supplies, equipment, training, and expertise in the field of emergency care. Norm and Tuula are always looking for ways to better the teams and improve on their equipment and skills.
These First Responders are a vital link in the EMS system. Most emergency response times for the paramedics to these areas are in excess of 20 minutes. First Response Teams can have a First responder on scene in 10 minutes or less resulting in the initiation of Basic Life Support (BLS) care quickly until the arrival of Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics.
Because of the dedication of these volunteer First Responders, the lives that have been given a second chance are countless.
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