Greenstone Paramedics Use Snowmachine to Transport Injured Patient
January 4, 2007 - Thunder Bay. Paramedics in Greenstone used one of Superior North EMS' 4 wilderness response units (WRU) to transport an injured patient to a waiting ambulance. A second patient was pulled by firefighters to the ambulance.Late in the evening on Tuesday, 2 Jan 07, Two male patients - 24 and 27 yrs old - became stranded on Wild Goose Lake approximately 20 kilometres west of Geraldton. The patients suffered injuries after a single vehicle collision with a large rock on the ice. One patient had significant back injuries while another suffered a fractured leg. Emergency crews were able to get to the shore of Wild Goose Lake, approximately 1 kilometre from the accident site.
"The first patient was pulled across the ice by firefighters, as the WRU had not yet arrived. When our WRU arrived, it was dispatched across the lake to retrieve the second patient", said Norm Gale, Public Information Officer for Superior North EMS. "Upon arrival at the patient's side, paramedics were able to assess and provide appropriate care prior to transport across the lake to the waiting ambulance. This improves patient care by relieving patient anxiety and by reducing physical stress on any traumatic injuries" added Gale.
Superior North EMS has 4 WRUs deployed across the District in Thunder Bay, Manitouwadge, Marathon, and Geraldton. Each WRU is comprised of a snowmobile towing a sled that is utilized for patient transport. Patients placed in the sled may be immobilized and other EMS care may be provided during transport. Over 60 paramedics throughout the organization have completed specialty training in the operation of the WRU. More paramedics will be trained this year. "We are the only emergency medical service in the province that utilizes a WRU to provide care to and transport our patients" said Gale.
WRUs in the District of Thunder Bay are utilized by paramedics approximately six times per year.
