Nipissing paramedics lobby social services board for remote response ATV

The paramedic service in the Nipissing District is calling on the local social services administration board to purchase an all-terrain emergency response vehicle.

When snow packed both Gravenhurst and Highway 11, trapping vehicles and leaving hundreds stuck, Muskoka paramedics deployed their remote response vehicle to manoeuvre between vehicles to get people out safely.

The paramedic service in the Nipissing District is calling on the local social services administration board to purchase an all-terrain emergency response vehicle. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

"It showed over that last event how valuable it is," said Jeff McWilliam, chief of the Muskoka Paramedic Services and Emergency Management.

Their EMS colleagues in Nipissing are asking the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board to purchase one for $140,000 to access remote areas where reaching patients can be challenging.

"I would suggest any municipalities that are in a rural and urban mix like Muskoka and the North Bay area that these are valuable tools," McWilliam said.

The Muskoka Paramedic Services came up with the idea of purchasing the vehicle after a 2019 flooding situation in Bracebridge where ambulances couldn't access certain areas due to flooded roads.

In a recent presentation to the board, paramedic services chief Stephen Kirk indicated that on average, there are about 12-20 calls each year that require off-road paramedic access.

"We did make representation to the Ministry of Health last year explaining the need for them inside our paramedic system,” said board chair Mark King.

The paramedic service in the Nipissing District is calling on the local social services administration board to purchase an all-terrain emergency response vehicle. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

If the board proceeds with the purchase, there would be an annual cost of around $10,000 for operation.

McWilliam knows of other paramedic services that provide this type of response, including Temiskaming District, York Region and Greater Sudbury.

King said off-road response has become a huge part of providing medical services to the Nipissing District.

"I'm supporting it. I will try to lobby some of the board members to make sure there's support. I think overall there is support for it," he said.

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"Across northern Ontario, everybody understood the versatility of them and the ability to get into spots that are really tough to access."

At the next social services board meeting on Dec. 17, board members will discuss the budget and how it would be paid for, should they agree to purchase one.

If approved, King said it could be paid for out of a levy inside the social services board’s budget or through reserves.