Update: 4:00 p.m.
BC EHS provided the following update to MyPGNow.
The Rapid Response Team is committed to deployment in Fort St James until Wednesday after a second team was deployed today (Monday).
Two incoming Critical Care Paramedics, part of Team Two of the rapid response team, proceeded with handover and introductions to the area yesterday (Sunday).
“A large part of the response is supporting local paramedics with call response,” said Spokesperson Shannon Miller in an email.
“In the last 24 hours, new team members and local paramedics have already responded to several COVID calls.”
As of today (Monday), paramedics have responded to 45 medical emergency calls and 56 patient transfers for a total of more than 100 calls for paramedic response in December.
“Halfway through the month paramedics have responded to a call volume equal to a full month,” Miller explained.
“It’s usual to have 1-2 transfers a day; they are responding to 4-5 a day with patients requiring transfer to higher levels of care hospitals.”
The Rapid Response Team traveled to the community with equipment, medications, an ambulance, and SUV support vehicle.
Original story
A Rapid Response Team will remain in Fort St. James for another four-day deployment, as medical emergency calls continue to surge in the region.
The team was initially deployed on Wednesday (Dec. 9) to help with patient transfers, following an influx in ambulance calls.
Local paramedics responded to 33 calls in a six-day period.
According to BCEHS, 95 9-1-1 calls were made from Fort St. James in November, up from the monthly average of 50 to 60 calls.
On Thursday (Dec 10), Provincial Health Officer Doctor Bonnie Henry reported 39 active COVID-19 cases related to the community, 20 of whom are in hospital.
More to come…
A Rapid Response Team will remain in #FortStJames for another four day deployment, as medical emergency calls continue to surge in the region. Thank you to our initial team for helping our Stn 761 #paramedics in continuing to provide great #PatientCare. #COVID19BC pic.twitter.com/gyfdjmhdwW
— Emerg Health Services (@BC_EHS) December 14, 2020