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CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services say calls for help continue to rise
Every second matters in an emergency. CTV's Hannah Schmidt rides along with paramedics to find out what happens when a call for help comes in. Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services says its crews are tackling a growing number of emergency calls while aiming to keep response times low. The service currently employs about 325 full-time and part-time paramedics and has 13 bases across the region with two main fleet centers. 'We've got currently 60 ambulances that are available on the road,' said Jason Dippel, communications specialist with Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services. 'We have about 30 to 36 ambulances available during peak hours. With that, we also have four first response units, three of which are on the road that we put out in the rural areas currently.' Region of Waterloo paramedic services generic ambulance paramedics Vehicles for Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services on Aug. 19, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) Dippel says each day, there are always two paramedics assigned to a rig. 'We have two levels of care: we've got primary care and advanced care. So usually, we have a primary care and an advanced care [paramedic] which can be paired together,' Dippel explained. 'Or we have groups of both primary care paramedics that would respond.' He said they also have first response units, where a single paramedic could respond to a call and start treatment immediately while waiting for an ambulance capable of transporting a patient. On average, each ambulance responds to anywhere from two to six calls per day, according to Dippel. 'Some days we're a little bit busier and some crews will get more than that. But that's a good average.' Region of Waterloo paramedic services generic ambulance paramedics A vehicle for Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services on Aug. 19, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) Once a call comes in, crews are expected to be enroute to their ambulance within two minutes. Their target is to reach patients within six to eight minutes, though officials note response times can vary depending on location, traffic and call demand. First responders said demand for service continues to rise each year, in part due to an aging population and higher call volumes linked to population growth. Other factors, like weather, can also play a part. 'With the heat, we did see a slight increase in calls during the heat waves,' Dippel said. 'The very beginning of winter, we see a lot of vehicle collisions with usually minor injuries. During the weekends when everybody's out doing things, they're all active, and sometimes we have some more trauma calls then where they're out on the bike trails or on the hiking paths. Otherwise, day to day, we get calls for just about anything you can imagine.' ambulance Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services An ambulance for Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services on June 24, 2025. (Heather Senoran/CTV News) 'Retirement homes generate a fair number of our calls as well as elderly people still living at home that maybe should be thinking about a retirement home because they're having a harder time living independently,' said Bryan Lutley, a fourth-year paramedic. 'The lower income and homeless population, they have certain needs that they aren't able to meet on their own. So that also is a high percentage.' The service has also launched a new community referral program, which connects frequent 911 callers and vulnerable patients to social supports and health services. Officials said it is expanding quickly as paramedics look for ways to ease pressure on emergency rooms and provide care outside of hospital settings. 'Our frontline paramedics can highlight that, put a paramedic referral into our community paramedics who can then follow up to help them navigate the system and see what supports through regional programs and other health care programs are available in the region,' Dippel explained. 'A way to better help them out and stay at home, stay comfortable there.'
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
‘It was intense': Heatwave relief in sight this week for Canadians
A heat dome over southern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes has public health officials urging residents to take precautions. John Vennavally-Rao explains. Some relief is in sight for millions of Canadians after three days of intense heat that saw Toronto experience its hottest day in nine years. The high for many cities in eastern Canada is forecast to be below 30 C on Wednesday, though the humidex will still be in the low 30s. Looking back on the heat wave that began on Sunday and saw the humidex reach 46.7 C in Toronto, David Philips says what made it particularly notable was the unseasonably cool May and June that preceded it. The senior climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada says before Sunday, Toronto had just a single day above 30 C this year, which is unusual. 'And so that really is very late coming,' said Philips, emphasizing the danger posed by the sudden onset of extreme heat. 'It was intense. It was late coming. And also, (it) wasn't just a one-day wonder.' The Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services has seen an increase in heat-related calls. Jason Dippel told CTV News that heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious concerns, as they can be life-threatening. Dippel urged extra caution for vulnerable groups. 'Younger individuals, those experiencing chronic illness, you've got the elderly, all more susceptible to heat exhaustion or heat stroke,' said Dippel. The intense heat has made daily life challenging for many. A woman in Toronto described the conditions as 'definitely not great.' 'It's hard to be outside and I can't imagine what it's like for people that don't have (air conditioning) at home,' she said. Residents of a Toronto condo building experienced this difficulty firsthand when their central air conditioning broke down just as temperatures began to climb on Sunday. One resident, who wished not to be identified, purchased a fan but described the conditions in their unit as 'unliveable.' 'I couldn't sleep properly because in my bedroom since it's facing the sun in the morning, it's like over 30 degrees just inside the bedroom,' they told CTV News. The lack of air conditioning in many Ontario schools, particularly older buildings, has also become a point of contention. Some parents have opted to keep their children home, prioritizing their health and comfort over classroom attendance. Erica Phipps of the Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment spoek with CTV News, highlighting the risks extreme heat poses to children, including its impact on cognitive function. She argued the current heat wave underscores how ill-equipped educational facilities are for a changing climate. 'It used to be that maybe schools could get away without that infrastructure (air conditioning), but that is no longer the case,' said Phipps. Earlier this year, Phipps's group, along with 40 other organizations, advocated for a maximum indoor school temperature of 26 C to protect children. She also suggested immediate measures such as window coverings and fans. 'Scientists are finding that extreme heat, or even prolonged elevated temperatures, affect brain function,' she said. 'They affect memory and cognition, and can also contribute to other issues that kids may be struggling with, irritability and frustration.'
