Emergency calls

E-Comm says the organization is understaffed and underfunded while facing a record level of calls for service. (E-Comm photo)

‘Understaffed and underfunded’: E-Comm struggling to meet demand for B.C. 911 calls

Staff shortages and increased call volumes straining E-Comm’s resources

 

Nanaimo RCMP Const. Ross Beisel pulls over a driver during a ‘slow down, move over’ drivers awareness campaign Friday, April 29. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

100 drivers pulled over in Nanaimo and warned about roadside worker safety

Nanaimo RCMP, BCAA and Mid Island Towing partner on ‘slow down, move over’ awareness campaign

 

Penelakut Tribe elder August Sylvester and his daughter Marya Luby perform a ceremonial cleansing of the MV Island Responder to rid it of evil, accompanied by captains Chris Mullin and Bob Mollet. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Official ceremony launches Island Responder into a new era

Commemoration of marine ambulance in B.C. community features Penelakut blessing

 

Brian Francoeur at the Chemainus dock beside the Island Responder that’s been in service for a few months and making such a difference to residents of nearby islands to get medical treatment quickly. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Commissioning of first purpose-built marine ambulance in B.C. waters takes place Thursday

Ceremony postponed from November due to another emergency – the weather

Brian Francoeur at the Chemainus dock beside the Island Responder that’s been in service for a few months and making such a difference to residents of nearby islands to get medical treatment quickly. (Photo by Don Bodger)
More than 40 per cent of non-emergency calls made to the Vancouver Police Department through E-Comm were abandoned in the first quarter of 2022, according to VPD. (Facebook/E-Comm911)

‘Public safety issue’: 40% of non-emergency calls in Vancouver going unanswered

E-Comm says increased call volumes, staff stress leave contributing to ongoing issue

More than 40 per cent of non-emergency calls made to the Vancouver Police Department through E-Comm were abandoned in the first quarter of 2022, according to VPD. (Facebook/E-Comm911)
B.C. Emergency Health Services and Island Health have announced a partnership that will make blood for transfusions readily available for air ambulance paramedics. (Photo submitted)

Blood becoming ‘available at all times’ for trauma patients on Vancouver Island

Island Health and B.C. Emergency Health Services announce partnership

B.C. Emergency Health Services and Island Health have announced a partnership that will make blood for transfusions readily available for air ambulance paramedics. (Photo submitted)
A Nanaimo firefighter runs with tanks of oxygen to where emergency crews are working to save the life of a man who was found in the waters of Departure Bay on Monday, March 21. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Kayaker dies after being found in the water at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay

Emergency crews worked for more than 30 minutes on beach attempting to save man’s life

A Nanaimo firefighter runs with tanks of oxygen to where emergency crews are working to save the life of a man who was found in the waters of Departure Bay on Monday, March 21. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
A 15-year old hockey player waited 42 minutes for an ambulance response after suffering a severe injury at Penticton’s Memorial Arena on Wednesday morning (March 16). (Black Press file photo)

Youth hockey player with neck injury waits 42 minutes for ambulance in Penticton

‘We know it can be stressful waiting for an ambulance,’: BC Emergency Health Services said

A 15-year old hockey player waited 42 minutes for an ambulance response after suffering a severe injury at Penticton’s Memorial Arena on Wednesday morning (March 16). (Black Press file photo)
Brian Francoeur, left, and Harman Bootsma inside the Island Responder. (Photo by Don Bodger)

First purpose-built marine ambulance in B.C. waters a valuable commodity

Island Responder operating off Chemainus for island residents features an on/off ramp for stretchers

Brian Francoeur, left, and Harman Bootsma inside the Island Responder. (Photo by Don Bodger)
One person was taken to hospital after a boat caught fire on land at Ladysmith’s Fishermen’s Wharf early in the morning of Feb. 26. (Photo submitted by Mike Christensen)

UPDATED: One taken to hospital after early morning boat fire in Ladysmith

Fire chief attributes cause to a wood-burning heater, RCMP investigate

One person was taken to hospital after a boat caught fire on land at Ladysmith’s Fishermen’s Wharf early in the morning of Feb. 26. (Photo submitted by Mike Christensen)
One person is dead after a scuba diving accident in Ladysmith. (Photo by Tyler Hay)

Scuba diving accident results in fatality in Ladysmith

A boat was met by paramedics at Ladysmith Fisherman’s Wharf

One person is dead after a scuba diving accident in Ladysmith. (Photo by Tyler Hay)
The opioid crisis has left B.C. paramedics struggling with mental health issues. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE

Trickle-down effect: never-ending opioid crisis driving B.C. paramedics to exhaustion

Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. seeing sharp spike in mental health-related issues among members

The opioid crisis has left B.C. paramedics struggling with mental health issues. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE
(Facebook/E-Comm911)

Mixed-up coffee orders, messy roommates top E-Comm’s 911 nuisance calls

E-Comm handles 99 per cent of B.C.’s 9-1-1 calls and urges the public to call for emergencies only

(Facebook/E-Comm911)
Nanaimo firefighters were called to a condominium building after a pipe burst and caused extensive flooding Wednesday, Dec. 29. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

UPDATE: Residents return to Nanaimo condo building flooded by burst pipe

Building flooded when accumulating water collapsed ceiling above top-storey condominium

Nanaimo firefighters were called to a condominium building after a pipe burst and caused extensive flooding Wednesday, Dec. 29. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
(PQB News file photo)

Thanksgiving long weekend phone delays plague B.C. ambulance service response

E-Comms 9-1-1 says the extended wait period a result of call transferring delays

(PQB News file photo)
A man was taken to hospital from Raven Point Inn & Marina after burning his foot on a flare. (Tyler Hay photo) Raven Point Marina owner Daniel Maloney assists emergency crews after a man stepped on a flair at the docks and suffered serious burns on Sept. 23. (Photo by Tyler Hay)

Man with severe burns airlifted after stepping on flare at Ladysmith marina

Air ambulance lands at Raven Point Marina Thursday afternoon

A man was taken to hospital from Raven Point Inn & Marina after burning his foot on a flare. (Tyler Hay photo) Raven Point Marina owner Daniel Maloney assists emergency crews after a man stepped on a flair at the docks and suffered serious burns on Sept. 23. (Photo by Tyler Hay)
The back of a BC Emergency Health Services ground ambulance. (PQB News file photo)

B.C. woman says husband’s death while family waited on hold won’t ‘be put on a shelf’

Nancy Blakey says talks include ‘very progressive’ meeting with BC Emergency Health Services

The back of a BC Emergency Health Services ground ambulance. (PQB News file photo)
Troy Clifford, president of president of the Ambulance Paramedics Of BC hopes recently announced changes help restore province’s “renowned ambulance service.” (Black Press Media File)

‘Nobody should have to wait for an ambulance’ — paramedic union president

Island communities to see improved ambulance service

Troy Clifford, president of president of the Ambulance Paramedics Of BC hopes recently announced changes help restore province’s “renowned ambulance service.” (Black Press Media File)
Aira Khan waited for an ambulance that never came. (Submitted photo)

UPDATE: Surrey residents report calling 911 for ambulances that didn’t arrive

One was an eight-year-old girl, another a 64-year-old woman with a blood clot after getting an AstraZeneca vaccine

Aira Khan waited for an ambulance that never came. (Submitted photo)
Emergency Health Services say they received a 911 call June 1 at 3:35 p.m. from a woman who had fallen but was in stable condition at Metrotown SkyTrain station. (Ambulance Paramedics of B.C.)

Ambulance response times in question after B.C. woman waits 1 hour with broken hip

Union president Troy Clifford says B.C.’s poorly managed paramedic staffing system is to blame

Emergency Health Services say they received a 911 call June 1 at 3:35 p.m. from a woman who had fallen but was in stable condition at Metrotown SkyTrain station. (Ambulance Paramedics of B.C.)