Edgewater, Radium ladies support Invermere hospital

Edgewater/Radium Ladies Auxiliary believe in their ER with $2,000 donation.

Fundraising for the Invermere District Hospital emergency department continues and the project has been graced with a donation from members of the Edgewater/Radium Ladies Auxiliary. [Read more]

Invermere rescue vehicle a step closer

On Tuesday, February 9, 2010, the District of Invermere Council, at a regular meeting, moved the process of the purchase of the fire department’s new rescue vehicle a major step closer to being a reality when they voted to award the contract for the purchase to Pierce Manufacturing of Wisconsin. [Read more]

Trumpy report suggests ‘community-based solutions’ for smaller rural ambulance services

Industrial Inquiry Commission issues report on the BC Ambulance Service.

In November of 2009, An Industrial Inquiry Commission under the BC Labor Relations Code, appointed Chris Trumpy as Industrial Inquiry Commissioner, to head up an examination of the BC Ambulance Service. Mr. Trumpy has finished his research and delivered his report, dated January 10, 2010, to the Minister of Labor, the Hon.Murray Coell, who has forwarded it to the Minister of Health, Kevin Falcon. [Read more]

Drew Sinclair new Windermere-Fairmont deputy fire chief

The Windermere/Fairmont Fire Department has a new, full-time deputy fire chief these days and Chief Jim Miller was happy to talk to Columbia Valley News about the hiring of Drew Sinclair to the post.

Chief Miller, in an interview with Columbia Valley News, said that he had some pretty high standards in mind when he set out to hire a deputy. A good personality with the ability to work well with others was of paramount importance. [Read more]

Auxiliary makes big gift to ER campaign

Invermere Health Care Auxiliary makes $243,773 gift to ER campaign.

East Kootenay Foundation for Health.

Christmas has come early for the Invermere Hospital’s emergency department redevelopment project thanks to members of the Invermere Health Care Auxiliary. [Read more]

Fairmont, Windermere firefighters practice rescue techniques

Training day.

In fact, it was a weekend. A chilly one in early November, where local firefighters from Fairmont and Windermere boned up on the ins and outs — literally! — of vehicle extrication.

With a lot full of old cars, a couple of trucks and a tool belt of hydraulic powered rescue equipment the group of ten gathered near the Fairmont airport for three days of intensive vehicle extrication training. [Read more]

Invermere ER construction begins, equipment wish list ready

Spirit of the season and the Invermere ER.

The $4.3 million redevelopment project of the Invermere District Hospital Emergency has begun and will see the ER doubling in size; this means a requirement for new medical equipment. The collaborative partnership between the Auxiliaries of Invermere, Windermere, Edgewater/Radium and East Kootenay Foundation for Health is also seeing its next stage of fundraising with Interior Health’s announcement of the priority equipment list for the project. [Read more]

Calling 911 — why put you on hold?

From the S/Sgt’s Desk –

911 — be part of the solution not part of the problem.

Ever call 911 because you had an emergency and the first thing that the operator says, “Is this an emergency or can you hold?” You tell them you can hold. Then you hold, and hold, and hold and finally out of frustration you hang up.

Now I will put you in the 911 operator’s shoes. She/he is stacked with a number of calls dealing with dispatching calls for the police to attend, while other police officers are calling in with requests. The operator picks up another 911 call and the caller wants to report a break and enter that must have happened while they were out. You are then requested to hold. Now it’s the 911 operators turn to be frustrated with people that don’t understand what the 911 system is all about. People will even dial 911 to ask the operator when the power will be restored! [Read more]

Paramedic pay rates — what are they really?

Following the introduction of legislation to force paramedics back to work, the province will establish a commission of inquiry to help resolve the long stand-off between the government and workers.

While the government claims that full-time parametics earn between $64K and $91K per year, MLA Macdonald says that they “get paid less than Tim Horton’s workers.” [Read more]

Paramedics ordered to work overtime, talks resume

Talks are back on between the Ambulance Paramedics of BC and the employer. The two bargaining committees will meet Tuesday in Vancouver with third-party mediator Mark Atkinson in attendance.

The development came Sunday following weekend discussions between CUPE 873, CUPE BC and the BC Ambulance Service.

At a Friday support rally for paramedics in Richmond, CUPE 873 president John Strohmaier directed members to work only their regularly scheduled shifts. In view of the government’s recognition that this dispute must be resolved at the bargaining table, that direction has been rescinded. [Read more]