IN TWO YEARS, BEGINNING FEB. 12 the 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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Amidst all the preparations and construction needed for the event is the planning for the ambulance services for the public, athletes and working staff.
B.J. Chute, spokesman for the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., CUPE Local 873, is complaining that they will be seriously understaffed to handle the event. “There’s simply not enough ambulances and paramedics and equipment now to handle the call volume and the number of emergencies we respond to on a daily basis.”
There is a lot of give-and-take going on as the union is undergoing contract negotiations this year and wants to make sure that the members aren’t taken advantage of. The B.C. Ambulance Service, on the other hand, says that things will be just peachy.
Chute says that the paramedics have been told that there will be a need for an additional 50-75 ambulances during the Games. He adds that of the 3,400 trained paramedics in B. C., only 1,300 work full time.
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BCAS photo
The B. C. Ambulance Service counters that they will be hiring paramedics from across the country on a temporary basis and there is no shortage of applicants. They also state that while the service normally orders 50 to 70 new ambulances each year, it will be ordering 110 to 120 new ambulances in 2009. The vehicles they are replacing will continue in use until the conclusion of the Games.
No doubt, we will be hearing more on this.
The Vancouver Province has the STORY.
Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia Union WEBSITE.
CUPE Local 873 WEBSITE.
B. C. Ambulance Service WEBSITE.
2010 Winter Olympics official WEBSITE.
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