A Facebook post from a union representing health workers made the rounds in the Foothills over the weekend.

According to the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA), an Okotoks ambulance had to be dropped from the schedule due to short staffing.

It's not an isolated incident either.

A look at the Facebook page shows countless similar posts for municipalities across the province, including a few "red alerts," which indicate ambulances from larger urban centres are no longer available, and that ambulances from surrounding municipalities are being called in to respond to incidents.

One such post from Medicine Hat from Sept. 12 garnered close to 500 shares.

The union says it's simply down to a lack of personnel who aren't able to handle the call volume.

As for local municipalities, the HSAA has documented numerous incidents from Okotoks, High River, Claresholm, Vulcan, and Black Diamond since mid-August.

Some posts include map screenshots showing the distance some of the ambulances are having to travel, often making trips around half an hour long.

 According to HSAA President Mike Parker, this has been ongoing for around ten years.

“COVID has highlighted it, sure, the opioid crisis we’ve been facing has highlighted it, sure, but for the employer to say ‘smoky skies and a hot summer is the issue,’ it is not. They have not been staffing ambulances for an extended time and we have been making it very known to anybody who wants to look at it on social media how bad it truly is for our paramedics.”

These incidents are posted to a dedicated Facebook page called “HSAA EMS,” which Parker says was purpose-made to relay the information directly from EMS workers.

“Apparently one person’s voice isn’t good enough, so I’m allowing members who are out there watching this happen to submit live information and we put it out on social media to show citizens how dire it truly is.”

Special care is also taken not to identify those reporting these incidents.

“They ensure the names of the members are protected because this is a very hostile workplace for these folks and if their names were identified, they’d be facing repercussions for the employers. So it’s coming from us to protect them,” says Parker.

As for the intent behind the page, Parker is hoping the awareness of these incidents will inspire members of the public to contact officials in order to address shortages in staff and equipment.

“These paramedics are on the frontlines in the most difficult circumstances you can imagine. For some people, you’d call it their worst nightmares. What we need to do is support the people who are protecting us and stand up and speak out to help them help us.”

 

Send us your news tips, story ideas and comments at news@highriveronline.com