AIRDRIE, ALBERTA – On Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 12:49 p.m. the Airdrie Fire Department (AFD) responded to the first of four simultaneous medical responses.
• Fall with a fractured leg
• Two patients at a single residence fell sustaining injuries to their heads
• Chest pain
• Fall with neck/back pain
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) reported that it was in "Red Alert" and not able to respond to two of the calls in Airdrie. As a result, the AFD was requested by EMS to attend as first response.
Two patients from two separate scenes were transported by the AFD to the Airdrie Urgent Care Center for treatment. The additional calls were attended to by EMS as ambulances became available to respond in Airdrie.
Transporting patients in fire apparatus is an extremely rare occurrence and in these two cases occurred as there was no ambulances available to respond. All AFD firefighters are paramedics who carefully weighed the benefits of transport over the risk of leaving them on scene. The AFD fully supports the decision by our firefighters given these unique circumstances.
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Media contact:
Acting Deputy Chief Mike Pirie
403.948.8800 ext. 7882