The volunteer firefighters are set to upgrade their service this year.
“We are going to be getting ourselves trained in first response for medical calls,” said Bennett
The service was added partially because of the greater reach the fire department has with it’s two separate locations.
Partially due to the fact that we operate two fire halls. One’s out in the rural area where time can be critical in the event of a medical emergency and we would be the closest people to respond to that area due to the fact that the ambulance is right across the street to us so for them to go out there, there’s a time delay. Whereas us out there, it would be a very short time. And it adds another level of comfort to the people of the community that we’re there, we’re available to the community and we’re enhancing our service.
The doctor shortage that will soon be a reality in Fort St. James added to the desire to have the firefighers upgrade.
“(The doctor shortage) kind of heightened our awareness to the fact that from time to time we are short on resources in the community. Because the ambulances aren’t here, they’re out transporting patients to other hospitals, which isn’t unique to our community. But we thought by doing this we could add that little extra bit of care there.
They hope to have all completed the 40 hour course by May of this year.