EMERGENCY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE

MINUTES EPSC-2012-1

The Emergency and Protective Services Committee met on Thursday, June 21, 2012, at 9:07 a.m. in the Council Chamber, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton, Ontario.

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* See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

Councillor P. Palleschi presided.

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION EPSC-1-2012:

That the agenda for the June 21, 2012, Emergency and Protective Services Committee meeting be approved.

3. DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

a) Dr. Sheldon Cheskes, Medical Director, Paramedic Services, Presenting the 2011 Paramedic Medical Director's Annual Update

Received

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

Dr. Sheldon Cheskes, Medical Director, Paramedic Services, provided an annual update regarding progress made in the fields of cardiac arrest management including bystander CPR, upgrading paramedic and firefighter skill sets, and community paramedicine. Dr. Cheskes provided information on new research and clinical trials undertaken in many of these fields, as well as, noted that the Region of Peel is being recognized by several organizations for international excellence in paramedic services.

Councillor Paterak inquired if patients with a heart attack who drive themselves to emergency rooms need to be demonstrative to gain the attention of intake staff as opposed to those who arrive by ambulance. Dr. Cheskes responded that any patient experiencing symptoms of a heart attack should call 9-1-1 first and avoid driving themselves to emergency whenever possible.

Councillor McFadden inquired if there is a registration process for purchasing defibrillators in order to understand where they are located and who has them. Dr. Cheskes responded that while defibrillators can be purchased by anyone, the ones registered with the local health authority are those owned by community partners such as fire services. He further noted that unfortunately there is no governing body in Peel that overlooks the system of public access defibrillators; but manufacturers could be approached to implement a system of registration in the Region of Peel. Councillor McFadden suggested perhaps a letter could be sent to any local manufacturers regarding this issue. Janette Smith, Commissioner of Health Services, advised that a report would come back to EPSC analyzing the current system and provide recommendations on what role the Region of Peel could fulfill.

4. REPORTS

a) 2011 Paramedic Medical Director’s Annual Report

Received

See also Delegations - Item 3a

b) Land Ambulance Emergency Response Time Framework Performance Standards
Presentation by Peter Dundas, Chief and Director, Peel Paramedic Services

Received

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

RECOMMENDATION EPSC-2-2012:

That the recommended Response Time Framework Standards for Peel Regional Paramedic Services for the year 2013 be approved;

And further, that the Commissioner of Health Services report results commencing in 2014 of the approved response time framework for 2013;

And further, that the Commissioner of Health Services annually brings forward recommendations for the next year’s response time framework to Council for their approval.

Peter Dundas, Chief and Director, Peel Paramedic Services, provided a presentation outlining the recent legislative history of response time requirements for paramedic services in Ontario, and the newly targeted response times brought on by recent legislation and targets being recommended by Paramedic Services for continued excellence in responding to emergency medical situations.

Councillor McFadden inquired what emergency calls are also tiered to local fire departments. Peter Dundas responded that most serious calls such as sudden cardiac arrest, CTAS 1, 2, and many of 3 were being tiered to all fire departments. Councillor McFadden inquired if the calls or data on calls for CTAS 3 and 4 was recorded. Peter Dundas responded that the provincial dispatch system does not keep an accurate record of how many calls both fire and paramedics responded to in those categories. There is a need to coordinate this information between the two dispatch centres (Fire and Paramedics).

Councillor Hames inquired how the dispatch system determines whether fire or paramedics will be dispatched to an emergency situation. Peter Dundas responded that once dialing 9-1-1, an operator directs the call to one of fire, police, or ambulance. Once the determination is made for land ambulance the call is transferred to the provincial dispatch system for land ambulance which is a provincially operated body that will automatically notify the fire department as well depending on the answers to certain screening questions. Councillor Hames inquired whether this was an efficient method. Peter Dundas responded that it is not, and EPSC has been requesting the province for improvements to the dispatch system for many years.

Councillor Palleschi confirmed that the dispatch issue has been discussed repeatedly since the Region of Peel assumed this service.  He also noted the efforts being brought forward to try and address this matter.  Councillor Hames suggested bringing it to the attention of the Association of Municipalities’ of Ontario (AMO) as well.

c) Peel Regional Paramedic Services 2011 Annual Report

Received

5. COMMUNICATIONS - Nil

6. IN CAMERA MATTERS - Nil

7. OTHER BUSINESS - Nil

8. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 10:00 a.m., Regional Administrative Headquarters, Council Chamber, 5th floor, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton, Ontario.

Please forward regrets to Curtiss Law, Legislative Specialist, (905) 791-7800, ext. 4330 or at curtiss.law@peelregion.ca

9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.