The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), along with Island EMS and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, is encouraging Islanders to call 9-1-1 in emergency situations rather than driving a loved one to the hospital themselves during the road construction season.
“We appreciate that in an emergency situation, Islanders, especially those who live relatively close to the hospital, may consider coming to the QEH Emergency Department in a passenger vehicle rather than calling 9-1-1 and waiting for an Ambulance. With road construction taking place near the hospital, along Riverside Drive, passenger vehicles may face traffic delays on their way to the QEH that an ambulance would not,” said Rick Adams, Executive Director for the QEH. “We want to ensure that individuals, in an emergency situation, get to the hospital for medical care in a safe and timely manner. The best way to ensure this is to call 9-1-1.”
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal have protocols and processes in place to ensure that ambulances are able to access the hospital with ease, bypassing potential traffic congestion associated with road construction.
“The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal along with the contractor on site, Island Coastal, have protocols in place with Island EMS that all emergency vehicles are to gain quick access to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the case of an emergency,” says Stephen Yeo, Chief Engineer. “It is very difficult for traffic control personnel on site to discern between a normal passenger vehicle and a passenger vehicle trying to reach the hospital in an emergency.”
Islanders should always call 9-1-1 if they are experiencing a medical emergency and should wait for an ambulance to arrive. Island EMS paramedics are trained professionals with the skill sets and capacity to provide emergency care support on-site and during transport to hospital. Pre-hospital care in an emergency is critical to ensuring Islanders get the help they need quickly.