Dale Boyd/Osoyoos Times
Updated Match 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Dale Boyd
Osoyoos Times
In an open letter to Anarchist Mountain residents, Fire Chief Urs Grob of the Anarchist Mountain Fire Department (AMFD) announced the department is temporarily discontinuing medical-related first responder responses due to a shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) province wide.
Due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in B.C., there is a shortage of PPE throughout B.C. and “without this necessary equipment, our responders are unable to meet the current safety protocols put in place. As a result of this, we have no choice but to discontinue first responder responses until such time as provincial supplies and directives will allow us to do so,” Grob said in the letter.
All medical emergency calls within our area will still be handled by the B.C. Ambulance Service. Call 9-1-1 if you need medical assistance.
“This has not been an easy decision on our part but the safety of our members takes priority. We will still be responding to all other emergency calls as usual. We will continue to monitor this situation very closely and will keep you advised of any changes that may develop,” Grob stated in the letter.
Lacking face shields and specific medical protective equipment required by the province for medical first responders has left the department with no choice.
“We tried to get these parts and nobody has them, even the ambulance is short,” Grob told the Osoyoos Times. “I hope it has no impact and the ambulance is fast up there, but the ambulance is busy too and it could be late, it could have an impact.”
AMFD has a low volume of medical first response calls generally, but “you never know when the next call is,” Grob said.
“I hope there is no impact to the residents, but for sure it is not perfect,” Grob said. “I still hope somewhere they find some of this stuff and we’re back to normal, but right now there’s nothing we can do, just wait.”
