Paramedics get permanent new home in local municipality
An agreement between Huron County council and Huron East will see the county's paramedics get a permanent home in the Huron East Fire Hall and Huron East getting the expansion they were looking for.
Huron County Chief of Emergency Services Jeff Horseman says they wanted a permanent station in Brussels and the fire fighters needed more room.
“So we've entered into an agreement with Huron East to build that expansion for their fire hall and a paramedic base at the current site of the Brussels Fire Hall. Huron East will be in charge of the project, they'll award the tender, they will actually own the building," Horseman explained.
Horseman says the County of Huron will pay for the capital improvements for the paramedic base and enter into a lease agreement with the municipality to have the paramedics in the building.
Horseman says the paramedic crew that currently gets stationed to Brussels actually comes out of Wingham, so they start and end their shift in Wingham.
“The down fall to the situation right now is that the paramedics have to stay inside the fire hall in the fire fighters area, for all intents and purposes in their meeting room and then when the fire department needs that room we have to vacate that room. So logistically its not the best set up," added Horseman.
Horseman adds, their vehicle is parked outside for the time the paramedics are in the fire hall so if there are adverse weather conditions, whether it's snowing, or cold, or too hot for their medications, the vehicle has to be kept idling to maintain the consistent temperatures that the supplies need.
Horseman says it will mean that the paramedics would actually report to Brussels, and that will give Brussels about two hours more coverage every day, because they'll be in Brussels when the shift starts, rather than having to drive from Wingham. Horseman also points out there are communities in the Brussels area that benefit from having paramedics stationed in Brussels, and there is also a call volume associated with the long term care home in Brussels.
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