A G-day to you Doug.
     I'm hope Santa was good to you !
       We run an ALS unit out of our Fire hall. It runs with 1 EMT "P"
       and 1 EMT "A". The laws here in Alberta have been very clear as
       what each class of Ambulance must have for certification.
       A BLS unit may run with EMR certificatiom . I'm not sure of the
       types of certification you folks have down there. A EMR is the
       same as a First Medical Responder, FMR. the difference being that
       a EMR can not defib. but a FMR can. All the same training less
       the defib. Word has it that those with EMR will be trained for
       defib. The FMR training and certification was put together for
       fire fighters. Why you ask ? Well if a person has eg. EMR EMTA or
       EMTP they must pay $100. per year to "APA" Alberta Paramedic
       Association".to keep their certification. APA is kind of like a
       self police association. Bottom line if you don't have a
       membership you don't work. The standards are very high.
       Most Fire dept. are trained to the FMR level. since there is no E
       in the title APA has no control, in the case of Edmonton it has
       1400 firefighters . With no APA membership the city saves
       $140,000 per year. You can do a lot of courses with that kind of
       money. Any ways talk to you later, 25 & 26 we warmed to -20 :-)
       by new years we are back to -38. :-(   Doing extrication in this
       weather is not fun. I"ll tell you a good story next time. IT will
       have a train, severe limb and a van, -39 in the story. :-(
        Karl Umstatter               karl.umstatter@cr2.alive.ampr.ab.ca
... Take *CAR* out of carnage! Don't drink and drive.  E-911
--- Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR]
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