Duane Hicks
First Response volunteers at Naicatchewenin First Nation will be able “to do their jobs better” thanks to a new vehicle provided by the Ministry of Health.
First Responder Darlene Smith drove the large van from Fort Frances to Naicatchewenin First Nation last Wednesday, delivering it to the community in time for a training session that evening.
“I am sure it will come in handy,” remarked First Responder Donald Smith as he eyed the new vehicle, adding the program has been active at Naicatchewenin since about 2004 but this is the first dedicated vehicle they’ve had for that purpose.
“It will [be helpful],” echoed fellow First Responder Raechal Snowball.
“A lot of times, we transport people to meet up with the ambulance on [Highway] 613,” she added.
In addition to transporting patients, the First Response vehicle also is fitted with equipment like a stretcher, backboards, leg splints, oxygen tanks, and an automatic defibrillator.
Corrie Neufeld, regional training co-ordinator (emergency health services) for the Ministry of Health, said because of the distance separating many First Nations from municipalities with hospitals, the ministry is trying to provide First Response Team vehicles to all the communities so they can be used to meet up with ambulances.
In the case of Naicatchewenin, the First Responders would react to an emergency medical or trauma call in their community, administer the immediate emergency aid they’re trained to provide, and then transport the individuals to the entrance of the community at Highway 613 to rendez-vous with EMS.
Neufeld noted something new is that a physician also oversees the First Response program, providing feedback.
For example, if the team used the defibrillator, reports go to physician, who makes recommendations back to the team on whether they did a good job or could do something differently in future.
Naicatchewenin currently has about six individuals who are active First Responders, noted Donald Smith.
Like the well-publicized First Responders at Fort Frances High School, their role is to provide pre-hospital care in medical emergencies.
They’re on-call 24/7, and can be called to respond to incidents ranging from someone hurting themselves accidently to an elder experiencing a health problem requiring medical attention.
Over the years, the First Responders have received training, including from local paramedics John Beaton and Ed Carlson, to give them the skills they need.
While they are no substitute for paramedics, their training enables the First Responders to treat a patient to the extent their abilities allow, which can be critical prior to the arrival of EMS.
Having First Responders is important, stressed Smith, since it can take about 45 minutes for the ambulance to get to Naicatchewenin.
And if there’s bad winter weather, the response time could be even longer, he added.
When asked why he became a First Responder, Smith said he wanted to broaden his knowledge, learning about CPR and first aid.
“And I am just trying to help out in the community, for those who need the extra help,” he added.
But it’s not easy being a First Responder in a tight-knit community of only 420-plus people.
“We’ve had a few serious ones [incidents] and we lost some people. Those are tough,” Smith admitted.
He added the number of First Responders at Naicatchewenin has gotten somewhat smaller over time because some members had to quit due to the difficult nature of the job.
“Sometimes these calls that we get and respond to, they hit the guys pretty hard because you’re related to them,” Smith explained.
“It’s a small community.”
He added they always could use more volunteers.
