Terrebonne : A baby dies while waiting for the ambulance 22 minutes

News 15 January, 2018

Photo QMI Agency

Axel Marchand-Lamothe

Monday, 15 January 2018 18:00

UPDATE
Monday, 15 January 2018 18:00

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The death of a baby of 11 months after that the ambulance had put 22 minutes to arrive on the scene of the call, on Friday at Terrebonne, revives the frustration of the paramedics who feel helpless about the lack of numbers.

“Our paramedics are shocked and outraged. It’s been two times in six months that can not be answered in a reasonable time, denounced Yan Man, president of the union SPLL-CSN. There really is a problem. “

During the 911 call at 13: 28, four ambulances were in service, but they were all busy and could not take care of the toddler in cardio-respiratory arrest.

“We can’t let go of the patients that we already have,” added Mr. Bonhomme.

22 minutes

Police officers in Terrebonne, who are also first responders, arrived on scene in 4 minutes. They started cpr, to no avail.

An ambulance from Repentigny was finally able to intervene at the residence of the sector of The Plain, 22 minutes later, double the acceptable response time.

“It is completely unacceptable and it is a matter of concern. I have no idea what it’s going to take for the minister to intervene, ” says Stéphane Maillet, director of operations for the prehospital Services Laurentides-Lanaudière (SPLL).

Second time

There is a second death in six months in Terrebonne, while an ambulance takes more than 20 minutes to get to the scene of a call. In August, it is a teenager of 16 years in cardio-respiratory arrest who died while waiting for 24 minutes.

Stéphane Maillet points out that repeated requests were made to the department to add resources, but without success.

“There has been no addition to ambulance since 2010, while the population and the number of calls are increasing,” recalls Yan Man.

Since 2012, the number of requests for ambulances are up 17 %.

According to Yan Man, there was no ambulance free to 9 a.m. on 24 December. The same thing occurred on January 2, at 10: 30.