HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1982-09-09, Page 4DISPATCHER -- Mike O'Connor, owner -operator of the
Zurich ambulance service, calls from the base radio in
his office.
Municipal official1
s
back six and five1
Municipal officials have
given evidence of early sup-
port for the federal govern-
ment's "six and five" pro-
posal, although it may take
until next year's salary
negotiations and budget time
before municipal taxpayers
know that such support is
certain.
At the recent meeting of the
Ontario Municipal Associa-
tion, attended by Exeter
Councillor DorothyChapman,
delegates denied a request
from their own executive for
a 12 percent increase' in
registration fees. The conven-
tion ruled that the increase
should be held to six percent.
At Tuesday's session of the
local council, Mrs. Chapman
said the convention had been
an "educational experience''.
She outlined some of the
resolutions approved by
delegates as follows:
'Elimination of non -elected
members on Conservation
Authorities. •
'Reduction of deputy -
reeves at county council when
population under 5,000. Ex-
eter spoke against this recom-
mend2tion and was supported
by a large number of votes
but the motion was carried.
Huron County council had
presented the resolution.
'Maximum fine of *300 be
established for dogs running
at large.
'Removal of education tax
from property tax.
*Continuation of rent
control.
*Request the provincial
government to increase police
per capita grants to $17.
Mrs. Chapman said she felt
AMO opinions are becoming
a strong influence in provin-
cial decisions and legislation.
•!Na.
IATA
Mfg Sitter
BUS TOURS - FALL '82
General Interest
Sept. 28 - Oct. 2 Tours to Plowing match 96.00
Sept. 27, Chinese Exhibition - Toronto $20.00
Sept. 30 The WHO Concert, Pontiac '38.00
Oct. 16 North American Hobby & Craft Show Toronto
$19.00
Oct. 25 liberate (top price tickets) $38.00
Nov. 19 Royal Winter Fair_ , Horse Show and RCMP Musical
Ride 924.00
Nov. 24 Cullen Gardens Christmas lights $19.00
Dec. 3Simcoe Lights including supper 424.00
SFORTS
Oct. 17 NFL Football Atlanta at Detroit`- ' 45'00 .
Nov. 14. NFL. Football, Green Bay -at ffeiP& 5100 -Nov. 28 NHL Hockey, Edmonton at Detroit,.top,price•
tickets at.<_si.:.:
Dec. 6 NFL Football, New York Jets at Detroit.. *35.00
Grey Cup 82 • Toronto
Register Before Sept. 30, 1982
Nov. 27, 2 8
Fall and Winter hours
Mon. to Friday, 8:30 to 5:30
Satudays, 9:30 to 4:30
Evenings by appointment
235-2000
Or Toll From 1-800-265-7022
To to 2.00
Locotrd ,,,
1 s.•t.•, t
Old T,•v.n I(.;
1
17) 7etta
?wow & IP7zaucl
l I M I T E 0
21 -Day
California
Departs - October 17, 1982
Visit Salt Lake City, Capital of the
Mormon faith, the dazzling silver
gambling state of Nevada, then on to
the state of sunshine, beaches, big
cities, and movie stars, California.
See San Francisco China Town, ride
the cable cars, shop at Fisherman's
Wharf.
On to Los Angeles City of Angels. See
Universal Studios.
Graueman's Chinese Theatre and
Disneyland See Las Vegas, the city
that never sleeps.
Hoover Dam, Old Painted Desert,
Petrified Forests, and much more.
Twenty-one day vacation with Fet-
tes through thirteen states.
Our Agent in Exeter
1-800-263-7022
wig SWIMS
Feel may not work. well in rural o[eas
•AmbuIanc..opi'ators concerned about central dispatch
Times -Advocate, September 9,1982
Poe. 3
Ambulance service
operators serving this com-
munity from Dashwood,
Lucan and Zurich are con-
cerned about the local effects
of a central dispatch system
announced last week by the
provincial ministry of health.
The ministry proposes to
bring under one roof 14
dispatch systems: Itodney,
Glencoe, Strathroy, Lucan,
Parkhill, Dashwood, Zurich,
St. 'Marys,Woodstock,
Tillsonburg, St. Thomas, Lon-
don and two separate systems
in Stratford.
At present Dashwood and
Zurich dispatch their own
vehicles from their own base
stations, and Lucan is allied
'with the Thames Valley Am-
bulance Service in London.
When the new system is in
operation (and amalgama-
tion is scheduled to begin ear-
ly next year) all calls from
this entire geographical
region will go to London, and
all ambulances will be assign-
ed from that office.
Jin Hoffman, manager of
Hoffman Ambulance Service
in Dashwood, feels very
strongly that though a central
dispatch system is suited to
large, heavily populated cen-
tres, it is "no good" for rural
areas and • small
communities.
"The way it sounds to me,
GET READY...GET
Plans are being completed
for the second annual Terry
Fox Run.
The local version will begin
from the South Huron Ree
Centre on Sunday, September
19 between the hours of 10
a.m. and'5 p.m.
Prospective participants
are reminded this is not a
race. You may walk, run, jog,
trot or ride a bicycle.
Registration may be made
at anytime the day of the
event at the Rec Centre. Run
organizer Doug Ellison says
"While pledge sheets and
sponsors are .welcome and
necessary for a successful
day, you may run without
sponsorship by paying a
minimum registration fee of
$5.
Pledge sheets are available
from Exeter Public School,
South Huron District High
School, Becker's Milk and
Ellison Travel.
497 ore
r.: Inco :-)4,i
'�►
ison at i`'.
Dog owners
Continued from front page
delinquent in their payment
for tags and this prompted a
lengthy discussion.
Councillor Bill Mickle sug-
gested the fees be added to
the owner's property tax,
although there appeared to be
some question if this was
legal.
Clerk Liz Bell noted there
was provision under the dog
control bylaw for the imposi-
tion of fines, although no one
suggested that course of ac-
tion be taken at this time.
It was finally decided, at
the suggestion of Mayor
Bruce Shaw, that the owners
be sent one final notice re-
questing payment and advis-
ing that council will take
other action if required to col-
lect. It was also agreed that a
fee of *1 be tacked on for ad-
ministration costs of sending
out the final notice.
Noting that at the recent
AMO convention a resolution
was passed calling for fines of
$300 for people who permit
dogs to run at large, Mickle
said that stiff penalty could
act as a strong deterent and
may halt the problem of dogs
in some neighbourhoods.
In thanking Miss Pinder for
her efforts, the Mayor said
she had done a tremendous
job, not just with the dogs,
and advised her that the PUC
staff had been complimen-
tary towards her as well and
had expressed amazement at
the way she was able to deal
with customer complaints
when she was working in that
office.
we'll have no control over our
equipment," be said/:JkWe
know our own area, and what
calls we can put together.
How would some guy in Lon-
don know the same car could
go to Grand Bend find
Shipka? And with owner -
operated dispatch we know
where our cars - and our pa-
tients - are."
Hoffman would like to.11gq; at thee, answered all
the money spent to improve calls. first vehicle was a
the existing system, rather. station Wagon," Westlake re -
than on new, expensive gcj(Iuip; connteti. "But it was a losing
ment and Bell telephone lines proposition- d got to be too
(Set-up costs for the centralis much. That* y the govern-
ed system are estimated at ment took all over in
between $500,000 and 1968."
X0,000.) The prOviinciial government
Mike O'Connor, owner- now controls the funding, and
operator of the Zurich -based calls the tune. Whether the
service, has no quarrel with ambulance service is direct -
the concept of central • ly operated by the health
dispatch, but wonders what ministry (-like Brantford and
the ministry will :do Windsor), hospital -operated
afterward. ' (Goderich and Wingham
"The ministry has cut back maintained by volunteers and
in so many areas of health phenomenal' flihdraising
care, closing hospital beds (Amherstberg) or is private -
and wings. Will they try to ly owned, each system must
reduce costs five years down adhere to ministry rules and
the road by reducing the am- `, a i:.txi} v•".'
bulance service'?" he
speculated.
O'Connor is aware the
health ministry tried to
eliminate the Zurich service
a few years ago, and only
changed their minds after a
successful battle by then
owner Keith Westlake and the
village council to retain an.
ambulance in Zurich. What if.
they take another look at the
small populations of Zurich,
Bayfield and Hensall, and try -
again?
"I think area councils
should have guarantees this is
not the first step,•in a cut-
back," he said.
Bill Haskett, owner of the
Lucan ambulance, is reserv-
ing judgement until he sees
how the new system works.
The Ontario Ambulance.
Operators Association has
submitted several briefs to
the ministry, and will meet in .
London with department of-
ficials on Sentember.16 when.
a management committee
will beset up to.deal with pro-
blems arising from the cen-
tral dispatch plan. Each
operator has been promised a The three local owners give
chance to express his opinions the ministry -credit for im-
during the set-up period. proving service and
"I'm open-minded. If the upgrading equipment.
management committee Hoffman Ambulance Ser -
establishes good cdl'rimunica- vice, begun in 1942, has two
'oils be -n+dhe : stry ambulances and four full-
nd cen- time employees, not counting
al ' , �;: 'a good owner Harry Hoffman, who
•s id ding still goes on transfer or non-
..._
apes fife TrceTAISmall emergency calls. Son Jim, a
communities won't qualified attendant, has been
deteriorate. - ' ving an ambulance since
All three own -operators �I ining his driver's licence
predict the 1os$•of the .-per- ge 16. Four part-timers
sonal touch. Now; drivers alit 4s, k on a regular schedule,
attendants know most of their and others are on call. One is
clients on a first-nanTe blsis. John Campbell, minister of
They fear the opporttnI ty ful':•- the Church of trod' in Grand
mistakes' will A pirease ill Bend; knownt his co -
direct ratio tp thellicr ease in '' workers as "our 'rnan Mon -
area covered. -i day"; he is on-cell'the first
Ambulance services in day of the week from
smaller localities have September till June.
always had close bonds with Jim's wife Donna and
the people they serve. Most brother Bob's wife Anne
ambulance services began as Marie, both registered nurs-
adjuncts to funeral homes, ing assistants, will also res -
subsidized by _ those pond in an emergency.
- IC 11111
eitiimptaimis to supply a
e f
need. a
' Westlake, who
operat$ the Zurich service
tor 35 years, recalls the days
before all ambulance services
in Qntario were brought
under the jurisdiction of the
ministry of health.
"We diidstt►e best we could,
took all courses available
WAITING' -.Bill Haskett
waits in :the' Lucan am-
bulance sehflte'office for
a call for assistance.
regulations,: and conform to
standardization of equipment,
training and fee schedules. -
The ministry dictates the
nqmber of vehicles and staff
for each service. Even a trip
to the gas station to top up the
air in the ambulance tires is
logged on -the vehicle's
tachometer,
•est Interest
*16%
We represent many
Trust Companies. We
are often able to ar-
range for the highest
interest being of-
fered on Guaranteed
Investment
Certificates.
*subject to change
Gaiser»kneate
iszInsurance
Brokers Inc.
EXETER
235-2420
GRAND BEND
238-8484
CLINTON GODERICH
482-9747 524.2118
All the attendants have
completed the required com-
munity college courses, and
some will soon write the exam
to receive their EMCA
(Emergency Medical Care
Attendant) certificates.
Besides working closely
with Zurich and Lucan, Hof( -
man cooperates with the
W alkerton-Chesley-Ha nover-
Kincardine area, primarily
'on transfer calls. If a patient
is being moved from Kincar-
dine to London Dashwood will
meet Kincardine at the
halfway point, the patient is
transferred from one am-
bulance to the other, and both
vehicles head back to their
own territory, cutting the tur-
naround time in hall.
The company's base dispat-
ching station is staffed around
the clock seven days - and
nights - a week. The Hoffman
service receives an average
of 100 calls per month, rang-
ing from code 1 (someone be-
ing transported, perhaps
from a hospital to a nursing.
home), code 2 (scheduled
call, such as taking a patient
to keep a doctor's appoint-
ment), code 3 (urgent) to
code 4, a life-threatening
situation.
Mike O'Connor purchased
the Zurich business two years
ago, the acts of kindness from
local residents during the first
five months after moving
from Dorchester and "bat-
ching it" while his wife tidied
up the loose ends of a previous
job still fresh in his memory.
He worries that a central
dispatch system will not res-
pond as quickly as a local one
in his adopted community.
What would a London dispat-
cher know about the Babylon
or the Parr Line, he tosses out
as one example.
The majority of calls,
averaging 65 per month, are
codes 3 and 4; standby for
other services and non-
emergency calls account for
the rest.
The Zurich service, staffed
around the -clock seven days
a week, has one vehicle. Staff
includes full-time manager
and part-time driver O'Con-
nor, two full time employees
and six part-timers including
Mozart Gelinas, who has been
on call with the service for
many years. Two attendants
are EMCAs, and another will
soon write the exam.
The Haskett family, are,.
marking their 100th anniver-
sary as part of the Lucan
business scene this year. Bill
Haskett has been associated
with his family's ambulance
service since 1966 and has
been on 80 percent of the calls
since the present company
was incorporated 12 years
ago, amalgamating two ex-
isting services.
Lucan does not have its own
base dispatch station, but is in
radio contact with Thames
Valley in London. Besides.
Bill, a trained casualty care
attendant, Haskett's Am-
bulance Service has one other
full time employee and eight
part-timers to respond to ap-
proximately 300 calls per
year, mainly code 3s and 4s.
►.t ^t
A
UNRE EARSED -- This scene was not staged for the benefit of the photographer,
but is part of the routine inspection of all the equipment carried in an ambulance.
Emergency medical care attendant Jim Carey checks everything over.
The Uph.Istery Den
351 Main St.
Exeter, Ont.
We do
Custom Upholstery Snowmobile Seats
Kitchen & Dining room Chairs
Car Seats
Trailer Cushions
See our wide selection of Material and Vinyl Samples
Free Estimates
Bus. 235-0933
Pickup and Delivery
Res. 235-1484
The frequency of calls has
greatly increased since Lucan
began going on standby with
Parkhill this year.
The Lucan service is mann-
ed continuously five days a
week. and is on standby on -
weekends. During hockey
season Haskett, an en-
thusiastic player, adds an ex-
tra piece of equipment for
Saturday and Sunday games
a pager clipped to the garter
belt of his hockey gear. He
runs the risk of not only being
called offside, but right out of
the arena.
By law, ambulances ser-
vices must respond to all
calls. This includes the town
drunk, who may call 15 times
a month. The operators keep
their fingers crossed an
emergency call will not come
in while they answer a call
like the one that took one of
the attendants away from a
waited -for TV appearance by
the Beach Boys to attend an
inebriated man suffering
from a self-inflicted stab
wound in the posterior.
All those interviewed said
alcohol is also a factor in the
majority of motor vehicle ac-
cidents, pegging the number
at anywhere from 60 to 75
percent.
Ambulance attendants are
qualified to give much more
care than the law allows,
which results in some frustra-
tion. They can't administer
drugs, nor even restart a
blocked intravenous, but
must take the patient to the
nearest hospital at once.
All abide by the same
philosophy; answer the call
as quickly as possible,
stabilize the patient's condi-
tion, administer oxygen if re-
quired, immobilize any
broken limbs, and get the pa-
tient to the closest hospital
immediately.
Emotions must be pushed
to the back of the mind while
they work, but "you never get
hardened," one ambulance
service owner said. "After-
ward, what you have seen
comes back to haunt you."
Working for an ambulance
service does have its happier
moments. Though Jim Hoff-
man is the only one who had
delivered a baby, some others
had come close, as close as
the ramp at the Exeter
hospital. However, no local
service can match the record
of the one in Chatham, which
delivered five of one family's
six children.
Another rewarding aspect
is visiting local nursery and
public schools.
DELAY DECISION
A decision on how to honor
Exeter's recent OBA junior
baseball championship team
was tabled by council,
Tuesday.
A motion was presented
that the team members and
coaches,one of the latter being
Mayor Bruce Shaw, be
presented with town plaques
and the history book of the
community, an award made
to recent championship
hockey teams.
Councillor Bill Mickle mov-
ed to hold the decision over
for two weeks, saying that the
specific award should be
given further consideration,
as well as a general town
policy on awards to in-
dividuals in other endeavours
in addition to athletics.
"It's a happy thing to wres-
tle with," Mickle commented
in noting the town's fame has
been spread by championship
sport teams as well as others
who have attained provincial
and national honors.
"It could be a traumatic ex-
perience for a child to see his
mother or father being taken
away by ambulance,"
Haskett explained. "We tell
children not to be afraid, the
ambulance is just a means of
assistance and transportation
when someone is sick."
Adults, too, should bear
that in mind. The sight of an
ambulance tearing down the
highway should be reassur-
ing. If the siren is blaring and
the lights are flashing, that,.
vehicle is responding to a
code 4 and is either racing to
a life-threathening situation
or rushing someone in
desperate need to the nearese
professional medical;
attention.
The local operators (lope•
they will still be able to supp-
ly the same quality of fast, ef-
ficient service after being ab-
sorbed into a central dispatch
system. .
FISHERMAN'S COVE
RESTAURANT
Specializing in fresh fish dinners
from our boat to your table.
Tues. - Fri 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m,
Sat. and Sun. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Closed Mondays
63 River Road, Grand Bend
Eat in or take out
238-2025
Sunshine Kids'
Co-operative
Preschool Inc.
Irak
FALL REGISTRATI
LOCATION: 42 James St. Exeter
TIME: 9=11:30 Tues. -Friday mornings
CLASSES START September 14th
0..gt
STAFF: Ruth Mercer - ECE teacher
Leslie Viner - A.P.P.S.L.D.
Resource Teacher
Parent Assistant
OPEN HOUSE - Sot. Sept. 11, of 10-11:30
very Reasonable Membership rote
Experience learning together WITH your child
Phone for Registration
235-1368 or 235-2961
Jaitry-flu
Nutritious
Raisin Bread
Reg. $1.43, Save loaf$ 1 • 1 6
Crusty Rolls doz. $1.09
Cheeses
- fresh off the block
Baden XXX
Colby.............lb. $2.99
Perth
Onion or Smoked3.39
Naturally aged 3 yrs.
Extra Old
Cheddar.e.......lb. $ 3.5 9
Take advantage of our 10% dis-
count on bakery items or cheese for
all organizations, clubs, groups, etc.
7ait,-flu eatery
a
//7�// nn.�
Lheeie Joule
Exeter 235-0332
Zurich 236-4912
You've tried all the rest. But our deals are some of the best!
NEW AXLES
All 61s.s t Weights
GM Ib.
As low as
'175.00
Tandem & Trl sets
available
wheals, lacks, couplers
Ott.
SPEC)L
AssoKitchen Cabinets
"Extremely Reasonable"
SW pcs. redI.mada
tf we don't have what
you want...We will build
to your specifications.
Chuallty
at the right price
WOODSTOVES
SUN UMBRELLAS
Reg. '1114." Now Only 860.00
COMPLETE SETS
UMBRELLA
FIBREGLASS TABLE
SHELL BASE
ONLY
8110.00
REAL BARGAINS
CURRENT PAINT
10,e« gel. Barn Paint
Beige, Green, Brown,
A Terra Cotta
'4.00 gal. & up
In 45 gal. drums
Also: Industrial Colon
'5.50gal. aup
In 5 gal. cans
WAREIIOUSE
DI
1411 820 CAIELL ST., LONDON, NSZ 1P7
GC
519-432-4112
DEALERS WELCOME
'199.00 to '325."
Fire
Various Selection Of Items
,435,°° u COME IN & LOOK
HOUSE SiDING
"Good Siding"
High density fibreboard. Painted gr primed.
Horizontal 12" x 16' Only $60.90 sq. (box)
Reg. '145.00 so. (box)
16' primed Only '40.00 box
Vertical Coloured Sheets as low as '10.00
4*7,4x6,4x♦
WINDOWS
Pictures, Sliders, Bows B Bays
single i thermal glazed available
PATIO DOORS
-Thermal maintenance free, c/w screen.
A hardware.
S' Only'495.00 •' Only 8545.00
Brown or White available
BLOCKS, BLOCKS,
BLOCKS
Various assortment
4", 6", 0", 10", 0, 12"
40` 1l up
Hours:
Mon.•Fr1. 0:00.5:30
Saturdays 0:00-3:N N
44+ CNR
•Cab.11
Hamilton Rd.St.
-- � -- -1 S lock -mss.
No, 401
X