BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) Dispatch/Communications Centres are staffed by Emergency Medical Call-Takers (EMCTs) and Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs), knowledgeable and highly trained professionals who work closely with partner agencies such as police, fire, Search and Rescue and Coast Guard to ensure that British Columbians have access to timely and effective care.
More than the calm and reassuring voice on the other end the phone; EMCTs and EMDs are the first point of contact in life and death situations, providing vital information to paramedic crews and hospitals. Directing Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support ambulances, and air ambulances when needed, these dedicated professionals also communicate with First Responders, Search and Rescue and Police to ensure the right people and resources are on scene.
When necessary, EMCTs and EMDs also provide emergency first aid advice to callers over the telephone, such as CPR instructions on cardiac arrests and critical information on the birth of children. These life saving first aid instructions, provided while paramedics are en-route to the scene, have had a tremendous impact on patient outcomes in many cases.
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