On hold
5
Proximity to power pole stalls Ladner construction
Fall Car Care
Maintenance key to avoid problems
10-11
Art & Music
Local artists hosting Variety Music show
18
Optimist
Homeless Hawks
Delta
YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT!
Newsstand $1
The Voice of Delta since 1922
19
Hockey team still waiting to return to Ladner rink
Tree Removal
WWW.DELTA-OPTIMIST.COM
See Page 6
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014
SCAN WITH TO REVEAL PHOTOS
Sowing the seeds PHOTO BY
GORD GOBLE
Terrasol Environment was out last month spraying a mixture of grass seed and mulch to cover areas that had been dug up during construction near the Ladner Trunk Road/Highway 99 overpass.
Delta defends plan for additional firefighter training
Several mayors balk at plan that would see local fire crews trained to provide first responder medical care BY
SANDOR GYARMATI
sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com
Delta’s plan to have its firefighters able to provide additional first responder medical care would not be a downloading onto municipalities. That was the message from Mayor Lois Jackson, fire Chief Dan Copeland and CAO George Harvie responding to criticism of Delta firefighters undergoing additional emergency medical training. Noting money for the enhanced
Your local choice for auto glass!
training is within the firefighter training budget, the trio spoke to media at the North Delta Public Safety Building Monday, explaining how fire services are often the first to arrive at an emergency scene but limited in the scope of medical intervention they could provide, due to training, insurance and their defined responsibilities. “We’re not trying to take their (B.C. Ambulance) jobs. We’re trying to get to people on the ground who need some help,” said Jackson. Several mayors at last week’s
Union of B.C. Municipalities convention balked at Delta’s plan, saying the move will likely mean municipalities will have to pay more to train firefighters in order to provide services that are a provincial responsibility. Currently, firefighters can only conduct “basic life support stuff ” at emergency situations, said Copeland. Harvie co-chaired a special committee that included representatives from E-Comm and B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) to establish
an enhanced patient-focused emergency response protocol. An agreement has been reached and, pending BCEHS final approval, the pilot program will have its full rollout this December. Most of Delta’s firefighters would have the most advanced level emergency medical training in the province. Harvie said Delta failing a tabletop earthquake response exercise earlier this year highlights the need for firefighters to be trained to the highest standard and capable of being self-sufficient in the event of a natural disaster.
“This is recognized as a void for us and when you’re already paying 24/25 million dollars a year for fire department services for the community, you want to make sure there isn’t a gap,” he said. Harvie added the Delta program isn’t intended to be a template for all other communities, but it’s something that would work here in the goal of offering better assistance until ambulance crews arrive. There are currently only two full-time ambulance stations in Delta, but six fire halls.
Best call Tsawwassen Collision now to get this fixed right away!
604.943.6383
17-1835 56th St. Tsawwassen (Behind McDonalds)