EDMONTON – A controversial directive telling city ambulance drivers they can’t speed under any circumstances was incorrect, Alberta Health Services said Friday.
A ministry spokeswoman says the memo sent Wednesday to emergency services personnel, and subsequently leaked to the media, will be amended to allow for fast responses in life-threatening or severe situations.
“The wording was incorrect,” said Sheila Rougeau, of Alberta Health Services. “It needed to be clarified further, and that is taking place today (Friday).”
She said emergency responders will be allowed to speed when they’re responding “hot” with lights and sirens activated, and whether a hot response is required will still be up to the crew to decide.
The patient’s medical condition and the safety of the crew and public should be the determining factors.
Instances where a patient is bleeding uncontrollably, suffering a heart attack or has lost a limb were listed in the new directive as examples of when a hot response would be warranted.
But the new rules stipulate that under no circumstances are ambulances permitted to speed through school, playground and construction zones and they must come to a complete stop at every red light and stop sign before driving through the intersection.
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