Each year, the second week of April is dedicated to recognizing Public Safety Telecommunicators.
Public Safety organizations will take this opportunity to reflect on the impact and importance of this role and recognize the people behind the scenes that coordinate efforts, getting the right resources, to the right place at the right time.
Central Ambulance Communications Centres (CACCs), like Wallaceburg CACC, are often the initial access point to Ontario’s emergency health services system for people requiring medical help.
CACCs prioritize requests, dispatch the appropriate ambulance, and coordinate communications between callers, responders, and hospitals.
CACCs also provide callers with pre-arrival first aid instructions before responders arrive.
Ontario CACCs receive approximately 1.3 million requests for service each year.
The Wallaceburg CACC is operated by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
The CACC employs over 30 staff consisting of operational ambulance communication officers (ACOs), administrative support staff, and management.
In Wallaceburg, operations staff dispatch approximately 42,000 requests for ambulances every year as 9-1-1 calls, transfers from hospitals, coordination of Ornge Air Ambulance support, and requests for assistance from other centres.
The Wallaceburg CACC interacts with over 18 EMS (ambulance) units in Chatham-Kent and Lambton County, as well as 22 fire departments in Lambton County, Walpole Island, and the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point.
Members of the public are invited to view the Wallaceburg CACC facility during the 2nd Annual Open House event being held Friday April 15, 2016, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The Wallaceburg CACC is located at 150 Dora Dr., behind the Sydenham District Hospital.
– File photo: Dawn Lucier, supervisor at the Wallaceburg Central Ambulance Communications Centre, at the 2015 open house.
