Essex-Windsor EMS is getting set to take control of paramedic bike patrols across the area.
The Windsor Paramedic Bike Patrol Association has been offering the service on a volunteer basis, but that organization has disbanded.
As a result, the association is transferring its assets to the County of Essex. Those assets include several bikes and trailers along with a $13,000 reserve fund to be used for ongoing bike maintenance.
Essex-Windsor EMS Chief Bruce Krauter says paramedics on bikes are a must for busy festivals and events. "We use them for the fireworks night because there's a large crowd. It's a very confined space. We can't get vehicles through it. So we put paramedics on bikes in pairs. So they can get to anybody that needs our assistance and needs our help."
Krauter says the Bike Patrol Association was having trouble finding volunteers. "They were offering an excellent service to the community, but unfortunately lack of interest of people to volunteer, they work full-time and then volunteer, you can kind of understand how difficult that may be. I don't think we'll have a problem. We actually have interest from younger paramedics that want to get involved."
"To keep the program cost neutral, event operators will now have to pay for the service," says Krauter. "If we need new bikes, we need new bags we'll manage that. No different than we manage the ambulance fleet. We mange those assets so we can replace them, maintain them. With the fees and charges bylaw, we can take some of that money so that we can put reserve funds into an account so that we can replace those assets."
The goal is to have the new program in place for the annual Ford Fireworks along the Windsor riverfront this coming Monday.