The Pitt Meadows Fire and Rescue Service participates in the Emergency Medical First Responder Program in support of the Paramedics of the British Columbia Ambulance Service. The program has proven to be very rewarding for our staff as well as being very beneficial to the B.C. Ambulance Service. Paramedics and patients can be assured that our volunteer firefighters will respond when requested to provide assistance to patients until Ambulance Paramedics arrive or to support Paramedics on scene.

Pitt Meadows firefighters are licensed Emergency Medical Assistant – First Responder (EMA-FR) with the Province of B.C. Most members are FR Level 2, some are FR Level 3 and several are licensed as Paramedics with the Province of B.C. through employment with the B.C. Ambulance Service. All staff are certified providers for Automatic External Defibrillation (AED).

All training of pre-hospital medical care in B.C. is performed through the Paramedic Academy of the Justice Institute of B.C. in New Westminster. See the attached links for detailed descriptions of the various training levels.

Justice Institute - First Responder Training for Fire and Police

Justice Institute - Paramedic Programs

All licensed First Responders are required to complete a certification course and subsequent follow-up re-certifications every 3 years as established in the Regulations of the EMA Licensing Board.

History of First Responder Program

The First Responder (FR) Program was created in July, 1989 to address recommendations resulting from a report prepared by Chief Coroner Vince Cain.
The primary objective of the FR program is to improve the continuity of patient care provided throughout the Province for pre-hospital emergencies. By recognizing that police and fire department personnel are often available to assist patients prior to arrival of ambulance crew, basic medical training provides responders with knowledge and capability to deal with critical situations involving airway, breathing and/or circulation concerns until higher levels of help can take over. Even when the first responder is only able to comfort the patient and document initial findings, a difference can be observed.

There are now over 7,000 first responders registered in the Province. Many have acquired additional training in the form of Automatic External Defibillator (AED) and spinal management to address cardiac arrest and major trauma situations respectively. Being a provincial program, the training program developed by the Paramedic Academy helps ensure that care provided is consistent and appropriate for those in need.