First responders: APRIDS calls on Montreal Mayor

APRIDS was wondering if there were district priorities in this training program. On behalf of the association, Mrs. Barcelo confirmed that the training schedule should take into account the geographical uniqueness of the areas to be served. She reminded the Mayor that the location of L'Île-des-Soeurs is unique and that it is difficult to come here during rush hour.

APRIDS is therefore worried about the safety of people who live in this part of Verdun Borough. There is no ambulance on standby in the island and if an emergency occurs at rush hour, an ambulance coming from the island of Montreal will arrive well beyond the prescribed time of less than 8 minutes.

The coroner’s report on the death of Pastor Lee concluded that his life could have been saved if the firemen in the island’s fire station had been trained as first responders. The report showed that the ambulance took more than 17 minutes to arrive at the scene of the accident. “If we considered the enormous traffic jams of the 30th and 31st of October, it would not have taken 17 minutes but rather 45 or 60 minutes before it could make it to the island, Mrs. Barcelo pointed out.

She explained moreover that the population of L'Île-des-Soeurs is consistently increasing. In the northern tip, 3000 Bell employees will be arriving in autumn 2008, and 1500 more in 2009; add to that a residential development of 1800 housing units which will be built. Moreover, it is necessary to take into account the increased number of developments already envisaged for other areas of the island.

It is known that APRIDS intervened vigorously during the Verdun Borough council meeting of November 6 to request the urgent training of the firemen in the island as first responders. The decision it seems is made in the City but nothing has yet been decided. “Does one wait for another death to happen before we start moving?” the APRIDS president said in her conclusion.