TIMMINS - Emergency call volumes increased across the Cochrane District last year.
Marc Renaud, chief of paramedic services for the Cochrane District Paramedic Service (CDPS), presented the report at the Cochrane District Services Board (CDSB) meeting on Thursday (Feb. 20).
“We are seeing an increase overall in call volume across most of our municipalities. We are busier to the tune of 16.5 per cent from five years ago in call volume, with the same resources that we've had allocated since then,” he said.
“Shortness of breath and medical calls remain our top call types, while some municipalities, like Matheson, see motor vehicle collisions as a significant portion of their calls due to highway coverage.”
CDPS provides emergency medical services and community paramedicine across multiple municipalities, including Timmins, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, Cochrane, Smooth Rock Falls, Kapuskasing, and Hearst.
With an annual call volume of approximately 12,000, the service plays a critical role in responding to 911 calls and offering preventative care through the community paramedic program, Renaud said.
Emergency call volume: 2023 vs. 2024
Renaud’s report presented a breakdown of emergency call volumes by municipality, distinguishing between Code 3 (urgent but not life-threatening) and Code 4 (life-threatening) calls:
- Timmins: 5,281 Code 4 calls in 2024, up 8.3 per cent from 4,874 in 2023. Common call types include shortness of breath and abdominal pain.
- Matheson: 254 Code 4 calls in 2024, a slight increase from 252 in 2023. Common call types include shortness of breath, motor vehicle collisions, and transfers to Timmins.
- Iroquois Falls: 540 Code 4 calls in 2024, up 20.3 per cent from 449 in 2023. There was a rise in emergency incidents, mainly shortness of breath, and hospital transfers.
- Cochrane: 641 Code 4 calls in 2024, a decrease of 10.3 per cent from 715 in 2023. Common call types include shortness of breath, falls, and interfacility transfers.
- Smooth Rock Falls: 254 Code 4 calls in 2024, up slightly from 249 in 2023. Common call types include shortness of breath, falls, and abdominal pain.
- Kapuskasing: 1,057 Code 4 calls in 2024, up from 1,046 in 2023. Common call types include shortness of breath, falls, and interfacility transfers.
- Hearst: 527 Code 4 calls in 2024, an increase of 10.7 per cent from 476 in 2023. Common call types include breathing problems, falls, and transfers within the town.
“I do believe that Cochrane is getting a CT scan, which will help reduce some of that impact, or some of that volume,” Renaud said.
He noted the community paramedic program continues to play a vital role in mitigating emergency incidents through proactive care.
In 2024, the program provided care to 657 individuals, conducting 4,215 home visits. Of those, 1,539 visits resulted in 911 calls.
The current partial fiscal year has already seen 588 individuals served, with 3,963 home visits and 1,411 911 calls, Renaud said.
While overall emergency call volume has increased by six per cent across the district in 2024, Renaud said that CDPS remains committed to responding effectively despite limited resource expansion in recent years.
“We are busier. We're seeing sicker patients. But our paramedics continue to answer the call,” he said.