EMS at the ready for Stampede Parade day

Should a day of fun kicking off the Calgary Stampede Parade take a turn for the worst, medical teams will be ready to jump in.

The challenge is fitting through elbow to elbow crowds while also being fast enough to get people out safely if needed.

Stuart Brideaux, a spokesperson for Calgary EMS, told 660News they have set up two field hospitals able to deal with any non-life threatening cases. One is located in the East Village dispersal and form-up area. A second is on the west end of the route near the Mewata Armoury.

“Many patients may be suffering from emergency or non-life threatening issues that can actually be treated or held at one of our field hospitals, because at each location we do have a team of paramedics and a physician on staff,” Brideaux said.

Paramedics will also be set up on mountain bikes able to weave around the route and up to six ambulances will be at the ready.

“We utilize what are known as light transports within the parade route – these are golf carts that are generally stretcher-capable,” he said

Brideaux said they typically see a few dozen heat exhaustion cases, especially on the 9th Ave side of the route where it tends to get hotter first.

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