Emergency Medical Services (EMS) iikoonaapi

Oki! Siksika Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides year-round emergency pre-hospital care. It is at an Advanced Life Support level program for Siksika Nation, operational 24hrs/day, 7 days/week.

To contact Siksika Emergency Medical Services (EMS), call 403-734-3999

Hours of operation are 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

 

Advanced Life Support (ALS) is the highest level of service currently offered in the province of Alberta.

Siksika EMS provides this level of pre-hospital care, including airway intervention, advanced drug and intravenous therapy, etc. to the people of Siksika Nation and surrounding area if required. Siksika EMS is a contractor provider for pre-hospital care in partnership with Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Prior to this service being offered locally, Siksika relied on support from off-reserve agencies (i.e. Blackfoot Ambulance Services) when a patient’s condition required life-saving measures. Under the responsibility of Siksika Nation and Siksika Health Services since 1997, Siksika EMS has grown and developed into an exemplary service provider for emergency medical services and response.

Siksika EMS currently operates two Advance Life Support units (ambulances) at any given time to serve the people of Siksika Nation and surrounding areas.

In addition to emergency pre-hospital care, Siksika EMS offers a variety of experiential learning and training opportunities to Nation members who are interested in the profession:  

  • People who are interested in the emergency medicine field can apply for ambulance ride-along, to view first-hand the variety of calls and responses associated with the profession;
  • Siksika EMS is a training hub for Primary Care Paramedic and Advanced Cared Paramedic students requiring to complete their field practicum hours to complete their training;
  • School tours, first aid courses, and information sessions for the public are available.

A common question asked by patients or family/friends during a medical crisis is about where patients will be taken; this is determined by the ambulance crew, in accordance with medical directives, to best meet the unique needs of each patient. Individuals are transported to the nearest medical centre deemed appropriate based on the symptoms that a patient is showing, and according to applicable medical guidelines.

The Strathmore Hospital is one destination assigned by AHS to evaluate trauma, critical, or acute (sudden) illnesses; and Calgary hospitals for maternity patients, major traumas, fractures which require surgery, suspected stroke, or psychiatric incidents.