(File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Battling Weather

Parkland ambulance helping many in P.A. stuck outside in cold weather

Dec 19, 2021 | 6:00 PM

-An earlier version stated all 102 calls were cold weather related and the average number of calls every 12 hours only happened during the winter months.

Parkland Ambulance in Prince Albert is receiving a high number of calls related to the cold weather.

Over the weekend, they responded to 102 incidents, some of which were individuals unprepared to tackle the freezing temperatures.

Fortunately, there were no major incidents.

Lyle Karasiuk, Director of Public Affairs for Parkland Ambulance, told paNOW anyone who sees someone in a potentially vulnerable position outside in this weather should always call 911.

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“We will send the appropriate emergency services whether that’s police service, whether that’s paramedics based on the need that’s reported to us.”

Over a hundred calls in a two-day span isn’t an unusually high number.

Typically, Parkland Ambulance receives between 25 to 30 calls every 12 hours. This includes all situations, not just cold-related.

Karasiuk notes it’s important they’re notified anytime, even if the situation turns out to be a false alarm.

“There are situations where we might find somebody just simply taking shelter behind a building or over a heating event, but sometimes people just don’t know.”

He adds it’s always better to call and have it not be an emergency than not call and have it turn out to be an actually critical situation.

If comfortable, individuals are encouraged to ask individuals if they’re in need of help. If not comfortable, they’re encouraged to just call 911.

Meanwhile, Karasiuk noted having the Moose Lodge warming centre open during the weekdays will help moving forward with many of these calls.

Earlier this month, the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) turned the Union Centre downtown into a space where the community’s homeless can warm up and get multiple meals.

The space will be open Monday to Friday from 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

When it’s not open, Parkland Ambulance has partnerships with other organizations to help individuals warm up when the centre isn’t open.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow