British Columbia Ambulance Service

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British Columbia Ambulance Service

The British Columbia Ambulance Service is a Provincial wide network of ambulance stations throughout British Columbia. They routinely cover areas outside of the stations area depending on system load and current emergences. They respond to all types of medical emergency's and provide patent transfer services.

British Columbia Ambulance Service or BCAS is also known as Emergency Health Service EHS

Vehicles

Advanced Life Support
Basic Life Support
Infant Transport
Air Ambulance
Bike Squad
Mass Causality Transport
Ambulance Supervisor/RRV (Rapid Response Vehicle)

Communications

BCAS maintains a communications network throughout all of British Columbia. The geography of BC requires BCAS to use over 70 mountain top repeater sites. All ambulances are outfitted with two-way radios. Rural ambulances use VHF frequencies. Within the Lower Mainland, BCAS uses the E-Comm WARS 800Mhz trunked system, as well as the CREST VHF trunking system in the Greater Victoria Region. Local comunitiy specific BCAS Regional Frequency's

Talk Groups

1800 14-010 BCAS Area 1 Broadcasts (North)
1801 14-011 BCAS Area 1 Dispatch
1804 14-014 BCAS Area 1 TAC-1
1805 14-015 BCAS Area 1 TAC-2
1806 14-016 BCAS Area 1 TAC-3
1808 14-020 BCAS Area 2 Broadcasts (South)
1809 14-021 BCAS Area 2 Dispatch
1812 14-024 BCAS Area 2 TAC-1
1813 14-025 BCAS Area 2 TAC-2
1814 14-026 BCAS Area 2 TAC-3
1816 14-030 BCAS Area 3 Broadcasts (Vancouver)
1817 14-031 BCAS Area 3 Dispatch
1820 14-034 BCAS Area 3 TAC-1
1821 14-035 BCAS Area 3 TAC-2
1822 14-036 BCAS Area 3 TAC-3
1825 14-041 BCAS Hospital Transfers

Channel 1 covers Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, North and West Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Port Moody and parts of east Vancouver.
Channel 2 covers Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Richmond and Langley.
Channel 3 covers the City of Vancouver.
Channel 4 is utilized by the Transfer Fleet throughout all these channel areas.
Channel 5 covers the Fraser Valley from Abbotsford/Mission to Hope and up the Fraser Canyon to Boston Bar as well as up the Sea-To-Sky Hwy from Lions Bay to Pemberton and all of the Sunshine Coast on VHF frequencies.

Frequencies

             RX    TONE     TX   TONE
RPTR A     149.680 100.0 149.110 100.0 
RPTR B     149.110 100.0 149.680 100.0 
RPTR C     149.680 103.5 149.110 103.5 
RPTR D     149.110 103.5 149.680 103.5 
RPTR E     149.680 107.2 149.110 107.2 
RPTR F     149.110 107.2 149.680 107.2 
RPTR G     149.680 110.9 149.110 110.9 
RPTR H     149.110 110.9 149.680 110.9 
RPTR I     149.680 114.8 149.110 114.8 
RPTR J     149.110 114.8 149.680 114.8 
RPTR K     149.260 100.0 149.890 100.0 
RPTR L     149.890 100.0 149.260 100.0 
RPTR M     149.260 103.5 149.890 103.5 
RPTR N     149.890 103.5 149.260 103.5 
RPTR 1     142.095 123.0 138.105 123.0 
RPTR 2     142.155 123.0 138.165 123.0 
RPTR 3     142.245 123.0 138.255 123.0 
RPTR 4     142.365 123.0 138.375 123.0 
RPTR 5     142.395 123.0 138.405 123.0 
RPTR 6     142.605 123.0 138.615 123.0 
RPTR 7     142.905 123.0 138.915 123.0 
IC 1       142.095       142.095   
IC 2       142.155       142.155   
IC 3       142.245       142.245   
IC 4       142.365       142.365   
IC 5       142.395       142.395   
IC 6       142.605       142.605   
IC 7       142.905       142.905   
PAACC      158.760 123.0 158.760 123.0 
AIR/GRND   149.495       149.495   
FIRECOM 1  155.460       155.460 
FIRECOM 2  155.890       155.890  
HOSPITAL 1 149.590 103.5 149.590 103.5 
HOSPITAL 2 149.590 107.2 149.590 107.2 
HOSPITAL 3 149.590 123.0 149.590 123.0 
HOSPITAL 4 149.590 127.3 149.590 127.3 
HOSPITAL 5 149.590 151.1 149.590 151.1 

IC = Interconnect

Dispatch Centres

BC Ambulance operates 4 Dispatch/Communications Centres throughout the province

Vancouver Island Communications Centre located in Victoria: The Vancouver Island Communications Centre is responsible for all of Region 1 Vancouver Island, Powell River and the Gulf Islands. It is typically staffed by 6 EMDs during the day and 4 overnight, usually it handles 300 calls daily.

Lower Mainland Region Communication Centre located in Vancouver: The Lower Mainland Region Communication Centre is responsible for Region 2 a which encompasses; Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Lytton and Boston Bar to the east, Manning Park to the south and north to Pemberton and Lillooet. The centre is typically staffed by 20 personnel and handles an average of 800 calls per day.

Interior & Northern BC Communication Centre (INBCCC) located in Kamloops: The INBCCC handles one of the largest geographical areas in North America which includes all of Region 3 through 8. The INBCCC processes about 600 calls a day and is staffed by 8 EMDs during the day and 5 EMDs at night.

The various parts of the Interior and North are divided into Channels which are assigned to EMDs.

Channel 1 covers parts of the Thompson, Kamloops and most of the Northern Okanagan area which includes Chase, Barriere, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Clearwater, Blue River, Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby, Vernon and Revelstoke.
Channel 2 covers parts of the Thompson, Northern Okanagan and Cariboo area which includes Clinton, 100 Mile House, Seton Portage, Gold Bridge, Merritt, Princeton and Ashcroft.
Channel 3 covers a portion of the Southern Okanagan and the remaining port of the Northern Okanagan including Big White, Kelowna, Peachland, Winfield and Westbank.
Channel 4 covers a portion of the West Kootenay and the remaining port of the Southern Okanagan including Penticton, Summerland, Keremeos, Osoyoos, Oliver, Greenwood, Midway and Grand Forks.
Channel 5 covers the remaining Kootenay area including Castlegar, Kaslo, Nakusp, Nelson, New Denver, Winlaw, Fruitvale, Rossland, Salmo, Trail, Cranbrook, Fernie, Kimberly, Creston, Riondel, Golden, Field, Elkford, Sparwood and Invermere.
Channel 6 covers the Northen Interior and a portion of the Peach Region including Fort Fraser, Fraser Lake, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, McBride, Valemont, Bear Lake, Mackenzie, Quesnel and Wells.
Channel 7 covers remaining Peach Region which includes Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson.
Channel 8 covers the Skeena District which includes Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Terrace, Smithers, Kitwanga, Hazelton, Houston and Burns Lake

One EMD will generally be responsible for Channels 5 through 8.

Provincial Air Ambulance Coordination Centre (PAACC): The PAACC coordinates and provides all air and ground Critical Care Transport and non-critical air transports throughout the province.

Emergency Medical Call Takers (EMCT): Receive and evaluate in-bound calls in a standard and consistent manner from; members of the public, police, fire, Coast Guard and Search and Rescue agencies. EMCT's enter the information into the system so that the Emergency Medical Dispatchers can dispatch the appropriate ambulance resources.

Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD): Receive in-bound requests from call-takers. EMD's use approved protocols to assess these incoming calls and dispatch ambulances, paramedics and other appropriate resources. A Transfer Management Dispatch group exists in most dispatch centres to coordinate and prioritize the ambulances that transport patients between medical facilities for diagnostic procedures and treatments.

EMDs and EMCT typically work 12½ hour shifts in a four shift rotation of 2 days followed by 2 nights and 6 days off.

EMDs at the INBCCC

Radio Codes

Code 1 : Patient accompanied by friend or relative or unauthorized listener and that crews must guard transmissions
Code 2 : Routine
Code 3 : Emergency lights and sirens
Code 4 : Patient Deceased
Code 5 : Police
Code 6 : Fire Department
Code 9 : There is an infectious patient and caution is recommended
Code 33 : Ambulance crew is in a life-threatening situation
Code X : Ambulance not used patent refused ambulance or gone on arrival
10-4 : Message was received and understood
10-6 : Ambulance crew is busy but available for a call
10-7 : Ambulance crew will be out of radio contact or on portable
10-8 : Ambulance crew is in service and on the air
10-9 : Message was not received or understood, and that the message should be repeated
10-19 : Ambulance is returning to the station
10-20 : Ambulance crew's location is requested
10-21 : Ambulance crew is requested to use a landlinetelephone
ISA : In Service Available

Hospital Codes

A: Vancouver General
C: Saint Paul's
H: Burnaby General
I: Morgue
K: Saint Vincent's
M: Mount Saint Joseph's
MSA: Abbotsford
O: Saint Mary's
Q: Grace
R: Richmond General
S: Royal Columbian
U: University Of British Columbia
W: Lions Gate
Y: Surrey Memorial

Radio Coverage Areas

Staffing

A : 24 / 7 Car
B : 11 hour day shift / 7 days a week
C : 11 hour evening shift / 7 days a week
D : 7 hour day shift / 5 days a week
E : 10 hour day shift / 4 days a week
F : Standby car (shifts vary)
J : Additional Resource Car (shifts vary)
K : Call out car
L : Patient Transfer Unit (Echo Shift)
M : Patient Transfer Unit (Fox Shift)
P : Patient Transfer Unit
S : Supervisor
sq : Bike Squad
X : Ambulatory / Wheelchair car
Z : Mass Causality Incident or Medical Support Car

Medical Priority Dispatch System

Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) is a medically approved unified system used by emergency medical dispatch centres to dispatch appropriate aid to medical emergencies. The system includes systemized caller interrogation; systemized pre-arrival instructions; and protocols which match the dispatchers evaluation of the injury or illness type and severity with vehicle response mode. BCAS utilizes a resource allocation plan (RAP) which is utilized with MPDS to determine the appropriate resources to send to a call and how the units are to respond. Media:RAPMatrix.pdf

Ambulance Stations

Region 1 Vancouver Island

102 ALERT BAY: 315A Fir St
103 GANGES: 251 Fulford-Ganges Rd

Station 103 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

104 MAYNE ISLAND: 472 Felix Jack Rd
105 CENTRAL SAANICH: 2188 Mt Newton X Road; 105E1, 105F1, 105K1

Station 105 Photo By: Trexer

106 SIDNEY: 106-9824 Third St; 106B1, 106F1, 106K1

Station 106

107 SOOKE: 6742 West Coast Rd; 107F1, 107K1, 107K2
108 CAMPELL RIVER: 348 2nd Ave
109 COLWOOD: 101-3179 Jacklin Rd; 109A1

Station 109

110 COLWOOD: 101-3179 Jacklin Rd; 110B, 110C, 110F, 110K

Station 109

112 VICTORIA: 1640 Hillside Av; 112A1 (ALS), 112B1, 112C1
114 PENDER ISLAND: 5715 Cancal Rd
115 PORT RENFREW: 1 Klannanith Rd

Station 115

117 GALIANO ISLAND: 660 Porlier Pass Rd

Station 117

118 VICTORIA (Fairfield): 103-412 Quebec St; 118A1

Station 118

119 LAKE COWICHAN: 3 Northshore

Station 119

120 NANAIMO SOUTH: 231 Prideaux St

Station 120 Photo By: Trexer

121 ROYAL OAK: 121-4528 Viewmont Ave; 121A1 (ALS), 121A2 (ALS), 121J1

Station 121

122 NANAIMO NORTH: 4415 Boban Dr

Station 122

123 VICTORIA (DEPOT 123): 3300 Douglas St; 123A1 (ALS), 123E1, 123E2, 123E3, 123E4, 123J1

Station 123 Photo By: Trexer

124 PORT ALBERNI: 4760 Roger St; 124A1, 124K1, 124K2

Station 124 Photo By: Trexer

125 VICTORIA (Shelbourne): 3987 Shelbourne St; 125A1, 125F1

Station 125 Photo By: Trexer

126 PORT HARDY: 9120 Granville
127 ESQUIMALT: 924 Ellery St; 127A1

Station 127

129 PORT MCNEILL: 2415 Catala Place

Station 129

130 PARKSVILLE: 249 West Hirst

Station 130 Photo By: Trexer

131 SAYWARD: 630 Kelsey St
132 SOINTULA: 2nd St & 18th Ave
133 TAHSIS: 123 Harbourview Rd
134 UCLUELET: 2072 Peninsula Rd

Station 134

135 ZEBALLOS: 500 Park Way Rd

Station 135

136 TOFINO: 1009 Pacific Rim Hwy

Station 136

137 MILL BAY: 955 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd

Station 137

138 QUALICUM BEACH: 787 Jones St

Station 138

149 CHEMAINUS: 9911 Chemainus Rd

Station 149

150 COURTENAY: 1890 Cliffe Ave
151 CUMBERLAND: 2757 Dunsmuir Ave
152 DUNCAN: 2582 Lewis St

Station 152 Photo By: Trexer

153 GABRIOLA ISLAND: 725 Church St
155 GOLD RIVER: 503 Muchalat Dr; 155K1

Station 155

159 LADYSMITH: 1117 4th Ave

Station 159

169 CORTEZ ISLAND
170 QUADRA ISLAND: 844 Heriot Bay Rd
171 DENMAN ISLAND: 5501 Denman Rd
172 PORT ALICE: 1041 Marine Dr
173 QUALICUM BAY: 210 Lions Way

Region 2 Lower Mainland

202 ABBOTSFORD: 2000 Abbotsford Way; 202A1 (ALS), 202A2, 202B

Station 202 Photo By: Curtis Kreklau

203 AGASSIZ: 7260 Pioneer Ave; 203B, 203K

Station 203 Photo By: Curtis Kreklau

204 BOSTON BAR: 204K
205 ABBOTSFORD: 2855 Mt Lehman Rd; 205A, 205E

Station 205 Photo By: Curtis Kreklau

206 CHILLIWACK: 8530 Young Rd; 206A1 (ALS), 206A2, 206B, 206C, 206F, 206P

Station 206 Photo By: Curtis Kreklau

208 CULTUS LAKE (Seasonal)
214 HOPE: 999 Water Ave; 214B, 214F

Station 214 Photo By: Trexer

215 MISSION: 7366 Hurd St; 215A, 215F, 215K

Station 215

219 PEMBERTON: 219B, 219K

Station 219

222 SQUAMISH: 38929 Production Way; 222F

Station 222 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

224 WHISTLER: 224B, 224C, 224K

Station 224

225 BOWEN ISLAND: 225K

Station 225

226 BELLA BELLA
227 BELLA COOLA
228 TEXADA ISLAND
229 POWELL RIVER: 7057 Duncan St

Station 229 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

233 LIONS BAY: 400 Centre Rd; 233B, 233K

Station 233 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

235 SECHELT: 5494 Wharf Rd; 235B, 235K

Station 235 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

241 VANCOUVER: 181 W 7th Ave; 241A, 241A1 (ALS), 241B, 241C

Station 241 Photo by: Dcubed

242 VANCOUVER: 1317 Richards St; 242A1 (ALS), 242A2, 242B, 242P
243 VANCOUVER: 2940 Arbutus St; 243A, 243B, 243C

Station 243 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

244 VANCOUVER: 559 W 59th Ave; 244A1 (ALS), 244A2, 244U, 244V

Station 244 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

245 VANCOUVER: 1538 E King Edward Ave (at Kingsway); 245A1 (ALS), 245A2, 245B

Station 245 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

246 VANCOUVER: 5478 Ormidale St; 246A1 (ALS), 246A2, 246X

Station 246 Photo by: Dcubed

247 NEW WEST: 444 Rousseau St; 247A1 (ALS), 247A2

Station 247 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

248 VANCOUVER: 731 E Cordova St; 248A1 (ALS), 248A2, 248B, 248C, 248P

Station 248 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

249 SURREY: 13665 96 Ave; 249A1 (ALS), 249A2, 249A3, 249B

Station 249 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

250 RICHMOND NORTH: 3780 Sexsmith Rd; 250A, 250B, 250C, 250P

Station 250

251 DELTA: 4641 Clarence Taylor Crescent; 251A, 251B, 251O, 251R
252 LANGLEY: 22347 48 Ave; 252A, 252B, 252O

Station 252 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

253 SURREY: 5833 176 St; 253A, 253B, 253U

Station 253 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

254 SURREY: 2359 156 St; 254A1, 254A2, 254L

Station 254 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

255 WEST VANCOUVER: 1542 Fulton Ave; 255A

Station 205 Photo By: Curtis Kreklau

256 NORTH VAN: 1304 St Andrews Ave; 256A1 (ALS), 256A2, 256A3, 256B, 256Z (MCI Unit)

Station 256 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

257 MAPLE RIDGE: 22320 Selkirk Ave; 257A1, 257A2, 257O

Station 257 Photo By: Curtis Kreklau

258 BURNABY NORTH: 925 Douglas Rd; 258A, 258B, 258C, 258J, 258L

Station 258 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

259 PORT MOODY: 220 Ioco Rd; 259A, 259B, 259O, 259V

Station 259 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

260 NEW WEST: 833 12th St; 260A, 260B

Station 260 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

261 VANCOUVER: Vancouver General Hospital; 261A
262 VANCOUVER: 2333 Wesbrook Mall; 262A, 262O
263 COQUITLAM: 2601 Lougheed Hwy; 263A, 263B, 263C, 263P, 263J

Station 263 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

264 SPECIAL OPERATIONS: 264E
265 MADEIRA PARK: 4990 Gonzales Rd; 265K

Station 265 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

266 DELTA NORTH: 7893 Scott Rd; 266A1, 266A2

Station 266 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

267 LANGLEY NORTH: 20089 92 A Ave; 267A, 267X, 267R

Station 267 Photo by: Curtis Kreklau

268 GIBSONS: 746 North Rd; 268F, 268K

Station 268 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

269 RICHMOND SOUTH: 3999 Williams Rd; 269A1 (ALS), 269A2

Station 269

270 VANCOUVER INT'L AIRPORT: 3880 N Service Rd (Terminal Bike Squad); 270B
280 RICHMOND (YVR): 4360 Agar Dr (Air Ambulance); 280A, 280B

Station 280 photo courtesy of bcfiretrucks.ca

283 VANCOUVER: Childrens Hospital 4480 Oak St (Infant Transport Team); 283A, 283B, 283C

Region 3 Interior

302 ARMSTRONG: 3800 Patten Drive; 302E1, 302F1
303 ASHCROFT: 600 Elm Street; 303E1, 303F1, 303K1

Station 303

304 SETON PORTAGE: Seton Portage Road; 303K1
306 BARRIERE: 521 Barriere Town Road; 306E1, 306F1
307 CHASE: 833 Thompson Avenue; 307E1, 307F1, 307K1
308 CLINTON: 1616 Hwy 97 N; 308K1

Station 308 Photo By: Curtis Kreklau

309 ANAHIM LAKE: Martin Road; 309K1
311 ENDERBY: 715 – 3rd Avenue; 311E1, 311F1
313 GOLD BRIDGE: Furguson & Hurley; 313K1
314 KAMLOOPS (Dalhousie): 1257 Dalhousie Drive; 314A1, 314B1, 314B2
315 KAMLOOPS (Clapperton): 239 Clapperton Road; 315A1, 315B1, 315F1, 315K1
316 BIG WHITE (Seasonal): Mtn Med Services Bldg Lower Snow Pines Road; 316K1
317 KEREMEOS: 716 6th Street; 317F1, 317K1