Medavie Health Services West paramedics responded to 40,408 emergency medical calls in Saskatoon and the surrounding region during the 2022 calendar year.

That’s an increase of 572 calls from the previous year’s total of 39,836.

Paramedics responded to 33,141 emergency calls in 2020, according to a statement issued by the ambulance service on January 4.

“The stress of being a paramedic has never been higher,” said Medavie Health Services West Public Affairs Director Troy Davies. “Mental Health and overdose calls are still on the rise but Narcan kits are being used in the community which has helped slow the rapid upward trend we have seen in past years for Narcan administrations.”

Paramedics administered 651 doses of Narcan in 2022 compared to 604 in 2021 and 460 in 2020. According to Davies, Narcan kits have made an impact on Medavie’s Narcan administrations in 2022.

“The pilot project of paramedics re-stocking Narcan kits when we arrive on scene has been productive,” stated Davies. “We average between 35 to 40 Narcan kits that we are restocking monthly to patients we respond to.”

Davies said there was also an increase in pediatric calls last year. Paramedics responded to 1,913 emergency calls for children 12 and under in 2022 compared to 1,309 in 2021.

The ambulance company, which marked 46 years of service in 2022, recently hired an additional 23 paramedics and began a community paramedic (CP) program in partnership with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Saskatoon Tribal Council.

The CP program involves paramedics working 24 hours a day, seven days a week responding to long term care patients, and patients in their homes requiring IV therapy, antibiotics, wellness checks and other needs.

Davies said the CPs treated 1,947 patients who would otherwise have been transported by ambulance to hospital emergency rooms.

“Looking at other ways of treating patients to help reduce emergency room visits through our Mobile Integrated Health programs was successful in 2022 and will continue to grow in 2023,” said Davies. “Having Community Paramedicine working in the Health Bus (located at St Pauls Hospital), STC wellness shelter, and responding 24 hours daily to long term care patients has helped reduce our rising yearly ambulances responses.”