Local paramedics send extra supplies to Ukraine
Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, medical personnel in the country need essential supplies. Luckily, local paramedics were able to find a way to help.
A truckload of stretchers, safety helmets and other surplus medical equipment was donated by Essex-windsor EMS on Wednesday to Toronto-based Globalmedic, a humanitarian aid organization currently active in Ukraine.
“Our goal was that these items could be used in Ukraine, so they can supply residents there some medical supplies,” said Chris Grant, deputy chief of planning and resources for Essex-windsor EMS.
Grant said paramedics became aware of specific shortages of medical supplies needed in hospitals and personnel throughout Ukraine. Globalmedic had also put out a call to the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada asking for medical supply bags.
Locally, emergency medical services equipment is often retired
This is thrilling for me because I'm hoping that this (equipment) can be used for supporting the people in Ukraine.
after about seven years. With the county's blessing, EMS figured they could put the excess equipment back to work in Ukraine.
“I asked (Globalmedic), is there any way we can work together for Ukraine? Because they are pretty involved right now,” Grant said. “They said, `Yeah, we'll take everything you can donate and we'll use it.”
A volunteer from Globalmedic, Dominique Rambié, came to Windsor on Wednesday to collect the supplies and drive them to Toronto. Globalmedic has partnerships with Airlink and Air Canada that have facilitated shipments of equipment and medicine to Ukraine.
The donation by Essex-windsor EMS to Globalmedic is a moment when the help has come full circle: Globalmedic previously donated a significant amount of frozen food to Windsor and Essex County food banks and supplies for agricultural workers about two years ago.
Equipment donated Wednesday includes 20 stretchers, 20 safety helmets, 35 medical bags, as well as 500 Tyvek suits and 45 suction units.
“Honestly, this is thrilling for me because I'm hoping that this (equipment) can be used for supporting the people in Ukraine,” Grant said. “We thought this would be the best way to support them.”