Severe EMS shortage yesterday in Mississauga, Brampton, Oshawa and Pickering

While “Code Black” may sound like the latest thriller from Hollywood, in Peel region yesterday, it took on a far more dangerous meaning.

At 4:49 pm on January 2, the Peel Paramedic Union posted a tweet that the EMS was running at Code Black, meaning there was one or less available ambulance in the entire region.

With a population of 1.4 million, being down to one or less ambulances is a dire situation, to say the least, with the worst case scenario meaning numerous unnecessary deaths that could have been prevented by the availability of EMS staffers.

By midnight, the union tweeted that “We have been back to (Code Red) – 5 or fewer Transport units – for some time.”

OPSEU Paramedics & Ambulance Communications tweeted just two hours later at 6:37 pm that the Oshawa EMS Dispatch was also in dire straights.

“Oshawa (EMS) Dispatch Centre critically understaffed tonight. Working with less than 1/2 staff. Stressful for ACOs (Accountable Care Organizations – more specifically, doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers) and very concerning for health staff (in Durham). No workplace should function without adequate staffing.”