Ready for any emergency
[attach]4639[/attach]The whiteboard at the newly rebuilt emergency medical services station at Bathurst Street and York Downs Drive said welcome, but it also asked a question in scrawled blue marker.
“Who is going to water the plants?”
That topped a to-do and suggestion list the day after the station became operational on July 27.
Staff are phasing in the re-done station gradually while details are figured out, ranging from such whimsical duties as plant watering to more critical components.
“Up until (the day we opened) there wasn’t a hose,” says Rob Hughes, an EMS superintendent in District 5, where the station is located.
Originally a gas station dating from the 1950s, the building faced a number of shortcomings when first converted to an EMS station.
The garage was divided into two bays, there was only one washroom for men and women, and there was no barrier-free access.
[attach]4640[/attach]Now all that remains of the old building is a single cement block in the garage wall.
EMS facilities projects commander David Cornell wanted to keep it for posterity, and says he plans to add a notation and photo of the old station.
While operations are still being fine-tuned, Cornell’s description of the $2.2 million station’s features shows the design has been carefully planned.
“We got excellent bang for our buck here.”
In the works for three years, the station has room for six ambulances, doors powered by air pressure and energy-efficient lighting, and uses a green roof to minimize strain on the storm sewer system.
“Everything has been to promote green,” Cornell says.
And it’s conveniently located to meet the demand that population growth in the area will place on city services, he says.
“As they intensify, we’re here now,” he says.
A total of 24 paramedics working in shifts will benefit from a kitchen, lockers, showers and a luxurious set of black leather couches and recliners.
Along with paramedics, the station will be home to two specialized ambulances that deal with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive risks, such as those posed by suspicious packages or acts of terrorism.
The vehicles used to be located downtown, but the new station provides the best access to the highway and an escape from gridlock, Hughes says.
Cornell says the design was intended to integrate into the area, including a park bench in front along with the landscaping and putting the parking lot in the back to avoid looking like a car dealership.
He mentions a bus driver who has been passing the corner on his daily route for years, who told the commander that seeing the new station was the highlight of his day.
“So the community’s been really receptive,” Cornell says.