The Calgary Fire Department is adding a second medical response unit

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) is now able to help people in emergency situations thanks to the addition of a second medical response unit.

Medical response units are small vehicles, manned by two firefighters, designed to respond to medical calls such as respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest and overdose.

The health care unit was reintroduced in 2023 after the council returned funding to the 2023-2026 budget.

It operates out of Station 1 downtown and answered about 6,000 calls in its first year.

Because medical response units are dedicated only to medical calls, they free up fire engines and other heavy equipment to respond to other emergencies.

“Fire trucks are meant to put out fires. Instead, bringing in a light vehicle with medically trained personnel and equipment allows us to quickly get the resources we need to the right types of calls,” Chief Steve Dongworth said in a news release.

“By having a dedicated medical response unit at our busiest stations, we ensure we can still meet the response times.”

This second aid unit operates out of station 2 on the belt line.

Medical response units are expected to jointly respond to about 10,000 calls this year, according to the fire department.

According to the fire department, personnel responded to 52,000 medical calls in 2023, an 18 percent increase from 2022.

Ambulance vehicles are not designed to transport patients.

Instead, firefighters will remain on scene with patients until EMS arrives.