The Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit is now equipped with mobile disaster and multiple patient treatment capacity. Supervisors at the Medical Response Unit credit the generousity of the community for allowing the organization to organize this initiative.
A 16 foot trailer purchased in 2009 has been completely outfitted to serve as a stand-alone medical response unit and mobile coordination centre. The Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit’s objective with the launch of this vehicle – known as Medic 4: Unité de support médical – is to be prepared for large scale or longer-term medical response, such as what would be required at the scene of a major incident, on standby at public events, or during an environmental disaster on the scale of the Ice Storm.
The Medical Response Unit introduced Médic 4 to the community at an inaugural reception on Monday, January 25th. During the event, the team recognized the volunteers who planned and built Medic 4: Benoit Hébert, Joel Deshaies, Jean Noel, and Kent Wood. The team also recognized Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit Director Nick D’Ulisse for what they called his visionary work in establishing Medic 4.
Donations from a fundraising event held in the spring of 2009, which saw cars stopped at the corner of Bedard and Ste-Angelique in Saint Lazare, helped to purchase and outfit a large trailer to house the emergency supplies.
The Medical Response Unit’s disaster preparedness specialist, Joel Deshaies, says that the organization’s desire to be ready in case of a large-scale emergency medical need on its territory is what prompted the group’s initiative. Deshaies led the group’s effort to create the medical supply stockpile aboard Medic 4.
While most of the new trailer is loaded with medical supplies and equipment, it also has room for first responders to set up a small treatment area. The trailer is also equipped with its own generator and lighting system in case of power failure.
The Hudson Music Club made a surprise donation to the Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit in 2009. That donation was used toward the construction of the emergency treatment area inside the trailer.
Saint Lazare Medical Response Unit Director Nick D’Ulisse said that the volunteers of the Medical Response Unit also deserve a good deal of the credit for realizing Medic 4. The volunteers themselves planned the supplies onboard, trained in its mobilization and use, and did all the modifications on Medic 4, including building the emergency treatment area, installing storage, a sleeping area, and a coordination area.
“We hope to never need the trailer,” Deshaies said. “But, the reality is that it’s better to be prepared.”
