Group in West Dawson, Yukon, seeks association status to support grassroots emergency services

A grassroots group that provides emergency medical support to people living near Dawson City, Yukon, says it's applying for official association status with the Yukon government so it can get resources more easily. 

During the summer months a ferry can bring ambulances to the subdivisions of West Dawson and Sunnydale. But when the river is freezing and breaking up, ambulances can't get there. Darker days also make medevac flights more challenging. 

David Curtis, a spokesperson for the unnamed group, said there have been times when members have had to transport individuals across the river by snowmobile because the river wasn't fully frozen. They also tend to wounds, fractures, or any other calls they have capacity to handle.

Curtis said they need more resources for when they're the first to respond to emergencies. 

"We're not acting in an official capacity that way,"  Curtis said. "We're acting as Good Samaritans. We've been doing this sort of ad hoc and it's been going good but we could do a lot better job."

Defibrillators, spine boards and medical kits

Curtis said the group has submitted its application for association status to Yukon's Department of Community Services and he hopes to hear back soon. 

While he waits for that – he said he's been talking with Yukon's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to see how it can support them ahead of this year's freeze up.

Curtis said they're in preliminary discussions with Yukon EMS about getting an additional defibrillator and pads, as well as a spine board and medical kits. He said Yukon EMS "expressed very clearly" that it wasn't in the position to give his group expensive equipment just because he thinks they need it.

"They need to have a more official knowledge too that the equipment will be maintained, and supplies are going to be kept up and up to date, and everything is looked after properly."

Curtis is hoping to receive the designation and equipment before this year's freeze up. 

Ryan Soucy, the acting chief of Yukon's EMS, confirmed his department was in preliminary discussions with Curtis – but without being a recognized society or association, he said there's a lot of red tape to go through before the department can give Curtis the support he and his group are hoping for.

"If you look at the Canadian Ski Patrol society you know we're able to work with them," Soucy said. "They're providing care at Mount Sima as well as the trails of Mount Mac. So we can actually work with them a bit more other than just general public."

Soucy said it is encouraging to see members of the public take interest in helping provide care for their neighbours and said volunteering with Yukon EMS could open the doors to training opportunities to better serve their community.

"We're hoping some of them come over during our training nights just to see what we offer," Soucy said.