A Vernon Vipers hockey player lied flat on the ice for nearly an hour Saturday, waiting for an ambulance to arrive after suffering an apparent head injury.
The incident took place in a BC Hockey League game between the Vipers and the Prince George Spruce Kings, at Prince George91裸聊视频檚 Kopar Memorial Arena, on Oct. 1, with less than three minutes to play in the game.
Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes said that the injured player, Will Blackburn, was battling for a puck in the corner when he fell awkwardly into the boards. The play proceeded towards the other end of the rink, but Blackburn didn91裸聊视频檛 get up off the ice.
91裸聊视频淗e was in some medical distress,91裸聊视频� Hawes told The Morning Star. 91裸聊视频淰ernon91裸聊视频檚 trainer and my trainer went on the ice, as did the first aid personnel from the arena, and I guess the concern initially was a head injury.91裸聊视频�
Blackburn was attended to, while officials called 911. Meanwhile, both teams agreed to call off the rest of the game.
Hawes said the injury occurred around 9:20 p.m., and an ambulance didn91裸聊视频檛 arrive until about 50 minutes later.
91裸聊视频淭he process was certainly frustrating at that point,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淥ur volunteer coordinator called and was on hold for a period of time and then we called several other times during the waiting portion.91裸聊视频�
Eventually, the Spruce Kings91裸聊视频� longtime announcer Ron Gallo took matters into his own hands, driving to the hospital emergency bay to ask for help. Gallo was able to track down a pair of paramedics and ask them if they91裸聊视频檇 had a call from the arena.
91裸聊视频淥ne of the paramedics checked her phone and said something along the lines that it was in the queue but that they could come right now, so essentially that was a big reason, a big part of how we were able to finally get an ambulance to attend the arena,91裸聊视频� Hawes said.
When the ambulance did arrive, Blackburn was transferred to hospital where he underwent tests including a CT scan. The results of the CT scan came back negative and Blackburn was able to get on the team bus back to Vernon.
91裸聊视频淲e are extremely grateful to our athletic therapist Yasmine Jutt and the medical professionals for taking such great care of Will,91裸聊视频� Vipers head coach and GM Jason McKee said in a statement. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檇 also like to thank the Spruce Kings organization for their help in a very tough situation.91裸聊视频�
Hawes says the paramedics and dispatchers weren91裸聊视频檛 to blame for the lengthy delay. Rather, it91裸聊视频檚 a systemic emergency response issue that the province needs to contend with.
91裸聊视频淚 know (the paramedics and dispatchers) are extremely shorthanded and short staffed and this is an issue that certainly the provincial government needs to get a handle on,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hank goodness that the injury wasn91裸聊视频檛 more serious than it turned out to be.
91裸聊视频淚njuries happen in hockey and in athletics anywhere, and it would be nice to know that when you need first responders for an incident that they91裸聊视频檙e there and able to respond and that they don91裸聊视频檛 have that delayed response like we did that night.91裸聊视频�
In an email, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) said they received a call to respond to the arena at 9:24 p.m. The call was triaged as a 91裸聊视频測ellow91裸聊视频� call, meaning lights and sirens weren91裸聊视频檛 necessary. At 10 p.m., based on new information about Blackburn91裸聊视频檚 condition from the scene, the call was upgraded to 91裸聊视频渙range,91裸聊视频� indicating a more urgent lights-and-sirens response.
The ambulance arrived at 10:07 p.m.
91裸聊视频淲e know it91裸聊视频檚 stressful when someone who needs an ambulance is waiting for one,91裸聊视频� the BCEHS said.
91裸聊视频淥ur dispatch also has a process to upgrade a call to a higher priority response if a patient91裸聊视频檚 condition worsens. If the family is seeking information about their care, we encourage them to reach out to our Patient Care Quality Office.91裸聊视频�
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