Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service

Emergency Medical Responder

Many Winnipeg Fire Department members are recognized Emergency Medical Responders (EMR). They have undergone training to prepare them to respond and assist at emergency medical scenes, supporting paramedic personnel. The function of an EMR is to provide emergency patient care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), patient immobilization, oxygen therapy and basic assessments.

Primary Care Paramedic

The Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) is a graduate of a CMA Accredited training program and can be found riding on pumper trucks, rescues, or squads in the Winnipeg Fire Department as well as assigned to ambulances for Winnipeg Emergency Medical Services. The Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) scope of practice includes: Manual defibrillation Glucometry Pulse Oximetry IV Maintenance Administer drugs including: ASA Epinephrine Glucose gel Nitroglycerin Salbutamol

Advanced Care Paramedic

The function of an Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) includes all the responsibilities of the Primary Care Paramedic and is further enhanced with additional training and skills. The Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) is a graduate of a CMA Accredited training program, many of whom graduated from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services own accredited training division. Paramedics in Winnipeg attending the WFPS Training Division must undergo a two year program to be recognized as an Advanced Care Paramedic. This training involves hundreds of hours of clinical, didactic and ambulance field preceptorship time.

Upon the completion of their first year of training students are recognized locally as an Intermediate Care Paramedic (ICP) that has no national comparator. Intermediate and Advanced Care Paramedics (ICP and ACP) are exclusively assigned to EMS units with Winnipeg Emergency Medical Services.

The Intermediate Care Paramedic (ICP) scope of practice includes:

• Synchronized cardioversion
• 12 ECG interpretation
• Intravenous therapy
• Intraosseous infusion
• Direct laryngoscopy and foreign object removal using Magill forceps
• Administer additional drugs including:
  • Amiodarone
  • Atropine
  • Midazolam
  • Dimenhydrinate
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Lidocaine
  • D50
  • Narcan
  • Glucagon
  • Combivent

Upon successful completion of their second year of training, the Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) graduate's scope of practice includes:

• Needle cricothyrotomy
• Needle chest decompression
• Oral or nasal endotracheal intubation
• ETCO2 monitoring
• Oro or nasogastric tubes
• Advanced patient assessment
• External transcutaneous pacing
• Synchronized cardioversion
• Administer a full drug list including:
  • Fentanyl
  • Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Oxytocin
  • Topical lidocaine
  • Haloperidol
  • Furosemide
  • Tenecteplase
  • Unfractionated Heparin
  • Enoxaparin
  • Clopidogrel

Medical Supervisors and Superintendents

Winnipeg Emergency Medical Services has several supervisors assigned to predetermined districts within the City of Winnipeg. These supervisors provide field quality assurance, field training and operational support to all emergency response personnel in their district. They also assist in liaising with hospital personnel to facilitate effective EMS provision by releasing ambulances from hospital emergency rooms. The Superintendent assigned to the shift handles the majority of the administrative duties in addition to providing support at large, complex, or multiple patient incidents.