First Responders - Our Local Heroes

In a crisis who do we call - 911 of course. This call goes to the MD Dispatch Centre in Saskatoon, who then call the Davidson Ambulance and the Kenaston First Responders.  Our community team on duty, because of their close proximity are usually the first to arrive at the scene.

Team Leader Ken Remmen heads a crew of volunteers who include, Jeff Austman, Ken Remmen, Idelle Westman and Doug Taylor. It is not simply a matter of volunteering. First a rigorous set of courses are required including CPR training, Assessments, Oxygen Therapy and Spinal Immobilization. A critical part of the training is the assessment. When first arriving at the scene it is critical that the First Responder can assess the situation and make the appropriate decisions. It could be a matter of life or death. The group meets monthly to practice.

How to assist the team in the event of an emergency. (Consider that some emergencies may be serious and involve the whole community. What can family or community members at the scene do to help the responders and ambulance.

SOME DON'Ts

• Move an injured person without rendering first aid unless the casualty is in immediate danger.
• Smoke or strike matches in case there is a gas leak.
• Crawl over debris or disturb parts of the damaged structure unless you are compelled to do so by circumstances.
• Pull timber out of the wreckage indiscriminately or you may cause further collapse.
• Touch loose electrical wiring.

SOME DO's

• Survey the scene to make sure the scene is safe for you and others.
• Check the victim for responsiveness. If the person does not respond, call for professional emergency medical assistance (i.e. - call 9-1-1, or other local emergency number).
• Check and care for life-threatening problems; check the person's airway, breathing and circulation, attend to severe bleeding and shock.
• When appropriate, check and care for additional problems such as burns and injuries to muscles, bones and joints.
• Keep monitoring the person's condition for lifethreatening problems while waiting for medical assistance to arrive.
• Help the person rest in the most comfortable position and provide reassurance.

More about Rescue and Personnel training.

Basic Rescue Skills

Caring For the Injured

The Kenaston Volunteer Fire Department responds to fires and emergencies in the Village of Kenaston and the surrounding Rural Municipalities of McCraney and Willner.

The fire department consists of the fire chief, 2 deputy chiefs and 5 firefighters. A number of our firefighters are cross-trained to provide emergency medical care.

The department responds to an average of 25 calls per year. We have a newly constructed, and geothermally heated Fire Hall, which was completed in 2003.

Kenaston's Emergency Plan