A lesser-known fact about ambulance services in Prince Edward Island reveals that funeral homes used to be the primary providers. In the past, individuals in need of urgent medical assistance were often transported in hearses by funeral home personnel. This intriguing aspect of Island history is highlighted in a recently released book titled “Answering the Call: The People and Stories of P.E.I. Ambulance Services,” now accessible on Amazon.
The book is a collaboration between former P.E.I. paramedic Sandy MacQuarrie and Islander Sylvia Poirier, who sadly passed away in late November. Poirier, a former Holland College registrar and nurse educator, played a vital role in bringing this project to fruition. MacQuarrie, currently teaching paramedicine in Australia, shared that the book’s genesis was rooted in the idea of allowing those who experienced this history to narrate it firsthand.
Over a century of transformation and the establishment of around 35 distinct ambulance services since approximately 1905 are chronicled in the book. From the Island’s first ambulance operations in Charlottetown to the eventual dominance of Island EMS in 2005 as the singular ambulance provider, the authors delved into interviews with former ambulance personnel, historical documents, and even utilized social media to compile these narratives.
During the early days, the emergency medical system was disorganized, with funeral directors stepping in to provide transportation using hearses. The evolution of ambulance services on the Island saw funeral homes transitioning into formal ambulance services by the 1930s, offering basic care and emphasizing compassion and empathy in their services.
The 1950s and 1960s witnessed funeral homes firmly establishing themselves in the ambulance sector, sometimes engaging in competitive practices within Charlottetown and Summerside. However, a push for professional standards emerged from within the industry, leading to the development of their own protocols to ensure quality services. This era of transformation towards professionalization was crucially documented in the book, championed by Poirier.
By the 1970s, a new era emerged with the rise of ambulance-only services, marking a significant shift from funeral home-based operations. The transition towards a single ambulance operator was recommended in a provincial study in 1999, eventually resulting in Medavie EMS taking over the province’s ambulance services in 2006 through its subsidiary, Island EMS.
The book serves as a tribute to Poirier’s legacy, highlighting her pivotal role in advancing paramedicine education on P.E.I. and her instrumental contribution to the book despite her declining health. MacQuarrie fondly remembers Poirier as a beacon of knowledge and storytelling prowess, underscoring her influence on the paramedicine landscape in the province.
