Paramedics respond to record number of calls in 2015

Waterloo Region paramedics saw another record year in terms of call volume along with a minor slowdown in response times.

A regional report revealed thatfor the third year in a row,local paramedics experienced a record call volume in 2015.

In total, the reportfound39,020 calls were made in 2015, while 37,274 calls were made in 2014.The difference experienced last yearis equivalent to nearly fiveextra calls per day in comparison to 2014.

• Paramedic services see highest call volume ever in 2014

The region also set a new quarterly recordwith 9,958calls reported duringthe finalthree months of 2015.

Compared to 2014, the averageresponse time to emergency calls slowed in 2015 by 13 seconds from nine minutes, 36 seconds to nine minutes, 49 seconds.

In 2015, the rate of calls per 1,000 population was up 3.3 per cent from 2014 and "continues to outpace population growth, and was likely influenced by an aging population," the report found. The number of total calls for the same period was up 4.7 per cent.

The majority of calls made in 2015 were reported inKitchener, which also had the quickest response time in comparison to any municipality, at nine minutes, four seconds.

The peak time for calls in 2015 took place at 11 a.m., with 52 per cent of incidents being reported at that time, before tapering off for the rest of the day.