Our Teams

Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services’ ambulances are dispatched from the Ottawa Central Ambulance Communication Centre. Each year, our fleet responds to more than 18,000 calls, including both emergency requests and non-emergency transfers between facilities.

As the designated provider of land ambulance services for the region, the City of Cornwall operates 7 ambulance stations across Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. We employ over 100 paramedics and 14 administration staff.

Our paramedics

To become a paramedic with our service, you must complete a two-year full-time paramedic college program at a recognized institution, such as St. Lawrence College in Cornwall.

Primary care paramedics

Primary care paramedics provide symptom relief and advanced emergency care. They can administer medications for:

• Pain relief (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketorolac)

• Chest pain and heart failure (aspirin, nitroglycerin)

• Diabetic emergencies (dextrose, glucagon, glucose paste)

• Allergic reactions and severe asthma (diphenhydramine, epinephrine, dexamethasone)

• Nausea and vomiting (ondansetron)

• Opioid overdoses (naloxone)

• IV fluids (normal saline)

They are also able to:

• Start intravenous lines (IVs)

• Use semi-automated defibrillators

• Interpret 12-lead ECGs to recognize heart attacks and redirect patients to the most appropriate hospital

• Insert a laryngeal mask airway to help patients breathe

Advanced care paramedics

Advanced care paramedics (ACPs) complete an additional year of training beyond primary care paramedics. This allows them to provide a higher level of care using advanced medications and equipment.

ACPs are trained to:

• Administer fluids through IV or intraosseous lines (directly into the bone)

• Perform needle chest decompression to relieve a collapsed lung

• Give cardiac medications during resuscitation

• Administer respiratory and anti-seizure medications

• Provide advanced pain relief

• Perform advanced breathing procedures like intubation

• Deliver advanced trauma and cardiac life support, including cardiac pacing and cardioversion

Community paramedics

Through the Community Paramedic Program, specially trained paramedics provide in-home care to eligible residents, with a focus on seniors and those living with chronic conditions. They use their skills to monitor overall health, check vital signs, and support medication compliance to reduce hospital readmissions and emergency visits.

How to apply or make a referral

If you are a partner such as a hospital, primary care provider, or Ontario Health atHome, you can refer clients to the program. If you have a CareDove account, you can submit a referral online. You can email the program or call 613-930-2787 ext. 2178. Paramedics may also identify clients during 911 calls. The program operates daily, including weekends and holidays.

Our commitment to you

Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services is dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care. We are committed to:

• Responding to emergencies quickly and efficiently

• Working with our dispatch partners to meet local needs

• Clearly communicating expectations to our staff and monitoring our performance

• Ensuring all paramedics are trained, tested and certified each year under the direction of the Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario

We provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using both primary and advanced care paramedics.

Response time targets

The following targets show how quickly we aim to reach patients based on the urgency of their condition:

• Sudden cardiac arrest: In 30% of cases, we aim to have someone with an AED at the patient's side within 6 minutes of dispatch notifying the paramedic.

• CTAS 1 (most urgent, life-threatening conditions): In 50% of cases, we aim to have a paramedic at the patient's side within 8 minutes of dispatch notification.

• CTAS 2, 3, 4, and 5: For all other patients, we aim to respond within timeframes considered appropriate based on the situation.