The Service:
    Since the opening of the EMS portion of the Protective Services building in October of 1997, Siksika Ambulance Service has been under the control of Siksika Chief and Council.  This positive change reflected a new direction of responsibility and growth regarding emergency medical responses within the Siksika Nation Reserve and surrounding area. 

     A positive new objective of the ambulance service in Siksika has been to encourage community members interested in the emergency medicine field to apply for ambulance ride-alongs.  This introduction enables the candidate to view first-hand the variety of calls and the stress levels associated with the profession.  The Operations Supervisor and Team Leader, Don Hingley EMT-P, welcomes any inquires regarding the ride-along programme.

     Siksika Ambulance Service also served as instrumental in the training of many members of the Siksika Nation by offering an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course to members of the nation.  Acquiring the EMR certification is the first step in gaining employment with an ambulance service.

     Members of Siksika Ambulance also conduct school tours, offer first aid courses, and information sessions for the public, and have recently been involved in teaching community members, interested in persuing prehospital emergency medicine, the Alberta EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) course in conjunction with SAIT.

     The service owns 2 fully equiped ambulances and responds to all locations on the reserve 365 days a year.   Siksika Ambulance Service is dispatched from the Protective Services Building which jointly dispatches medical and police crews to those scenes requiring assistance.  A close working relationship between police and ambulance helps to create a seamless approach to handling specific emergency situations.

Destinations
     Any crisis that involves calling for an ambulance brings many factors into play.  One thing which patients (and their friends and family members) might be curious about is "Where will they be taking me?"

     Decisions regarding the destination for a patient are determined by the ambulance crew.  The ambulance crew have training and follow medical directives which help them to determine the best possible facility for the unique needs of every patient.

     Siksika Ambulance Services will transport patients to one of several facilities including: .

• The Siksika Medicine Lodge (Clinic) is staffed by nurses Monday to Sunday from 8am to 11pm with a doctor in residence during office hours (M-F), to evaluate and treat chronic illnesses and minor injuries.  They have an X-ray and lab facilities on site in addition to being able to contact Social Services and mental health for Siksika members.

• The Strathmore Valley General Hospital will evaluate trauma, critical, or acute (sudden) illnesses 24 hours a day.  Patients are also transported here when the Clinic is closed.

• Calgary Hospitals are the main centres for most maternity patients, major trauma, fractures requireing surgery, suspected stroke, and psychiatric incidents.   Patients will be transported to Calgary Hospitals any time a physician requests it.

Advanced Life Support:
     Advanced Life Support (ALS) is the highest level of service curently offered in the Province of Alberta.  Siksika EMS provides this level of pre hospital care to the people of Siksika Nation.  For patients within the Nation who require advanced airway intervention,  or advanced drug and intravenous therapy, ALS service means a shorter response time for accessing these services.  Before Siksika offered these services, Siksika Ambulance would have to request assistance from an agency off of the reserve (such as Wheatland county based out of Strathmore) when a patient's condition warrented advanced life saving measures.