Air ambulances will be on alert 24/7 during summits

Even though the summits in Huntsville and downtown Toronto are a couple of days away preparations have been made to ensure delegates at the summit have ready access to emergency medical care.

Starting Tuesday morning, ORNGE helicopters – the air ambulance service – will be on standby around the clock until June 30 near the site of the G8 summit in Huntsville and at the Island Airport for the G20 summit.

ORNGE was contracted by the Federal government to look after IPP’s, or Internationally Protected People, who include world leaders as well as the delegates and dignitaries travelling with them.

Tom Lepin, ORNGE’s COO, told 680News the medical staff can handle any intensive care situation.

“We treat the patient to the same level as they’re being treated to in the ICU and then either increase that care or maintain that level of care until we deliver them to the receiving facility – so it’s really a flying ICU.”

The ORNGE transport helicopters will be used to fly patients to St. Michael’s or Sunnybrook hospitals. Both have been cleared to handle high level security medical emergencies.

In addition, two sets of ground personnel will be stationed at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre 24/7.

Health care for everyone else in Ontario will not be affected by the special summit coverage. 

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