BC Ambulance paramedics have been serving the YVR community for more than ten years. Known as BC Ambulance Station 270 and stationed in the terminal, this two-person paramedic bike team is often the first responder on scene at medical incidents in and around the terminal buildings.

With more than 17 million passengers annually, plus 26,000 employees, YVR is like a small city, and like a small city, medical emergencies do take place from time to time.

That’s when paramedics like Doug Yip mobilize and get to the scene quickly using bike transportation. Doug and his fellow paramedics each bring an average of 20 years’ worth of street experience to the bike crew, and are on call at YVR from 6:30a.m. to 5:30p.m. daily.

The bike crew’s equipment includes intravenous equipment, a defibrillator, oxygen, a pulse monitor, blood pressure cuffs, adult, child and pediatric bag and mask resuscitators, adrenaline, Aspirin, Ventolin and other medications, plus various bandages, dressings and first aid supplies.

In 2008, the bike squad responded to 1,028 calls for medical assistance. Of the patients treated, 36% were transported to hospital by ambulance and 64% were referred to the airport medical clinic, transported to hospital in a private vehicle, or followed up with their own physician.

Says Doug of his role: “The job is different every day, and no two patients are the same, which means both a challenging work environment and constant learning opportunities.”

Here are a few passenger health and travel tips from the YVR BC Ambulance bike squad:

• Make every effort to keep hydrated and well-rested while travelling.
• Pack medication in your carry-on luggage and ensure it is up-to-date.
• With time zone changes associated with some trips, try to take your medication at the right time.