The Cochrane EMS Crisis Citizens Group has launched a petition in support of a three-point plan they believe will immediately improve ambulance response times.

Launched three days ago, over 500 people have already signed the petition that is expected to be presented to Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie later this month.

It calls on Guthrie to carry forward a three-point plan the action group has been promoting since completing its terms of reference. They want non-emergency transfers to be completed by alternative sources, an end to hospital wait times for EMS crews, and for the province to stop flexing our local ambulances into Calgary and area.

Group chair Brian Winter says it's part of an effort to lobby for the adoption of the plan and to create further awareness in the community.

"We've basically labelled it, do you have a Plan B, in case EMS is a half-hour away or 20 minutes, as in Andy's (Kirby) case, and in case the local fire department is out doing the things they should be doing," says Winter.

Ali Morrison, who recently joined the citizens' group, previously met with MLA Guthrie to present a petition outlining general concerns and is scheduled to meet with him again later this month, says Winter. He says the new petition will be presented at that time.

"If you implement these three simple points, it will resolve the majority of the problems with our EMS system," insists Winter.

He's encouraging as many people as possible to sign the petition before the meeting takes place.

"This particular service is currently run by the province, so our MLA has a responsibility to respond to the concerned presented to him."

MLA Guthrie says he has been in regular contact with Chief Paramedic Darren Sandbeck for the last 10 months. Guthrie says he's pleased the province has put forward a 10-point plan and is currently doing some footwork to get a reaction from those in the field. 

"One of the things I'll be doing is to reach out to some of the frontline workers and medics and try to get some feedback from them directly on what their thoughts are on the AHS 10-point plan," says Guthrie. "I'm no expert in the field, so I'm looking to reach out to those who are doing this every day to see if this hits the mark, and if not, where, and what other improvements they would like to see."

In the meantime, representatives from Alberta Health Services (AHS) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are scheduled to provide an update to town council at its Feb. 7 committee of the whole meeting.

Randy Bryksa, Associate Executive Director with EMS Operations, and Curtis Swanson, Director of Emergency Medical Services, will provide Council with an update on EMS resources starting and stopping in Cochrane, local EMS call volumes and response times, as well as current challenges and mitigation strategies.

The EMS citizens' action group's petition can be found here.