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| A row of ambulances awaits the morning calls at 45 Station |
Toronto Emergency Medical Services operates a fleet of over 242 vehicles, from our instantly recognizable ambulances to Emergency Response Units to bus-sized Emergency Support Units, capable of transporting up to 20 patients at a time. Below is a description of some of these vehicles. |
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Type 3 Ambulance
This vehicle represents our primary emergency vehicle. Staffed with two paramedics, this vehicle responds to both emergency and non-emergency calls. This ambulance generally carries one patient but is capable of transporting up to two patients by utilizing a portable stretcher.
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Emergency Response Vehicle
Emergency Response Units or ERUs are staffed by a single, experienced paramedic qualified to assess and treat all pa tients. Currently, there are eighteen ERUs in operation in Toronto. ERUs supplement the regular paramedic transport fleet of approximately 90 ambulances at peak staffing.
ERU vehicles are smaller than transport paramedic ambulances, and except for the stretcher, contain the same medical equipment. The agility of the Emergency Response Unit vehicles combined with their mobile deployment enables them to respond quickly to emergencies.
The ERU program increases the speed of access to paramedic treatment for patients and, because the ERU paramedics are not typically required to wait in emergency departments to off-load patients, the ERUs are available quickly for new assignments.
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 Cart Style Mini Ambulance
This vehicle is used at special events and large crowed situations that are difficult to negotiate by normal ambulance. This vehicle is used extensively during the Canadian National Exhibition. Staffed by two crew members, this vehicle carries basic life support equipment, defibrillator, and symptom relief drug kit.
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Emergency Support Bus
 This Emergency Support Unit is an ambulance based on a bus frame which can respond to all emergency incidents with the potential of multiple casualties. These might include apartment fires, airport or aircraft incidents, and bus or train incidents. It incorporates all regulated safety features required by the Ambulance Act to be classified as an ambulance. It has a capacity of 10 stretcher patients and 10 ambulatory patients. It is designed and equipped for active emergency care. It also features a communications centre, washroom, and an onboard 6 kw generator. Only one of our two ESU buses are staffed on a 24-hour basis, the other is always available to respond to the scene of a large incident.
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Emergency Support Unit - Supply Vehicle
 This vehicle is a supply and support vehicle. Based on a 2003 Freightliner LLC-FL80 chassis, this vehicle carries enough supplies to restock 10 ambulances. This vehicle provides light extrication equipment, electrical power, canteen facilities and a communications centre. This vehicle responds to all emergency incidents in conjunction with one of the emergency support buses. It is staffed 24-hours a day with one level I-ESU paramedic.
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Other Units
 In addition to the above, Toronto Emergency Medical Services operates a range of other support vehicles including an Emergency Power Unit and a Telecommunications Unit used as backups; Supervisor Units - allowing EMS Supervisors to visit crews in stations and attend incidents; and various other vans and trucks used for logistics support and to distribute supplies among the ambulance stations spread across the city. |
