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Rapid Response Units (RRUs)

What are Rapid Response Units (RRU’s)?

RRU’s are emergency response vehicles used by the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services to get paramedics to you quicker.  The RRU is not a traditional ambulance but a smaller vehicle such as an SUV that can more easily move through traffic and residential areas. These units are staffed with one fully qualified and equipped paramedic who can undertake full paramedic care when they arrive at your emergency.  The RRU has all the same equipment on board, but no stretcher.

Why use RRU’s

Traditional ambulances are staffed with two paramedics and transport patients to the hospital.   The transport of patients to the hospital can take the ambulance away from their local areas.  They may at times need to spend varying periods of time at the hospital and once able to leave may be assigned another call which may keep them out of their local area for longer periods.  The RRU in contrast can respond to a call, provide paramedic level care and begin treatment of patients prior to the arrival of the transport ambulance.  The RRU paramedic can transfer care of the patient to the transporting paramedics and remain in the area for the next call. 

Where are they?

You may now be seeing more of these RRU’s in your communities as they are deployed to have a local presence and improve response times.   In 2017, the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services deployed RRU’s into Oro-Medonte, Ramara and Tiny Township to compliment the RRU’s already operating in Barrie, Alcona and Penetanguishene.