The County of Haliburton assumed the operation of the service when the province transferred ambulance services to the County in 2000. The County of Haliburton is committed to providing the residents and visitors of Haliburton County with professional, reliable, emergency services. The County has demonstrated its commitment to the people of Haliburton County by increasing the level of service substantially since assuming the operation of ambulance services.

Haliburton County Emergency Medical Services operate in the County of Haliburton as well as portions of adjoining counties. The service is comprised of 20 full time Primary Care Paramedics, as well as a number of part time Primary Care Paramedics. With a growing residential population of approximately 16,000 currently, and a vacationing or transient population of over 40,000 people during the height of vacation time, this is a very busy service. We currently do about 4,000 calls per year, many involving lengthy transfer times to larger urban centers.

We have three front line ambulances, two based in Haliburton (one 24 hour coverage, the other 12 hours), and one (24 hour coverage) based in Minden. Recently the County approved the use of additional front line resources during the busy summer season, so the service now has four vehicles providing daily coverage during the busy summer season. Haliburton County EMS will be opening its third base located in Tory Hill in late 2011.

We have two spare ambulances as well, that can be up staffed when necessary. In addition, we also have two Emergency First Response Vehicles. These vehicles are fully equipped and staffed by management personnel who are also fully trained paramedics. These vehicles are ready to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, when additional resources may be required, there is an extended response time by a regular ambulance to a scene, or whenever there is a serious incident requiring the attendance of management.

Each vehicle is equipped with a laptop computer and vehicle locator programming. This GPS locating software allows our crews to identify 9-1-1 addresses, and ensures our Dispatch is continually aware of each vehicles location, ensuring that the closest vehicle is dispatched to a call.

The Service continues to move forward keeping pace with changes in technology and advances in pre hospital care. The service has moved to the Zoll series of defibrillator/cardiac monitor as well as electronic ambulance call reports.

Management personnel include the Director, Operations Manager, Quality Assurance and Education Manager, and an Administrative Assistant. Haliburton County EMS is continually looking at ways to improve our service to the community, and is an active partner with our allied agencies including each of the municipal fire departments, and police.