Niagara EMS hopes to educate residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake on what causes falls and which preventative measures can be taken to avoid them.

During the next Learn & Live session on Monday, Feb. 24, occupational therapy student Holly Thomson will outline the fall prevention program along with essential tips. 

Marty Mako, commander of mobile integrated health at Niagara EMS, told The Lake Report the FITS team (falls intervention team) is a multi-disciplinary response team involving a paramedic and occupational therapist who respond to low-acuity 911 calls — meaning, a call where the patient’s symptoms mean there’s a low chance of a more serious health problem developing.

“In the old days, prior to having this team, we would have sent an ambulance and two paramedics to all of these calls,” he said.

“And we wouldn’t have addressed why the fall happened in the first place.”

The new team will help the fallen patient, assess for underlying injuries and the severity of the fall and determine the root cause of the accident, Mako said. 

“We’re able to go upstream with more of a preventive approach and that is new,” he said. 

During Thomson’s presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to learn and ask questions afterward.

The hope is to spotlight and profile the FITS team for all those who could benefit from its services, Mako said. 

“Even though it’s been around for five plus years now — maybe because of COVID — the community isn’t aware that we even have these teams,” he said. 

Those interested in attending the Learn & Live Presentation can register for free online at notlpubliclibrary.org.

It’s titled ““FITS For Life: Niagara EMS Falls Intervention Team.”