The City of Parksville will pay for individual first aid kits (IFAK) that Oceanside RCMP officers can carry on their body armour vest and use to save their life or a fellow officer’s life in an emergency.
RCMP already carry a kit in their vehicles in order to quickly deliver first aid to the public when necessary, but the IFAK are specifically for police to use when they are injured and away from their patrol vehicle.
“This is critical as items in the kit can be deployed by an officer that is alone, injured or away from EHS and requires imminent life saving intervention,” said Mayor Ed Mayne, who made a motion for council to authorize the city to allocate $3,600 for the kits.
That number represents one third of the $10,800 it will cost to equip Oceanside RCMP with 50 of the kits, according to Keeva Kehler, the city’s chief administrative officer.
Mayne proposed the Town of Qualicum Beach and the Regional District of Nanaimo each pay another third each. Several members of council asked why the city was responsible for the cost.
“I’m blown away that the federal RCMP don’t pay for this already,” said Coun. Doug O’Brien, who added he thought if the first aid kits saved a life it would be worth it.
