Dr. Nic Sparrow, an emergency physician in the Kootenay’s, founded KERPA in 2016. Initially, he responded in his own vehicle with equipment he stocked and supplied himself. Nic was personally inspired by events early in his life when a Red Cross first aider saved his sister’s life.

KERPA has since grown and now includes two fully equipped Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV’s), multiple physicians, as well as a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors to support KERPA’s efforts. Responding to calls with an immediate threat to life in Nelson, Castlegar, Kaslo, Winlaw and Salmo area, KERPA sends trained Emergency Response Physicians to support the emergency services on scene at the most critical calls in the Kootenay Region.

KERPA is fully funded by community donations from individuals, foundations and businesses, and there is no charge to the patient. KERPA is proud to be recognized as Canada’s first accredited Special Operations Medical Retrieval Service.

“At a very young age, I saw how skilled action at the scene of an incident can have a massive impact on the outcomes of the patient, and the outcomes of everyone who loves and cares for that person.

Starting KERPA came from a place of knowing that having a trained pre-hospital provider, in the right place at the right time, could help critically ill or injured patients have the very best chance of survival.”

Dr. Nic Sparrow MBBS, BSC, CCFP-EM