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<title>blogTO Recent Comments: Hablas Espanol EMS?</title>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/feed/recentcomments/?13016</link>
<description>Comments recently made in this post on blogTO</description>
<copyright>Copyright 2009</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:00:01 PST</lastBuildDate>
<item>
<title>Shivang</title>
<description><![CDATA[
no no I'm sorry about that.It's just that the notification system on this site is messed up. Say for example you check mark the email me when someone replies to this comment, it will start sending you emails even though it wasn't a reply to your comment. 

Sorry for any inconvenience. ]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c593664</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c593664</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2009 02:07:01 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Andrew@</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Shivang,

You shot me the same email...  I sure hope that was an accident because my comment was NOT a bad comment.  FYI

But I do agree that Stephen Harper is way off base and should get educated.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c593598</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c593598</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2009 01:02:47 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Andrew</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Shivang,

You shot me the same email...  I sure hope that was an accident because my comment was NOT a bad comment.  FYI

But I do agree that Stephen Harper is way off base and should get educated.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c593596</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c593596</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2009 01:01:58 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Shivang</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Dear Mr.Harper,

I would like to tell you that you are a callous bastard. Who thinks he's really big behind the computer screen he's sitting because I for one am a immigrant from India and would like you to tell me that to my face and would like to show you what I could do with my hands, no weapons no nothing. This kind of behavior is aberrant and how fucking dare you, the audacity to speak like this?

Hopefully, you will reply back to me. If not then your a pussy trying to act belligerent.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c593523</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c593523</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2009 23:45:41 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>warmflash</title>
<description><![CDATA[
They should teach Spanish in the schools here instead of French. 

Despite French being an " official " language, Spanish is more common in Toronto and way more popular around the world. 

 



]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c591822</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c591822</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2009 22:21:52 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Alex R</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Easy cowboy,
there's like about nine non-white persons per every white person in this planet; And someday, perhaps because of climate change you may need to migrate south; and who do you think may be hunted then. ]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c585106</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c585106</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:16:27 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Sarah</title>
<description><![CDATA[
you edited your comment! initially you said "this isn't the new york times, this is a blog" and this has since been removed. that's the only reason i said "torontoist is a blog too, but they do their research before posting!"... come on roger.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582497</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582497</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:56:27 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>chenyip</title>
<description><![CDATA[
This article is short of being retarded.

Of COURSE the city's EMS staff have access to translators but the cost of equipping every member at every waking hour with personnel that can speak every conceivable language is absolutely absurd on so many levels.

This article paints EMS in a bad light because it presumes that they aren't doing enough.  But chances are, it wasn't a life and death situation and because no Spanish speaking person was on staff, they decided they could probably wait it out and question him once they can procure one.

Sure there are hiccups and nothing is perfect, but well....this article is just asinine.  I can't believe shit like this gets published.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582481</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582481</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:19:19 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Flummoxed</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Whoa whoa. People here shouldn't be so quick in getting their outrage pants on.

What the author of this blog intended to do was pose a question.

What the reader is entitled to is an opinion.

What makes you sound like a petty reactionary is frothing over what makes a good article or not because you can't even think about entertaining some kind of opinion.

Let me pose this to all the "two official languages damnit" mob: did you ever bother to learn the Native language?

I feel that the need for certain accessibility issues should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In extreme cases, it would be prudent for the city to have means to properly face communication issues. Cause otherwise it would suck to have some of the tragedies that happened in Toronto and other large cities occur again because the officers couldn't communicate with a shocked and confused person.

You don't need to get your parochial panties in a twist just because some residents here won't be able to communicate in English as good as you want them do.

Jeez. It's like the internet provides the medium for racists to feel liberal about letting out all the hostilities they have bottled up when they walk outside and see all those non-white Torontonians properly living their life not speaking English.

Give me a break.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582480</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582480</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:19:06 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Gloria</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Good luck trying to get someone even halfway proficient with a foreign language. I'm just about good enough in French that I won't die in Quebec, but that took seven years of Extended French classes to really grasp and I still can't hold a serious conversation (ok, I kinda suck at it). And that's in an environment where the only thing I had to do was go to school ... not also hold down a skilled job, pay rent/a mortgage, manage debts, or raise kids. 

Hell, I'm Chinese, and learned Cantonese ever since I could talk. Living in a city of English-speakers, however, means my Cantonese degrades day by day, and while I'm still fluent, my accent is *atrocious* and my vocabulary isn't great. I can't imagine how hard it is for someone to retain a language that is only casual and work-related. 

I think it's most important for public emergency services to have access to a centralized translation service and a pool of personal interpreters. 

Beyond that, individual citizens should either carry a phrasebook at all times, know the smattering of phrases they need to stay *alive*, or make sure their family is willing to come along to translate whenever possible. 

Saying that EMS should try harder to recruit beyond English and French speakers is sort of obvious; isn't it common wisdom that a second or third language gives you a leg up *anywhere*? 

If EMS did have, say, an Urdu-speaking paramedic in the system, how would that person be dispatched? What if they're engaged in other urgent duties? What if they have other skills more important than translation? 

This would have been a more constructive discussion if some research was done. For example, the Toronto police has for years been marketing themselves more diligently to the Asian community, to increase diversity among their own ranks but also to improve community relations. I'm sure the police would have been thrilled to be interviewed about this and get some more publicity. ]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582474</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582474</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:01:59 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Born&amp;RaisedInTO</title>
<description><![CDATA[
There are over 150 languages spoken in Toronto - pretty amazing!  How on earth can emergency workers be expected to be able to converse with everyone.  English is a universal language.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582457</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582457</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:28:10 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>brunswick</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I have to agree with conscious here, EMS are doing the best they can. I think Roger stumbled upon an interesting story here and its good to know that they do have a language translation device in place if needed. I'm sure the cops are used to picking up guys like this at 2AM who have staggered out of a bar and gotten into a fight. 

I do know older immigrants who can't speak English have been to the emergency room and had melt downs and their family has to accompany them and translate for them. Or they are so upset that they blank on any english they do know.


When I've travelled to countries where nobody speaks English I can only rely on the help of strangers and try my best with the language. I don't expect them to accommodate me in all situations. This is a scary but true fact. 

At least an ambulance picks you up and you aren't left by the side of the road. 

I have great respect and admiration to EMS people as they deal with any number of people in dangerous situations and it is a crucial job. 

]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582387</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582387</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:55:19 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>exlibris</title>
<description><![CDATA[
My parents are Argentinian, and would never have thought of expecting EMS officers to speak to them in Spanish when they moved here. Mind you, Canada in 1971 was a very different country, and Toronto a very different city...

No reason why you can't, or shouldn't, be required to learn English before arriving here. Not exactly a dearth of agencies and businesses offering such services, is there? 

And do I ever hate the latest TPS livery on their cruisers. ]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582383</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582383</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:42:12 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>ds</title>
<description><![CDATA[
or Esperanto.
]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582341</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582341</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:02:45 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Sean</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Let's not forget Hebrew.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582330</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582330</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:43:00 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Hrmmm</title>
<description><![CDATA[
It's nice to know that cultural colonization is alive and well here in Toronto and defended greatly by those being colonized]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582233</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582233</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:35:31 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>kman510</title>
<description><![CDATA[
The truth is that it's not a feasible solution to try and employ people who are fluent in different languages.  You wouldnt be able to organize them accordingly to provide adequate coverage across the city 24/7, so a service like Language Line makes sense.  When I did my co-op with TO Fire I was stationed in an area that was predominantly Cantonese and the guys on the trucks were versed in the basic things as someone said above (IE "Where does it hurt?", "Stop me if you feel pain.", etc.)  You'll find that in any area of the city where the guys know there's a large minority population, they'll learn the basics.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582169</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582169</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:39:36 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>kman510</title>
<description><![CDATA[
In response to my previous post, here is a link to the city's website regarding the emergency services language capabilities:
http://www.toronto.ca/emerg/911.htm
This is a tri-service (Police, Fire, EMS) capable service and is still in use today.  Its provided by a company called Language Line which can be found here:
http://www.languageline.com/

So the answer to the question is:  Sí.  EMS does habla espanol and 169 other languages.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582162</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582162</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:23:49 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Michael</title>
<description><![CDATA[
 How is this topic bullshit when for half the population of Toronto English isn't their first language?  

That's 50%.

  That's not some tiny fringe that are demanding all services be rendered in their language, that's half the population of Toronto needing to be able to communicate effectively in an emergency.

 Toronto isn't Sudbury, Toronto is Toronto and is full of immigrants.  

 I can't think of any other city in Canada where it would be more appropriate to discuss this.
]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582147</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582147</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:47:29 PDT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Andrew</title>
<description><![CDATA[
And I love how so many of you defend this guy.  For all we know, the guy started the fight and popped off at the mouth to get into such a brawl.  Though, I don't condone 2 on 1 fights.  That's just lame and pathetic.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582139</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/04/hablas_espanol_ems/#c582139</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:36:04 PDT</pubDate>
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