05/10/2026
🚑 The longest stretcher transfer we’ve ever done… and it was not for the weak.
This trip pushed everything to the limit.
From Montreal Airport to Halifax, Nova Scotia — a massive, time-sensitive stretcher transfer that demanded precision, patience, and a whole lot of coordination. And when I say time-sensitive, I mean it. The patient was on oxygen, so every tank mattered. We couldn’t just pack unlimited supply and hope for the best. We had to calculate everything carefully. ⏳💨
To make things even more challenging, the flight coming in from Asia had delays because of technical issues. So now we weren’t just planning a long transport — we were adjusting in real time, staying in constant contact with Jet Companion Canada, who handled the major logistics side of the operation. Their team and our dispatch worked together nonstop to keep everything moving and make the journey as smooth as possible for the family and as comfortable as possible for the patient. 🤝🧡
This was not a light load.
We had the patient, a paramedic, two nurses, two attendants, and all the luggage packed into the vehicle. And then came the oxygen: 7 E tanks, 1 D tank, and 2 M tanks — about 12,095 liters total. Enough to keep the trip going, but only if everything went exactly as planned. 🚐🔥
The patient also needed equipment that had to stay powered the entire way, so the inverter was on for the full trip. It even overheated twice and had to be reset. That’s the reality of long-distance medical transport — when things get stressful, you don’t panic, you problem-solve. 💪⚡
And then there was the vehicle itself.
We used Van 001 — our first-ever van, a 2015 Chevrolet Express we bought back in 2021, right in the middle of COVID. It was a retired Quebec paramedic van with about 262,000 km on it, and we chose it because of the unique CPR seat layout that allowed us to carry 5 people in the back. That kind of setup was perfect for trips involving physicians, anesthesiologists, flight medics, nurses, PSWs, or family members. 🏥
If you know those old box-style ambulances built on Ford E-Series or Chevrolet Express chassis, you know exactly what I mean when I say they are not built for comfort. We even spent extra money on shocks to improve the ride, but it still barely made a difference — and honestly, it hurt us financially.
That’s one of the reasons we moved on.
Today, our stretcher fleet is built on Ram ProMasters, and the difference is night and day. We sound-deadened them twice, insulated them fully, and turned them into something that feels far more like a luxury ride than a traditional medical van. Quiet. Spacious. High roof. Large windows. Smooth ride. The kind of environment where someone can actually rest, whisper, or just look outside in peace during a long trip. 🌟
Back to the story — we had to arrive at Trudeau Airport 1.5 hours early just to get through security and airside access. This wasn’t a normal pickup. We were going onto the tarmac, pulling up beside the commercial aircraft, which is a very different process from the fast in-and-out FBO pickups we use for air ambulance flights.
And of course, there was one more obstacle.
At first, airport security got hung up on our company name. When we started, we had simply added “patient transfer” to our original business name, which was tied to moving and deliveries. So when they checked us out for tarmac access, they thought we were a moving company and acted like our patient transfer side didn’t even exist. That led to back and forth, delays, and some frustration — but it was eventually sorted out the day before the trip.
That experience was actually one of the reasons we changed our company name to BPT. Sometimes the hard moments push you to build something better. ✅
The plane landed a few minutes early but we were already waiting. We had already gone through the security (scanners etc) and one of the airport security lead the way since were were driving on live taxiways, with the large commercial aircrafts also taxing to or from their gates.
After carefully loading the patient from the giant commercial aircraft, the real choreography began. ✈️🚑
We first unhooked the oxygen from the plane setup and connected the patient to our own tank so everything stayed stable and continuous. Then came one of the trickiest parts of the whole transfer — getting through the aircraft aisle. Because the patient was on a scoop stretcher and the walkway was so narrow, the only way through was using one of the flight attendants’ food trollies as a rolling support to help guide the movement safely. It was tight, precise, and had to be done with total control. 💨🛒
Once we reached the entrance of the plane, we completed the transfer onto our stretcher. The stretcher itself wouldn’t fit through the narrow aisle, so we had to do it right there at the aircraft door. Every movement had to be smooth, careful, and deliberate. One wrong shift and the whole process would slow down, so the focus was intense. 🙏
From there, we brought the patient down the service elevator and moved them into the stretcher van. 🚪⬇️🚐
As soon as we got inside, the team split into action. While we hooked everything up to the van’s equipment — the main oxygen tank, inverter, suction, and the rest of the medical setup — another attendant was already loading all the luggage into the available compartments around the van. The goal was to make sure the weight was spread out evenly so the ride stayed balanced and safe for everyone on board. 🎒⚖️
It was one of those moments that really shows what this work is all about: teamwork, timing, precision, and keeping the patient comfortable through every step of the journey. 🧡
And then the long trip truly began. 🚐🛣️
Our first stop was on the outskirts of Rivière-du-Loup, near the New Brunswick border. After hours on the road, it was a chance for the team in the back to stretch their legs and regroup for a moment. The family members who were driving behind us were able to check in on their loved one along the way too — sometimes they were right behind us, sometimes ahead of us, depending on the pace of the journey and the conditions on the road. 👨👩👧👦💙
Our second stop was in Edmundston, where we kept everything moving smoothly and made sure the patient remained comfortable. By then, the trip had already shown how much teamwork and patience this kind of transport requires. Every stop had a purpose. Every check-in mattered. 🙏
The final stop was in the outskirts of Nova Scotia, where we made one last roadside pause to reset the inverter. It had been running nonstop for more than 8 hours, so we made sure to take care of it before continuing. That kind of attention to detail is what keeps a long trip safe and steady. ⚡🔧
After a long day of driving, we finally arrived at the destination — and the feeling was pure relief and satisfaction. The trip had gone extra smoothly overall, with only the occasional bump in the road, but that’s part of what makes these long transports memorable. The most important thing was that we delivered the patient to their family safely, comfortably, and right on time. 🧡✅
Once we dropped off the crew, we headed to the hotel for the rest we had been looking forward to all day. After that kind of journey, sleep never felt so good. 😴🏨
Early the next morning, we made our way back to Ottawa, tired but proud of a job well done. Long days like this remind us why we do what we do — because every mile matters, and every safe delivery means everything. 🚑✨
