ORNGE Commemoriation

Today I had another friend of mine tell me, I could never do your job. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard this over the last 8 years as a Paramedic. But it got me thinking about the special type of person a Paramedic is that can come to work everyday and never know what to expect. Sometimes you laugh and sometimes you are almost in tears. You, Paramedics, are definitely ordinary people doing extraordinary things for people you have never met. John Wooden said, You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you. Paramedics save people every single day and for this how can anyone ever repay you? You as Paramedics live perfect days everyday.

As Paramedic Week 2014 winds down for another year it seems like this is one if not the best Paramedic Weeks ever. Through social media it seemed as though every Paramedic Service across Ontario and Canada was participating in open houses, CPR clinics, car seat clinics, etc. Peel Paramedics were featured in the Mississauga News for this years’ Paramedic Week Celebrations. Peel Paramedics Service gave us a #BehindTheScenes look at how the Peel Paramedic Service manages a 97,000/year call volume with 500+ paramedic and support staff, 50 ambulances, and 8 Rapid Response Units, on twitter (@Peel_Paramedics). The Peel Paramedic Association applied their trade at a local car seat clinic and CPR demos in conjuction with Peel Paramedic Services along with their amazing BBQ supplied by our very own Peel Paramedic John Waito. Chief Peter Dundas and Commissioner Janette Smith came to enjoy some of the great BBQ as well.  Andy the Ambulance made an appearance and was a hit with the younger crowd.

Last year on this day, May 31 the Paramedic family lost two Paramedics and ORNGE Pilots in a crash near Moosenee while responding to help a patient in need. Please take a moment and remember Flight Paramedic Chris Snowball, Flight Paramedic Dustin Dagenais, First Officer Jaques Dupuy, and Captain Don Filliter. Its a reminder to us all that not all Paramedics make it home to their families. Simcoe and Peel Paramedic Paul Carson has put together a sensational video commemorating these fine Paramedics and Pilots as well as all Paramedics.

On behalf of the Peel Paramedic Benevolent Fund I would like to say thank you to all Paramedics who make a difference every single day, in every community throughout Ontario, Canada and the world. I love being part of the Paramedic Family and you all deserve the utmost respect and admiration for doing one of the toughest and most dangerous jobs in the world today.

Scott Caldwell

President