Paramedic Week is a time that we celebrate Paramedics across Canada. The motto for this year’s celebration is “Our Family Helping Yours”. Its a time when Paramedics can reflect on those few and far between but heartfelt thank yous that patients and their families have said after Paramedics have helped them in their time of need or crisis. Paramedic Services across Canada are celebrating with many events that promote Paramedics and Paramedicine within the community.
Peel Regional Paramedic Services (@Peel_Paramedics), Peel Paramedics Association (@ParamedicAssoc) , and OPSEU Local 277 (@OPSEU277) will be holding many events from CPR clinics, car seat clinics, etc. On Twitter a #BehindTheScenes look on May 27th at what it takes to handle a 97,000 per year call volume with 500+ Paramedics, Management, and Support Staff. The Peel Paramedic Benevolent Fund will also be tweeting #BehindTheScenes at @peelemsfund. You can find out more about Ontario Paramedics at the Ontario Paramedics Assocation.
If you see a Paramedic this week, please shake their hand and give them a thank you for what they do for your community and your families. Paramedics are there for the citizens of Canada 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. They miss time with their families to help yours. They miss Christmas, New Years, and all holidays that others take for granted. Paramedics love helping people and they love saving lives. Paramedics are a humble group but love to tell a story. Paramedics are ordinary people doing extraordinary things in some of the worst environments and conditions imaginable.
An opinion piece about Paramedics’ education and what they can do can be found here. Ontario Paramedic Paul Carson is a Paramedic Video Guru and has many a video. His videos include: My Sacrifice, I am a Paramedic, and Keep Holding On. These videos show the faces of Paramedics across Ontario.
If you’re a Paramedic we want to thank you for your hard work and dedication to the toughest job you will ever love.