Every day, celebrations break out to honour another occasion. For example, on May 13, it was National Apple Pie Day. Who doesn’t like a slice with French vanilla ice cream on the side? I don’t need an excuse to enjoy a dessert—check out my waistline! Calories aside, celebrating people, groups and some milestones so we don’t let their significance slip away is a worthy cause.
Healthcare workers, emergency communicators, and responders top my list in concert with groups representing younger people in sports and specialty groups like scouting. This week is near and dear to my heart: National Paramedic Services Week. I am still partial to my roots, with a lifetime career in emergency medical services behind me. I still experience a fraternal sense when passing an ambulance or talking to paramedics past and present. Most people reserve contact with paramedics for their first, worst or last day. Let's take a moment to appreciate their dedication and service.
The men and women who respond to your side in times of distress have undergone a rigorous journey to become certified paramedics. Their initial two years of education in Ontario are packed with the medical topics you would expect. They then apply these skills in practical training, working with patients to hone their abilities. This is followed by exposure to various emergency scenarios and constant updates operating advanced medical devices. This snapshot of their training and skill development is just the beginning, showcasing the depth of their knowledge and the high-quality care they provide.
But the journey doesn’t end there! Paramedics face regular challenges, constantly updating their skills and knowledge. They routinely recertify in performing many delegated medical acts, which are still under the absolute control of endorsing physicians. Paramedics learn and add new skills and demonstrate their competence when new procedures arise from research by paramedics and physicians. This commitment to continuous education and skill development is a testament to the dynamic nature of their profession, and it reassures us of the high-quality care they provide. Paramedics have the highest number of these endorsements, surpassing nurses and others when administering medications and performing invasive procedures that have demonstrated positive outcomes when given outside of a hospital.
As you would expect, being a paramedic can sometimes be very stressful. Once accustomed to working in high-tension environments, medics tend to develop enhanced self-confidence, which they have earned. That comfort and sometimes light-hearted behaviour should not be confused with overconfidence. The training described above is intense and fundamental. It might not seem so to graduating students. Just ask a paramedic after five years or more after serving the public. They will quickly tell you how much they have grown since they hit the road!
Every real-life patient care situation will vary from the original theme learned in their professional infancy. No two heart attacks or automobile collisions are identical to their original training. Storing the full spectrum of experience that a medic has under their belt is another taxing aspect of their profession. Working generally as a team of two paramedics, they often draw on each other's knowledge, arriving at the best possible outcome. That teamwork is what sets them apart from so many.
Celebrations like National Paramedic Services Week remind me how much I miss my friends, coworkers, and others I worked alongside. My hat is off to you all, and congratulations on another great year. On a side note, trapped somewhere behind this spectacle is another favourite treat day I will have to wait until February 3, 2025, to observe: National Carrot Cake Day. Oh, my waistline!