What do you enjoy most about your work? What I like most about being a paramedic is the opportunity for growth and personal development. In my seven years with the service, I have learned that my true passion is teaching others and passing on the knowledge I have gained through various courses and experiences. I also teach part-time for
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and
Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) courses with one of the leading paramedic schools in B.C. and have seen some wonderful people grow into amazing paramedics in this area.
Get involved! When we put on community events or education it’s so great to see people come out and learn with us. From CPR/AED training to overdose awareness to recognizing stroke symptoms, there is so much the public can learn that can help us when responding to critical events. We all live, work and play here together, and we all want to see our friends, neighbours and loved ones receive the best care they can when it’s needed most, and it all starts with public education and involvement.
In August 2018, we threw an open house to celebrate the addition of seven new employees to the Winlaw station – the most it had seen in a long time. Four of them are still working in Winlaw, and two have moved to nearby stations. I am privileged to work with these amazing people every day and proud of every one of them. (Shout-out to my original 427 crew, you know who you are!)
Charmane (left): From an educational perspective, what I appreciate is seeing my colleagues find their “aha” moments and being to translate that into the best patient care. It’s awesome to see our profession grow into a collaborative patient care advocacy group.
Damien (centre): Every day is an adventure because no two calls are ever alike.
Ashley (right): Getting to meet all sorts of interesting people from various walks of life and provide support to them when they need it the most.
I’ve only been on the job for three months, but the transition between the classroom to the street has been seamless. I’m looking forward to my new career as a paramedic.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The best part of my paramedic career and journey is that it is always changing and you are always learning. Every single day brings about new and different challenges. This is what keeps it fresh and exciting.
I have been a paramedic since April 24, 1996. My most memorable experience over my 26 years has been my daughters joining me for my Critical Care Paramedic graduation ceremony in December 2017.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I’ve worked as a paramedic since 2011 and the best part about this job is the people I meet: the colleagues who become family, the other services that have my back and the patients who welcome me in their most vulnerable moments.
What do you enjoy most about your work? My favourite thing about my job (other than helping people in my community) is the fact that it has opened up the door for lifelong learning. I love that there is always more you can learn and things are constantly changing.
I think the public can best help all paramedics do their job by having a better understanding of what it is we do. We aren't taking you to the hospital so you can see a doctor right away, you still get triaged by the hospital. And please pull over!
My most memorable experiences have been being out in the public and getting to showing off the ambulance. It is so amazing getting to see the kids looking around for the first time and helping them be more comfortable in the ambulance if they or their family members ever need to call 9-1-1.
What do you enjoy most about your work? 
The best part about working in the Downtown Eastside is that it’s not always a medical emergency. Sometimes people just want to talk; sometimes they just want socks, snacks or a blanket, and you can do that part – I love it when I can do that.
What is your most memorable moment?
I’ve been a paramedic for 15 years, and the most memorable moment of my career so far was being stopped on the street by a cardiac arrest survivor whom I’d help resuscitate just three weeks prior.
Please join us in recognizing our paramedics from May 22 to 28.
Send a message of thanks to someone who has made a difference in your life or the life of someone you love. A small gesture of appreciation can go a long way after years of intense, often stressful work on the front lines.
Follow BCEHS on
Twitter,
Facebook and
Instagram next week for stories of paramedics doing incredible work across the province.
