Lyle Blumhagen has been the owner of Canadian Paramedicine for the last 30 years. He is now handing over the magazine to Gilbert Maraboto, an ACP of Wakaw, Saskatchewan. Gilbert will carry on with the important work he has done for the Paramedicine Community and to continue publishing this magazine. Gil has been a paramedic for over 20 years and holds a B. Sc. in Physics. Lyle first began as an editor in a farming magazine and transferred to Canadian … Read More
For those who work in emergency health an average day is… well, average. But that same day for someone who has needed our service and care is unforgettable, with moments of shock, awe and gut-wrench; often, it’s one of the worst days of their lives. But for paramedics, emergency call takers and dispatchers, it’s just Tuesday. Or is it Wednesday..? Now, British Columbians are getting an up-close and personal view of what happens during the handling of real-life health emergencies … Read More
August 29, 2018 It is with tremendous sadness that International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) announces the passing of our founder and president, John Emory Campbell, MD, FACEP, of Alabama. Dr. Campbell passed away in his home on August 29, 2018 after a long illness. He was 75 years old. Known worldwide for his groundbreaking work in developing prehospital trauma education, Dr. Campbell founded the Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) program in 1982. It was the first course and curriculum dedicated … Read More
Delivers Consistent, High-quality Chest Compressions June 7, 2018—CHELMSFORD, MASS.—ZOLL® Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group Company that manufactures medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that the Bath Regional Fire and Rescue Department is the first service among Canada’s four Atlantic provinces to install the AutoPulse® Resuscitation System. The AutoPulse helps to improve blood flow to the heart and brain during SCA because of the unique, high-quality chest compressions it generates. According to Stephen Armour, Bath Fire Chief, … Read More
By Ryan Brown MPH, PCP Those who work in paramedic services and heath care at large, are well aware of the challenges, and in many cases, crises posed by changing demographics in Canada today. It goes by many names, the Grey Tsunami, aging of the Baby Boomers, the epidemiologic shift or transition. Regardless of the label, the strain placed upon health care workers by a system that is not responsive to the needs of an aging population is felt in … Read More
Most of us just want to go through life without causing ourselves any extra work, worry or grief. So why on earth would smart people volunteer to work in Emergency Services in their own home town? Recent findings suggest rural ambulance paramedics are at particular risk for increased levels of fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression. The Issues Despite a large chunk of my career doing nothing but high risk neonatal, pediatric and maternity calls, a call from my ‘rural and … Read More
Are girls really superior? That’s a tough one, and I’m sure the answer will upset someone. But here we go. To see which gender brings more to the table, let’s have a look at some of the following: The historical discrimination of women in the workplace The scientific evidence The real world requirements of prehospital care You may find it enlightening….. History Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to the US Congress. Like many women in the workforce, … Read More
By F (Kelly) Sheppard, DHSc, CCP What is a professional and how do we define it? A professional is defined as “the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person” (Merriam-Webster, n. d.). There are many references which describe a profession/professional, and how it is perceived. For many in health care, a professional is reflected by a regulatory college or professional origination that sets requirements and ethical standards. However, is a profession solely based on regulatory standards, or … Read More
Authors Kaitlynn James BSc(Hons.)1 Cian O’Brien MPH2 Alan M. Batt MSc1,3,4 Paramedic Programs, Fanshawe College, London, Ont., Canada Health Service Executive South Region, Ireland Centre for Paramedic Education and Research, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ont., Canada Institute for Health Professionals, Portland Community College, OR, USA Introduction At any moment while performing patient care duties, paramedics are at risk of exposure to blood and infection from blood-borne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, … Read More
By Robin Young We do for others, endure, and continue on… Paramedics face multiple causes of work related stress in the field. In general, stress, although often times significant, is diminished by distance and time. The further you are away from the stressor and the longer the stressor is absent, the lessening of its impact. Commonly, low to moderate stress over a longer period of time resolves naturally. However, when faced with a personal threatening situation such as violence, … Read More