< Previous30 of communication and collaboration between staff and departments regardless of different fields or backgrounds. It’s definitely helpful when you are a part of a dynamic group and to see everyone roll up their sleeves and just get things done!” “There was a bit of a bittersweet feeling over at the QEII on move day,” says Stacy Greening, senior operating officer for Grande Prairie. “A hospital is just a building until there are people in it. To see the patients and the staff here now in all of the hustle and bustle — the site has really come alive.” The QEII emergency department is now permanently closed. Anyone in need of emergency medical care should go to the new GPRH site, located at 11205 110 Street in Grande Prairie.Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season. Be safe out there!32 QUIZ 1. The correct answer is (a). 2. The correct answer is (c). These arteries get progressively smaller within the lungs and eventu-ally a thrombus can become lodged and cause an occlusion. 3. The correct answer is (a). In the large majority of cases the thrombus is formed in the deep veins of the lower extremities and travels through progressively larger vessels until arriving at the right side of the heart. 4. The correct answer is (d). 5. The correct answer is (d). 6. The correct answer is (d). 7. The correct answer is (c). The classic signs of pneumonia are the productive cough and fever, but these signs are really variable. The cough may start out as a dry cough and progress to a productive cough, only to eventually disappear in some cases. 8. The correct answer is (d). Normal physiological changes contribute to the development of Vir-chow’s triad in some pregnant women. (Not so much the vessel damage, but certainly blood stasis and blood composition). 9. The correct answer is (c). 10. The correct answer is (b). 11. The correct answer is (c). Obviously, the QT interval is dependent upon the heart rate, and so we have the corrected QT interval (QTc), which takes heart rate into consideration. Normal QT interval varies between men, women and children, as well. 12. The correct answer is (a). Right bundle branch block and either of the posterior fascicular blocks can also cause right axis deviation. 13. The correct answer is (d). If the P waves are peaked and the T waves are flattened or inverted it could be that the potassium level is too low. Peaked P waves are a sign of cor pulmonale, which means right sided heart failure. 14. The correct answer is (b). Each small box on the ECG paper equals 40 milliseconds or 0.04 seconds. 15. The correct answer is (b). It is called P mitrale and is a sign of left atrial enlargement usually cause by mitral stenosis. 16. The correct answer is (d). 17. The correct answer is (b). This is why recent surgeries should always be considered when ob-taining a medical history, also remember to inquire about recent trauma. 18. The correct answer is (b). Empyema can sometimes be identified in the field by the presence of pleural rub, don’t forget to listen to the chest. 19. The correct answer is (b). 20. The correct answer is (b). 21. The correct answer is (c). Antibiotics are not typically administered in the pre-hospital setting. They could certainly be given by infusion during a inter-facility transfer though. 22. The correct answer is (a). Unless of course the MI causes pulseless V-tach or V-fib, in which case defibrillation would then be an appropriate treatment plan. 23. The correct answer is (d). Definitive diagnosis and definitive treatment of PE currently takes place in the hospital setting. The treatment plan during transport is supportive care. 24. The correct answer is (d). This is the treatment modality for suspected acute coronary syn-drome. 25. The correct answer is (b). Most of our history and clinical signs point to pulmonary embolism. Family history of illnesses like protein S deficiency are not very common. If an unfamiliar disease or illness is mentioned by a patient or family member, ask them what it is because they will usually know something about it, when they make a point of mentioning it to you in the first place. Note that our treatment plan is for ACS in spite of our strong suspicion that we are dealing with PE. The presentation of these two conditions can be very similar, and we may not be able to rule out one or the other in the pre-hospital setting. In this situation a 15-lead ECG might be helpful in understanding what we are dealing with. References 1. Alson, R. L., Augustine, J., Baldwin, J. F., Bieniek, R., Bozeman, W., Bradley, W. J., Yancey, A. H. (2008). International Trauma Life Support for Prehospital Care Providers (Sixth ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. 2. Donnino, M. W., Navarro, K., Berg, K., Brooks, S. C., Crider, J., Hazinski, M. F., Popov, D. (2016). Advanced Cardiovascular Lifesupport Provider Manual [pdf version]. Retrieved from HSF Resuscitation 3. Lehne, R. A. (2010). Pharmacology for Nursing Care (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier 4. Porth, C. M., & Matfin, G. (2009). Pathophysiology Concepts of Altered Health States (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams &Wilkins 5. Sanders, M. J. (2007). Paramedic Textbook (3rd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Inc. 6. Tortora, G.J., & Derrickson, B. (2006). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC3665123/ Accessed November 2, 2021. 8. https://utswmed.org/medblog/ pulmonary-embolism-pregnancy/ Accessed December 2, 2021. 9. https://elentra.healthsci.queensu. ca/assets/modules/ECG/normal_ ecg.html Accessed December 12, 2021. Acknowledgement Thank you to Josh Stelmaschuk for beta testing this quiz. EUROPEAN HOLIDAY33 ONTARIO PARAMEDIC ASSOCIATION WWW.ONTARIOPARAMEDIC.CA North City Makes Donation to Feed Ontario on Behalf of Ontario Paramedics More than half a million people visit food banks in Ontario every year. A number hard to imagine, especially as we move through the holiday season. To help families get back on their feet, North City Insurance Brokers provided a donation of $1,000 to Feed Ontario on behalf of all paramedics in Ontario. Feed Ontario secures fresh and healthy food sources, to drive change through policy research and innovative programming, Feed Ontario unites food banks, industry partners, and local communities in our work to end hunger and poverty. Wanting to help support Feed Ontario, please visit: https://feedontario.ca/take- action/donate/ Holiday Toy Drive Through the month of December, Firehouse Subs locations across Ontario began collecting new unwrapped toys for local families in need. 48 restaurants participated serving 18 regions and supporting organizations such as The Salvation Army, Family Transition Place, Ronald McDonald House and more. With the participation of our Associations and several Paramedic Services, we were able to spread some holiday cheer to many families across the province. OPA Wellness Committee Working Group The OPA – Wellness Committee is pleased to announce the implementation of a wellness working group. The Committee has established this working group to provide guidance, support and creativity to wellness initiatives designed to empower those who are a part of the paramedic community. Recognizing the unique challenges that paramedics face as public safety personnel, the Committee placed a call out for passionate individuals seeking to prepare, empower and advocate for the paramedic community while breaking down the barriers that many face when it comes to access to care. We are thrilled to welcome Andreanne Roy - ACP, Antonella Finateri - Occupational Therapist, David Wolff - ret. Deputy Chief (Acting) and PCP, along with Jason Bull - PCP, to the OPA Wellness Committee Working group. As we come into a new year, the Wellness Committee looks forward to supporting this group’s vision and voice as it works to conceptualize and implement new and creative ways to promote and empower the health and well-being of the profession. Toy delivery at Family Transition Place, Orangeville, ON Katherine Hambleton Director OPA Toy delivery to Salvation Army New Hope Community Church, Orangeville, ON Toy pick-up Brampton, ON Toy pick-up Toronto, ON Brian Annett VP Toronto Paramedic Association Toy pick-up Toronto, ON Toy pick-up Brampton, ON Paul Snobelen Director Peel Paramedic Association34 TORONTO PARAMEDIC ASSOCIATION Toronto Paramedic Association Annual Movember Campaign a Great Success in 2021 This fall, Eden Rosenberg and Brian Annett sold Movember hats to contribute to the Toronto Paramedic Movember team. It was a great success and they raised over $12,000 Once again Toronto Paramedics put their lips on the line to promote Men’s Health by way of Movember! They ‘grew’ strong, in an effort to fight Men’s Cancers as well as for Mental Health. Paramedics know 1st hand that mental health is a daily issue in both the patients we are called on to help, as well as our own colleagues in 911. The added campaign of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention is one that blares as loud as our sirens, with everything that is happening in the First Responders community regarding PTSD. Thank you to everyone who supported our Movember campaign - your support will help so many Toronto Hosts MOLC Announcement about Community Paramedicine Expansion The Ontario government is investing $82.5 million to expand the existing Community Paramedicine for Long- Term Care program to an additional 22 communities, making it available to all eligible seniors across Ontario. This program, which is fully funded by the provincial government, provides additional care for seniors in the comfort of their own homes before admission into long-term care. The program was piloted across five communities in October 2020 and is currently active in 33 communities. With this expansion, the program will be available to all eligible seniors across Ontario On October 22nd, 2021 TPA President Brian Annett joined Toronto Chief Paul Raftis, Minister Rod Phillips and Toronto Mayor, John Tory, for the big announcement, as Toronto is one of the 33 communities where the program is currently offered. The Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program has provided home visits and services to thousands of seniors during the pandemic. “Toronto has been a proud recipient of funding towards the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program and within less than a year we have seen the impact that funding has had on protecting vulnerable seniors in our city,” said Mayor Tory. “Through this funding we have been able to provide care to seniors waiting for a long-term care bed and better respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing vaccines for homebound residents. This has been critical in our response to the pandemic and our work to protect all residents from the virus. I want to thank the provincial government for providing funding to Toronto, and in seeing the value of this program has now expanded it to other parts of the province.” “Toronto Paramedic Services is grateful to the Ontario government and the City of Toronto for their support of the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care initiative,” said Paul Raftis, Chief of Toronto Paramedic Services. “Today’s announcement by Minister Phillips allows us to build on recent successes and supports the expansion of the vital support that our Community Paramedics provide to help Toronto’s most vulnerable remain safe in their homes.” TPA part of Firehouse Sub Holiday Toy Drive This winter, the TPA is very excited to be part of a wonderful Toy Drive initiative put on by Firehouse Subs. Their stores are collecting toys for children who would otherwise not have anything under the tree this Christmas. The TPA will be collecting those toys this week from various Toronto Firehouse Subs locations, and distributing them to families in need TPA AGM Coming in March 2022 The TPA is planning for our long-awaited AGM for March 2022 - more details will be coming out soon about this important event for all members. At the AGM, we will be updating members on the many great initiatives that we have been hard at work on since the pandemic started. And we will be holding a post AGM Paramedic Appreciation Party - so TPA members won’t want to miss it! The TPA Board would like to take this time to wish all our members and colleagues in emergency services and health care, a wonderful Holiday Season and All the Best for a Happy and Healthy New Year in 2022!35 SIMCOE COUNTY PARAMEDIC ASSOCIATION WWW.SIMCOEPARAMEDICS.CA/ Toy Drive Simcoe County Paramedic Association in partnership with the County of Simcoe Paramedic Service and the County of Simcoe, launched its annual Toy Drive, sending volunteers out across the County to collect toys, food and cash donations in support of the community. In its 19th year, the residents of the County and many organizations generously donated food, cash and toys, supporting the dire needs of the food banks and providing many children with some Christmas cheer. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of individuals and businesses throughout the community, the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services has collected 6,739 toys, 3,669 lbs of food, $20,350 in cash, and $3,305 in gift cards during the 19th annual Toy Drive. WATERLOO REGION ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL PARAMEDICS WWW.WATERLOOPARAMEDICS.CA Carol of the Bells From all of us at the Waterloo Region Association of Professional Paramedics & the Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services we wish you a safe and happy holiday season! WRAPP Display Check out WRAPP’s Winter display at Waterloo Park, kicking off the festive season! 36 PEEL PARAMEDIC ASSOCIATION WWW.PEELPARAMEDICS.CA Matchbox Ambulances The PPA and Peel Regional Paramedic Services stopped by a few hospitals within the region to drop off some of our custom Matchbox Ambulances for the kids. A special thanks to Mattel for making this a reality. Movember Believed to be the first of its kind in Canada, the PPA and Peel Regional Paramedic Services kicked off its Movember campaign revealing this Movember Ambulance. Paramedics across the region raised funds to bring awareness to men’s cancers below the waist, mental health, and suicide prevention. Through moustache growing, bake sales, and public awareness campaigns. Special thanks to our partners in Men’s Health: OPSEU L277, Paramentors, North City Insurance, Brokerlink Insurance, D9 Studios, Peel Paramedic Benevolent Fund and of course Chief Dundas and Peel Regional Paramedic Services.Next >