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1 Jan 2021

DJ2021 – Association News

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Time for action on psychological injuries (part one) Psychological injury prevention is the next steps as we see understanding and treatment for those who have been injured start to improve. It has been a long road from stigmatized recognition of psychological injuries to a place where we can feel more comfortable in being open about Paramedic psychological health… well maybe for some of us. The acceptance and destigmatization of these injuries are inconsistent across Canada’s Paramedic Services. Awareness has yet … Read More

1 Jan 2021

Suicide Prevention Day 2020

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There are few more deafening sounds than that left behind by a partner; due to suicide. Every 40 seconds that sound is heard somewhere in the world, according to the WHO who estimates around 800,000 people take their own lives every year. It is considered a global pandemic by many governments. But those numbers only represent the people who carry it out and are successful in their attempt. In the US alone it is estimated that over 10 million Americans … Read More

1 Jan 2021

PTSD and Me: A Short Story

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It hit me like a tonne of bricks. Me? It’s not possible. I’m not in that bad of shape! Or am I? A wild range of emotions went surging through my body when the person sitting across from me told me that after all my testing was completed, I had a confirmed diagnosis of P.T.S.D. Initially, all I could do was stare. I had no words. Silence. To ease the moment, I stood and walked to the back of the … Read More

1 Jan 2021

Development of a Reporting Process for Violence Against Paramedics

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By Justin Mausz[1],2,3, ACP, PhD(c); Mandy Johnston1, ACP; and Elizabeth Donnelly3, NREMT, LICSW, PhD [1] Peel Regional Paramedic Services, Brampton, Ontario; 2 McMaster University, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, Hamilton, Ontario; 3 The University of Windsor, School of Social Work, Windsor, Ontario, Canada Background Violence against paramedics is increasingly recognized as an important threat to workplace health and safety (1, 2). Cross-sectional research from around the world indicates that a concerning majority of paramedics have experienced some … Read More

1 Jan 2021

The Psychological Impact of a Global Pandemic

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As we near the end of 2020, we also near another milestone: It’s been a year since we began living through a global pandemic. The last year has brought us much uncertainty. We have questioned things such as the efficacy of lockdowns and how stringent they should be; concerns about the pandemic’s economic impact will ultimately have; the overall effect the pandemic will have on our healthcare systems on the individuals working within that system. The Stressors Perhaps one of … Read More

1 Jan 2021

Practice Innovations: Rapid Deployment of Palliative Care

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By James Downar, MDCM, MHSc;Amit Arya;Genevieve Lalumiere, BScN RN MN;Ghislain Bercier, Advanced Care Paramedic;Shannon Leduc;Valerie Charbonneau, MD, MSc, FRCPC Introduction  The greatest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt in long-term care (LTC) facilities. In Canada, approximately 80% of COVID-19 deaths have been linked to LTC facilities[1] and the strain of caring for so many acutely ill residents has been challenging. Even prior to COVID-19, some LTC facilities were struggling to care for a population that is increasingly elderly … Read More

1 Jan 2021

Paramedic Mental Health: You are what you sleep

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Introduction It’s no secret that shift work can alter and adversely affect the health and well-being of paramedics. Yet paramedics are increasingly getting less and less sleep. Studies show that people are now averaging six to seven hours of sleep per night which is on average two hours of sleep less per night than our counterparts from the 20th century. The root cause is multifaceted, however, social media, handheld devices, light pollution, and television are largely attributed to this change … Read More

1 Jan 2021

DJ2021 – Editorial

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We live in a world where we are bound by social rules. These rules evolved through years and now, we may find some obsolete, absurd or even inhumane. Rules like women being unable to vote, slavery, child exploitation, etc., are examples of the rules we left behind; some of these rules were in writing while some were unwritten rules; and these are the most difficult to erase from society. There is a generation that was educated with the premise that … Read More

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