ON2020 - Canadian Paramedicine

1 Nov 2020

Our Crews are Prepared Amid Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought uncertainty to Western Canadians for many months. At STARS, you should know we remain committed to being there for the next patient who needs us. One of our crew members leading the effort to ensure we provide uninterrupted care is Dr. Jamin Mulvey, a transport physician. Dr. Mulvey pointed to an organization-wide effort to ensure necessary policies, procedures and supplies are in place. “We have good resources, adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), and … Read More

1 Nov 2020

The Tour Paramedic Ride: A Way to Remember

by Canadian Paramedicine |

It all started with trip down into the United States to take part in the National EMS Memorial Ride to honour paramedics that have been injured or lost in the line of duty. Their version (commonly known as the Muddy Angels) was inspired as a result of 9/11. Seven Canadian paramedics took part in May of 2010 and their determination paved the way for our own yearly Canadian event, the Paramedic Ride (Tour Paramédic). We held our inaugural event in … Read More

1 Nov 2020

Paramedic Educators as Subject Matter Experts: A Threat to Education Departments

by Canadian Paramedicine |

In 2019, the Ontario provincial government announced a funding freeze for paramedic services[1]. At the time, I worked for Peel Regional Paramedic Services in the Greater Toronto Area. In response to this announcement, Peel’s paramedic leadership team swiftly chose to suspend programs such as driver training, autonomous intravenous access training for Primary Care Paramedics, and Advanced Care Paramedic training. I suspect similar decisions were made in other municipalities at the time and that many paramedic organizations across Canada have faced … Read More

1 Nov 2020

Continuing Education Then and Now: The Same, But Different

by B.T. Murray |

If there is one thing in this world that is constant, it is change. The subject matter is almost irrelevant. Whether you talk about large political topics such as the climate, economy or job creation or much smaller issues such as that new rattle coming from under the hood of your car, it is inevitable. Things will change and they will change every day. When you talk about health care, it is no different. From the time I started in … Read More

1 Nov 2020

A Review of Venous Thromboembolism for Paramedics

by Canadian Paramedicine |

Abbreviations and acronyms used in this document. DVT: Deep Vein Thrombosis VTE: Venous Thromboembolism PE: Pulmonary Embolism SVR: Systemic Vascular Resistance PVR: Pulmonary Vascular Resistance CO: Cardiac Output LVOT: Left Ventricular Outflow Tract SpO2: Oxyhemoglobin Saturation FiO2: Fraction of Inspired Oxygen CVA: Cerebrovascular Accident MI: Myocardial Infarction JVD: Jugular Venous Distension EMS: Emergency Medical Services AHA: American Heart Association MAP: Mean Arterial Pressure RSI: Rapid Sequence Induction HR: Heart Rate RR: Respiratory Rate mmol/L: Millimole Per Litre Venus Thromboembolism (VTE) … Read More

1 Nov 2020

4th Annual Georgian College Paramedic Research Day

by Canadian Paramedicine |

On December 3rd, 2019 the Georgian College Paramedic Program (Barrie, ON) held its 4th annual student-led research day. As a component of the third semester in the primary care paramedic program students are required to complete and present a research project of their choice, approved by the course instructor. Students are responsible for developing their own independent research project from creating a question, through REB submission, to carrying out the study and data analysis. The course culminates with the presentation … Read More

1 Nov 2020

Paramedic Engagement: Exploring the Value of Alternative Learning Methods

by Canadian Paramedicine |

Next slide. Next slide. Next slide. Wait, what was that video about? Previous slide. Previous slide. Third time’s a charm. Oh come on! A knowledge check? New tab: Google. We’ve all been there. Slogging through slides of material in order to assure our paramedic service that they have indeed educated us. At least we have our one-day, eight-hour classroom session where we can re-learn this and actually get to practice it. Although, not many working medics look forward to that … Read More

1 Nov 2020

The Paradigm Shift and Scurvy – As Related to Sepsis

by Chris Farnady |

The Burden of Sepsis The global burden of sepsis remains substantial with an estimated 32 million cases and 5.3 million deaths per year [1]. In addition to short-term mortality, septic patients are noted to suffer from numerous long-term complications with a reduced quality of life [2]. Therefore, the early detection and the judicious administration of suitable antibiotics are considered to be the most likely important factors in improving the outcome of patients with sepsis. [2]. The problem however is that … Read More

1 Nov 2020

It is raining on Mars: Paramedicine Clinical Simulation on Trial

by Steve Whitfield |

First and foremost, I am a paramedic and a paramedicine educator. But last year I woke on Sol 12 of an immersive Mars mission simulation to observe small confined crews in a Mars analogue as the crew medical officer. But it was raining. While the crew members watched the rain from the habitat window somewhat perplexed, it began to sink in. Physically Mars has no atmosphere, therefore it does not rain on Mars. Any attempts of the crew members who … Read More

1 Nov 2020

ON2020 – Editorial

by Gil Maraboto |

Someone said: “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance”. I belong to an E.M.S. generation that lived in a time of evolution and change, and if you started your career about 20 years ago or so, you do too. We moved from disc phones to mobile phones, polaroids and film cameras to digital, paper pictures to jpg. We also saw changes in E.M.S., devices came, and devices went; protocols changed, and new ones were created while others were buried … Read More