You may meet them in the worst of circumstances or the best, but regardless of when or where, EMS members want to get to know the community they serve.
During their EMS Open House on June 1, residents will be getting a glimpse into the life of a paramedic. Families will be given a tour of the ambulance, test out their equipment, chat one-on-one with EMS staff, and can even take a shot at doing a little medical work of their own, through the Teddy Bear Clinic.
From 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Bonnyville EMS Building is open to the public.
But before they welcome the community with open arms, they will be touring local schools to talk about what they do and how they do it.
“We speak to the young children about what ambulance is for, how to get a hold of us, and when to phone us. We do that because we don’t want them to be afraid of the service. We want them to feel comfortable if they’re ever in a situation that an ambulance is required, we don’t want them to be scared,” explained Alicia Stone, regional deputy chief for the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority EMS.
May 27 to June 2 marks EMS Week, and this year, the theme is ‘Paramedics, Health, Community, You.’
“Each year a week is chosen to celebrate the EMS profession. The theme is directed at getting the attention of the community. We set our open house based on the theme so we can show the community what we’re here for,” Stone explained.
Spending time with kids at the Teddy Bear Clinic, EMS workers get a chance to show youth what it takes to be a paramedic.
“Kids can bring in their favourite or broken stuffy and we help them bandage it up with bandaids and popsicle sticks,” expressed Stone. “I think this is something that’s done in the EMS industry, and somebody brought it forward as an idea… It’s really well received. The kids are excited to bring their bears in and to provide treatment on them.”
Teddy bears won’t be the only ones being checked for good health. This year the open house also includes a blood pressure clinic.
Stone said, “People can come in and get their blood pressure tested.”
With a colouring contest, tours, and so much more for families to enjoy, the event is a great opportunity to see a new side of EMS.
It’s also a chance for anyone interested in a career as a paramedic to ask questions.
“It’s important for the staff to spend time with the community so they can talk to them about the service, about the industry, and let them know that there are different levels of service in the ambulance industry,” Stone detailed. “It’s important they have a good understanding of what the service we provide is, what it entails, and to know that we’re there to serve the community when they need us.”
This year, they will be handing out Medi-Magnets, which can be vital tools for paramedics during an emergency.
Stone explained, “They’re a small folder that can stick onto the fridge. Inside is a blank template for medical information. All of the information that is going to be on the template is stuff that we need in the event of an emergency.”
The magnets include things like medical history, medications, allergies, and any other information that is “pertinent when there’s an emergency.”
Stone said she isn’t surprised the event has always been so successful.
In fact, year after year residents flood through the doors of their building for the annual event.
“I find the community gets excited about it. They get excited about coming in and seeing the ambulances, because we open up the doors and invite people to come in to go through the ambulances, touch the equipment, and see how it all works,” she added.
