Paramedics in Canada Puns

I thought this group might be interested in signing this petition started by a paramedic in Canada.

She is concerned that paramedics in Canada are not afforded protections that fire and police departments receive as essential services - even though they continue to work through the COVID-19 pandemic. http://change.org/covid19paramedics

Thank you for everything you all continue to do.

Hey r/paramedics,

I am an Australian paramedic who previously lived in Canada for 5 years. I would love to return and work as a paramedic there, however the information I have found online about this is a little confusing. Just wondering if there are any Aussie paramedics who have been through this process?
Cheers :)

Kosikar was one of the first responders who tried to revive Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died in a horrific accident the day before the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Kosikar was the first responder to a fatal accident at the Whistler Sliding Centre on Feb 12th, Opening Day of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Although I was well trained in a myriad of life saving techniques, I was not prepared to deal with the emotional impact sustained while on the job. As a result of the fatality, I developed a Post-Traumatic Stress Injury that launched me into a very costly downward spiral. During several years of severe depression, anxiety, suicide attempts, and substance abuse, I lost my family, my career, and nearly my life. Since then, Kosikar has suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), ending up with suicidal thoughts and an addiction problem. In the five years after the accident, he lost his job, family and home. Kosikar has now turned his life around and is hoping to help other first responders suffering from PTSD. view our video story on: https://www.facebook.com/notweaktospeak/videos/428196637512086/ www.itsnotweaktospeak.com

Hello,

I am an Ontarian that has been out of school for roughly a year now. Was unable to find work as a paramedic last year but I am trying again this year. This time I am not only applying to the GTA, but all of Ontario. I am also considering applying to positions across Canada. If there is anyone working in other provinces I would love to hear from you. Also will take any input fellow Ontarians have travelled to other provinces as well. I would like to know:

1. how the living conditions in your province is
2. the diversity of the people in your region and attitudes (are the accepting of minorities for example)
3. what the service you are working for is like
4. how you went about applying for the position
5. how is the pay like
6. for the ontarians that travelled – how difficult was the transition?
7. if things go south, what other job can I do to maintain my skills?

Also, if there is anyone working in the Army or Oil Industry as a medic who can provide me with further information as to how to go about applying I would greatly appreciate it. I’ve tried to get a hold of companies but I haven’t had much success.

I welcome any feedback that you may have. I appreciate all the help I can get. Thank you in advance.

Because they're a pair o' medics!

I'm a paramedic in a moderately busy area with frequent overdoses on opiates. Too frequently do I arrive to find an unconscious person with ice in an asshole/vagina or stuffed in their pants. Often another terrible home remedy is to place the patient in a shower or drench them in water or some other liquid. If you need to do this, they need naloxone. If you dont have any or if you live in an area where you cannot buy it over the counter, please call 911. It's not safe, you can cause frostbite from the ice, or cause someone to aspirate from dumping liquids on them. Or, the delay in calling for EMS could cause the patient more harm due to low blood/oxygen levels (hypoxia). It is also more difficult and dangerous for us to move a patient who is soaked or in the shower.

Some areas have laws that protect those who call for an overdose from any legal ramifications, this encourages people to call instead of watching their friend die or dropping them off somewhere they wont get help. Most of the time the police are their for the safety of EMS and not to arrest anyone. I cant say that this is the law everywhere ot that this is the what law enforcement will do on every call, I'm speaking for the places I have worked and my experience in this field. I don't want anyone to die from fear to call 911 or because someone is trying their home remedy before calling. I'm writing this because most agencies have narcan and can wake them up in a jiffy and I want what's best for everyone.

Edit: I want to thank everyone for the comments and conversation. Because it's my favorite story involving an overdose and ice, I want to share it. I wasn't on this call but it was a crew that I work with. They went to a narcotic overdose (most likely heroin) at a residence for a full-term pregnant woman. They load her into the ambulance and administer Narcan. And she started to wake up they raise the head of the stretcher to sit her up and the crew noted she began to have a large wet spot in the crotch area. Naturally, they assumed it was her water breaking. They took her pants off and did a visual, and our supervisor who was on the call remarked on the blue color of her vagina. They transport her to the ER, baffled as she wasn't having any contractions and it didn't seem to be urine. So when they were attempting to give the ER staff report, they got to the part about the blue vagina. The Sheepish boyfriend peeped up from the corner of the ER room and said, "her water didn