Paramedic Services Week 2024
May 19-25, 2024 is National Paramedic Services Week, a time to honour the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) profession and recognize the professionals who provide this vital public service. Paramedic Services Week also offers an opportunity to better understand the important role EMS plays within the health care system, and for our communities.
Alberta’s EMS system is comprised of dedicated Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Inter-facility Transportation, community-based First Responders, as well EMS Practitioners in ground and air (rotary and fixed-wing) transport ambulances.
This year's national theme Help Us Help You is an opportunity to highlight the many ways that paramedic services help people, from the provision of emergency care for those critically ill and injured to the more contemporary role of paramedic services as part of a greater health system.
Join us as we celebrate these heroes and learn more about the incredible care they provide each and every day.
*Please note: This page is moderated and any inappropriate or disrespectful content will be edited and/or removed.
Celebrate Alberta's Paramedics
Our EMS teams do incredible work serving patients and families each and every day.
Is there a paramedic in your community you would like to recognize for their dedication and service? Are looking for the chance to thank a paramedic for the care you or a loved one received? Are you a healthcare worker who partners with a great EMS team? Take a moment to give a shout out to these hardworking professionals!
To get started:
- Click in the box below.
- Give your story a name and write it up. Please note that to stories must protect patient privacy to be published.
- Click "Create" to submit your post.
*Please note: by submitting a story, you agree to the terms of use.
This page is moderated. Any inappropriate or disrespectful content will not be posted.
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Your EMS
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Welcome to the world, Timothy! One of Swan Hills’ newest residents was delivered thanks to the response and care of Primary Care Paramedics, Trevor Trefanenko and Caitlin Heffel.
Timothy’s mother said if EMS wasn’t available, she would have had to deliver him at home by herself. Trefanenko replied, “That’s what we’re there for. We’re there for Albertans to help them out when they don’t have a ride to get to a hospital.”
May 19 – 25th is Paramedic Services Week, and AHS is proud of our dedicated paramedics who are there for Albertans – newborn and beyond - in need.
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Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services (AHS EMS), the EMS Foundation, the Project Brock Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation recognize staff, colleagues, and service partners for the incredible work that they do in resuscitation at the 2023 AHS EMS Coin Awards. This event is about celebrating those who have represented their links in the Chain of Survival with knowledge, experience, practice, and dedication.
Two paramedics were recognized with the Project Bock Lifesaver Excellence Award for their outstanding response when called to the Medicine Hat College gymnasium, and two paramedics were recognized by the Excellence in Resuscitation Ceremony for their high-quality CPR and advanced cardiac life support to an individual for over 26 minutes. Please join us in congratulating Advanced Care Paramedic Rachel Girling, Primary Care Paramedic Pilani Siwela, Advanced Care Paramedic Sean Wheeler and Primary Care Paramedic Colleen McCann for their lifesaving efforts!
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Many employees who work within EMS are calling rural Alberta home. Some prefer a quieter lifestyle with less commuting, but all are deeply passionate about working in a more tight-knit, family-like atmosphere that is harder to find in urban centres.
Working as an EMS professional in smaller communities allow you to form close bonds with your fellow responders, hospital staff, fire department and other emergency service providers. Everyone knows each other by name, whether they are your colleagues or your patients.
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Denise, from AHS’ Provincial Air Ambulance team, is not joking when she says she loves everything that flies. An Advanced Care Paramedic, she is a perfect example of living a healthy balance between work and play.
On days when she is not working, you’ll find her in her backyard enjoying her hobby as a beekeeper. Her other hobbies include going to the mountains, biking, and connecting with nature any time she can. She also flies glider flights.
“If I’m happy, then I’m a happy practitioner, and I deliver quality care.”
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A look at 'Camp Courage' — a weeklong day camp that aims to educate and inspire young women interested in careers as first responders. With AHS Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the @calgarypolice and Calgary Fire Services.
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When Albertans call 911, a specially trained dispatcher will take the call, but what many patients may not be aware of is that physicians are available 24/7 to collaborate on calls with AHS EMS paramedics. This service is called Online Medical Consultation (OLMC), and is more informally known as Doctors in Dispatch.
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