Reflections on a career in paramedicine by Retired Paramedic Chief, Keith Kirkpatrick

It is hard to believe that I have had a career in Paramedicine that has spanned almost four decades!  Thirty-eight years have passed since the first day I walked into the Lindsay Ambulance station to find out how to become an ambulance attendant.  My dad had suggested the idea and I took his advice and went to the station to ask some questions.  That day, I met Len Vanpelt and Clare Gordon who showed me around the station, the ambulance...

01 April, 2019
Act FAST: Partner with Heart & Stroke to raise the awareness of signs of stroke and save lives

Heart & Stroke wants to partner with more paramedic services in Ontario to save Ontarians from the effects of stroke.  FAST stands for: Face: is it drooping? Arms: can you raise both? Speech: is it slurred or jumbled? Time: to call 9-1-1 right away. The objective of our campaign in to place decals showing the FAST message on ambulances throughout Ontario, to remind people of the three key FAST signs and to remind everyone of the urgency of calling 911 immediately (as...

21 January, 2019
77 Ontario Paramedics Recognized for Excellence in Paramedic Services

In a ceremony at Queen’s Park held on November 28th, The Honourable Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier of Ontario and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care will recognize 77 Ontario Paramedics whom have provided pre-hospital emergency medical services to the public in an exemplary manner for a minimum of thirty years. These paramedics will be presented with their first or Second bar for the Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal, which was created in 1994 by the late Governor General Romeo LeBlanc...

21 December, 2018
Taking Training to the Lab

In spring of this year, as part of our annual Continuing Medical Education, Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service partnered with the University of Guelph to provide a unique training opportunity. When it comes to learning and maintaining skills as a paramedic, students and working medics alike are no stranger to the world of simulation. Most scenarios include verbally explaining a skill instead of actually using equipment on live mock patients, as there are not many volunteers willing to have an interosseous (IO) device...

13 November, 2018