14 May Don’t wait till it’s too late: Emergency care in the time of COVID

COVID-19 may have some people hesitating to seek medical attention when they need it. It is important to know that 911 services, paramedics and Emergency Departments are continuing to respond to medical emergencies. And if you need medical care, it is critical that you do not wait to seek help. When you need emergency care If you have the following symptoms, it’s important to seek care immediately, whether by calling 911 or getting to an Emergency Department on your own: Signs of...

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01 Oct Stroke: Brain Attack!

by Marika Listenmaa, Superintendent of Professional Standards for Superior North EMS. The ability to recognize the FAST signs of stroke and act fast by calling 9-1-1 or your local emergency number can mean the difference between life and death. It can also mean the difference between a full recovery and a lasting disability. When one thinks of paramedics and ambulances, the first thought associated is often “car accidents and heart attacks”. Paramedics want to bring the messaging forward that having a...

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02 Jul Thriving against the odds thanks to the swift response of Dufferin County Paramedic Services

When 20-year-old Brianna came home to Orangeville on a two-week break from college in Hamilton, she had no idea she wouldn’t be returning to school next semester. On May 11, 2019 Brianna woke in the middle of the night with discomfort in her stomach. Her mom, Mary-Jane, checked on her sensing something was wrong, and Brianna explained “I’m fine Mom - my stomach is just upset from the burgers we had last night.” Mary-Jane kissed her and went to work not...

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17 Jun EMS Behind the Scenes:  Compassion fatigue impacts us all

By Stuart McKinnon, Deputy Chief, Muskoka Paramedic Services. I am writing this while looking outside at one of our first sunny days of spring.  It’s funny how just a little sunshine and a break in the spring rain showers can heighted the mood of everyone around us.  Stay tuned….we will be complaining about the unrelenting heat in no time. It’s been a tough winter for first responders, dispatchers, and our friends at our nearby hospitals.  Emergency types haven’t changed though, as we’ve seen...

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10 Jun Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services Innovative Smart Glasses Technology

Paramedics are limited to voice communication when relaying medical information to receiving hospital emergency departments.  The ability to transfer data to and from hospitals or emergency operation centres is very limited.  In addition, paramedics are limited to bulky laptops in the ambulance for patient documentation.  This impacts patient care as the paramedic is not in continuous visual contact with the patient and is limited to the amount of medical information they can share.  There is no visual data being transmitted...

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