Paramedics Recognized on Province's First Medic Monday

People who have been hurt in a car crash, or called 911 for a loved one having a heart attack, know how important paramedics are.

That is why today, Sept. 30, has been designated Medic Monday in Nova Scotia, to recognize more than 800 highly skilled and compassionate paramedics across the province.

"Paramedics make treatment decisions based on limited information, under the greatest time pressure you can imagine," said Kevin McNamara, deputy minister of Health and Wellness. "Many patients owe their survival to a paramedic's skill and expertise."

"If you see a paramedic today, smile and say thank you. Their work matters to all of us, and we're very lucky to have them."

Last year, paramedics in Nova Scotia responded to more than 140,000 ambulance calls, driving a total of 12 million kilometres. Life Flight paramedics completed more than 600 missions.

Paramedics also worked thousands of hours at Collaborative Emergency Centres last year, ensuring there is emergency medical care available in rural areas.

Some paramedics provide care to seniors in nursing homes through the award-winning Extended Care Paramedic program. Others work in emergency rooms, or at the EHS Medical Communications Centre, helping to triage and direct colleagues to emergency calls.

"I'm proud to be a paramedic. We need to think critically, make decisions quickly, and be confident in those decisions," said Mike Janczyszyn, a primary care paramedic. "We work with other health-care professionals to make sure every patient is receiving the best care possible. This is why I love my job."

Last spring, MLAs unanimously voted to make the last Monday in September a day to recognize paramedics.

People interested in becoming a paramedic, can visit www.novascotia.ca/health/ehs/paramedics for more information.