When it comes to serious incidents and first responders, we are often quick to thank those in roles that remain on the scene for a lengthier period and fall short on thanking the men and woman who in many cases are the ones to keep individuals alive.

With this week being National Paramedic Services Week (May 26-June 1), there is no better time to thank our Cochrane members who perform lifesaving skills, often, daily. 

Stuart Brideaux, AHS EMS Calgary Zone Public Education Officer, shares this year's theme is 'Celebrating the Successes' and communities from coast to coast will celebrate all individuals who work as a paramedic. "It is a nationally recognized week in celebration of the paramedic profession regardless of the amount of training you have to work in an ambulance or whether you are 911 staff who work on the communication side."

The Town of Cochrane has two ambulances running in the community and sometimes more if extra resources are available, says Brideaux. "Some of our staff are residents of our town, and some of our casual staff are residents that go out to Cochrane to work. However, all our staff has gained an excellent familiarity with the town and all of the surrounding area, and also work in a very close partnership with Cochrane Fire as well as the local RCMP detachment."

Brideaux shares Alberta Health Services certainly recognizes the efforts and roles of Cochrane paramedics as it is a unique section of the zone. Not being too far from the Calgary metro area, our local medics can also be called out to assist with calls in NW Calgary, Kananaskis, Stoney Nokada, Banff Park, as well as other wilderness areas. "At many times our Cochrane staff can be found on extended backcountry rescues, water rescues, Search and Rescue operations, and other things that are unique to working in that rural environment, yet still being based out of the Town of Cochrane."

With often being the first ones on the scene and the first to depart,  it may appear as though paramedics are sometimes a thankless entity. "We recognize that many more of our serious or critical calls involve multi-agencies, almost always RCMP and Fire. We also recognize our role is to arrive quickly and leave quickly, so we are often off the scene by the time media may be arriving or even recognize what is going on, EMS doesn't stick around. We know that we are often not front and centre at an emergency scene and we recognize that that is our role as an extension of health care in the field, but certainly, we are appreciative anytime people take the time to thank us."

The stress of working as a paramedic can definitely take its toll, says Brideaux, but in his opinion, there have been many successes over time when it comes to safeguarding members mental health. "From various levels like our longstanding critical incidence stress debriefing team to now having our PAWS (Psychological and Wellness Support) program, and well as having some professional mental health staff now on retainer to help with that support. More and more it is becoming acceptable for people to recognize that a mental health injury can be a reality on this job, but we have had more folks step up and receive help and return to work in a healthy way thanks to a much more advanced reintegration."

As far as showing appreciation to Cochrane paramedics, Brideaux shares there are a few ways, we, as a community, can do this. "If you have had a positive interaction we are happy to receive individual notices of thanks. If you see local paramedics out and about in the Town of Cochrane, give them a wave, tell them hi, tell them 'Happy National Paramedic Services Week' and we appreciate what we do, and we are happy to receive that thanks."

In the Town of Cochrane, approximately thirteen of our full-time firefighters, as well as multiple casual members, are also trained as paramedics. 

To learn more about National Paramedic Services Week, go HERE or leave a note of thanks by heading to https://www.thankaparamedic.com