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Red Deer Emergency Services, Alberta celebrate paramedics

National Paramedic Services Week started Sunday
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‘We just can’t say enough good things about how they show up to work every day,’ says Red Deer Emergency Services deputy chief Tyler Pelke. (Advocate file photo)

Red Deerians can join those around the country in recognizing the work of paramedics this week.

This Sunday marked the beginning of National Paramedic Services Week, which Alberta Minister of Health Jason Copping calls “a time to recognize and thank the courageous women and men who respond to urgent and non-urgent medical calls every day, their families who support them and the families of fallen paramedics.”

“On the ground and in the sky, paramedics are highly trained health-care providers, known for their skills, dedication and compassion. They are usually the first health-care provider we meet on what could be our very worst day,” said Copping.

“The last two years have been particularly challenging for paramedics, dispatchers and emergency medical services personnel as a whole. Faced with a record number of calls for assistance, they have been stretched to their limits physically and mentally – but they always step up and provide exceptional care when Albertans need them most.”

Deputy chief Tyler Pelke, with Red Deer Emergency Services, said this week is a good opportunity to thank Red Deer’s local frontline heroes.

“I know there’s so much work they’ve done over the last number of years. We just can’t say enough good things about how they show up to work every day. Their (level of) caring and professionalism go above and beyond,” said Pelke.

“It’s a national week or recognition, but it’s great to take the opportunity to recognize (paramedics) locally. We also recognize we work with a ton of partners within the city – there are other paramedic agencies, including AHS. It’s a good time to recognize everybody, pause for a minute and celebrate them.”

Red Deer Emergency Services paramedics are trained to handle a wide variety of calls, Pelke said.

“The diversity of calls ranges from somebody who’s dealing with a mental health crisis to substance use issues to traumatic calls, that can be anything from car accidents to other traumatic incidents,” he said.

“It’s soup to nuts when it comes to what they do on any given day. On one call they could be helping somebody who’s having some tummy pain, and getting them the supports they need and helping them in the comfort of their home. Then on the next call they might be responding to a traumatic event. The work they do is quite diverse and they’re prepared for it all.”

Albertans can show appreciation for paramedics by sharing personal stories and gratitude at www.thankaparamedic.com.



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Sean McIntosh

About the Author: Sean McIntosh

Sean joined the Red Deer Advocate team in the summer of 2017. Originally from Ontario, he worked in a small town of 2,000 in Saskatchewan for seven months before coming to Central Alberta.
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