July 21, 2022

PARAMEDICS RECEIVE GOV.-GEN. AWARDS FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

MUSKOKA — It’s a good thing paramedics aren’t tone deaf.

Because when they get that 911 “tone” calling them out they gotta go — and fast.

With emergency response requests up 25 per cent this summer — requiring almost two dozen seasonal hires — the need for speed can be life and death.

They have nine vehicles on the road daytime and seven overnight as they provide around the clock emergency coverage on 12-hour shifts.

Their peak load is between 10 a.m. and noon.

That’s important, especially when covering 4,000 sq.-kms. from MacTier to Dwight and Dorset, Gravenhurst to north of Huntsville.

Chief Jeff McWilliam says 87 per cent of calls are along the Hwy. 11 corridor in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville.

And the 130 health care professionals — most of them trained paramedics — responded to almost 7,000 calls last year.

Staff also pitched in at The Pines LTC providing 2,500 hours of care due to staffing shortages, according to an activity report in April.

All the wile being fully staffed 99 per cent of the time and continuing ongoing training and recruitment.

An awards ceremony at the Marriott Hotel in Gravenhurst Tuesday afternoon saw 24 central Ontario paramedics recognized for exceptional service in an event delayed by COVID. Five of them were from Muskoka. Photo MPS

That’s why Tuesday 24 paramedics from across Muskoka, Simcoe and the Chippewas of Rama were awarded the Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medals, recognizing their years of exceptional service.

The Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon was represented by Lt. Col Jean-Martin Brault, of Canadian Forces Base Borden, Tuesday afternoon at a presentation at the Marriott Hotel.

Those honoured were part of a group of Ontario-based paramedics who received this medal in 2020 and 2021, and due to COVID-19 restrictions, the traditional ceremony was delayed.

The Governor General’s Medal recipients achieved 20 years of exemplary service in emergency medical services — at least 10 of those years performing duties with potential risk. The Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal, created on July 7, 1994, recognizes professionals in the provision of pre-hospital emergency medical services to the public, who have performed their duties in an exemplary manner, characterized by good conduct, industry and efficiency.

Those recognized from Muskoka were commander Mark Verbeek and primary care paramedics Neil Hebb, Brian Steiger, Tarance Dybajlo and David Ramer.

MPS hired 20 new paramedics in May for the busy summer season and some may be retained in the fall depending on retirements and other staffing changes.

New paramedic recruits receive two years of college education and require 450 hours of training in the field with a senior paramedic to be fully qualified.

Overlapping paramedic shifts start at 6 a.m., 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

MPS is also experimenting with drone delivery of some services.

A report says they’ve partnered with Sunnybrook Base Hospital and Indro Robotics to evaluate the the feasability of using drones to deliver life-saving equipment/medications to difficult to reach areas of Muskoka.

The team has already tested delivery of an automated external defibrillator to several locations in west Muskoka and were continuing testing in late April at last report.

Potential test sites include golf courses, remote and island properties.

The District of Muskoka assumed full control of the Muskoka Paramedic Services in 2016 and receives 911 emergency calls from Muskoka Ambulance Communications Service, a private local company.

Paramedics are OPSEU union members.