It's Paramedic Services Week Coast to Coast and your chance to thank some of the front line workers who save lives and risk their's every day.

High River Primary Care Paramedic, Helene Hamilton, says the support they've been seeing from the community during the pandemic has really helped with their morale.

"We definitely appreciate the outpouring of support and love, generosity and appreciation from the community. It's been incredibly uplifting for us. The national theme this year, we've had to pivot a little bit as "Pandemic Paramedics on the Front Line." So, just acknowledging what's going on in the world today and the role we play on the front line of the pandemic."

Hamilton, says being a paramedic is a stressful job to begin with.

But it's made even more stressful by the thought of maybe bringing COVID-19 home.

"We have staff members who's spouses are immuno-compromised, or they have difficulties with other medical conditions that puts them at a higher risk for COVID. So those family members, some of which are staying in trailers on their drive-ways to try and keep their families safe during this time. It definitely takes a different toll than the constant go, go go of pre-pandemic services."

Hamilton says they usually have some local events to celebrate the week, but with COVID-19 they've moved them online this year.

You can find them on Twitter @ahs_ems and on Facebook @albertahealthservicesems.

If you'd like to leave specific feedback you can also go to thankaparamedic.com.

 

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