By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Northumberland County council was wowed by a demonstration provided by Northumberland Paramedics on the occasion of Paramedics Week.
Members of the service attended Wednesday’s meeting to demonstrate state-of-the-art lifesaving techniques and technology that Paramedics Chief Susan Brown noted can make that crucial difference in “the 10 to 15 minutes from the hospital to your home.”
The demonstration included a showing of the capabilities of a new automated hands-free device that enhances traditional CPR delivery and allows paramedics to perform their life-saving work in the most challenging of conditions.
“It’s like a portable hospital reaching out through the hills of Northumberland,” Councillor Mandy Martin said.
“It’s very, very impressive, and I think it reinforces the role the county is playing in terms of providing health services across the spectrum. I salute you all.”
Warden Brian Ostrander was amazed at how far things had come since he worked on a private ambulance service in the late 1980s.
“The leaps and bounds of what we are able to do from a paramedic point of view is astonishing,” Ostrander declared.
“It’s like having a tiny mobile emergency medical department at your fingertips. Really good work from a Northumberland County perspective on what we are doing for a large community with a broad rural area. Good work, everybody, and good work, council now and of the past, who have invested in these programs.”
“I think Northumberland Paramedics and Northumberland County excel at innovation and excellence, and this is a demonstration of that,” Brown commented.
Paramedics Week will conclude with a Saturday event, when a family-friendly celebration will take place at Cobourg’s Farmers Market. Visitors can tour the inside of an ambulance, meet local paramedics and learn more about their work.
Children are invited to bring a favourite stuffed animal for a check-up by the Northumberland Teddy Bear Support Team, as well as to enjoy the games and activities offered by EarlyON Child and Family Centres.
As a special treat, Ivy Joules (the paramedic therapy dog) and Terry the Traumasaurus (the paramedic mascot) will drop in from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for greetings and photo ops.
