York Region paramedics share tips on handling emergencies

YorkRegion.com
June 2, 2014
By Simon Martin

What should you do when you or someone you’re with encounter a health emergency?

There’s no better person to ask than York Region Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief Norm Barrette.

He and paramedics were at the region’s EMS headquarters in East Gwillimbury Wednesday demonstrating what to do in case of a stroke, heart attack and allergic reactions as part of National Paramedic Services week.

“It’s important to take action quickly,” Barette said, adding in a majority of emergencies, time is of the essence. People often struggle with when to call 911. While it’s hard to have a tried and true rule of when to make the call, Barrette said any sudden or immediate change in a person’s prognosis can be a sign emergency help is needed.

The best advice he can give you? Be on the look out for chest pain or tightness, sudden pain, difficulty breathing, choking, sudden dizziness or vision problems.

After calling 911, there are several ways to help paramedics before they arrive but Barrette urges all residents to take a CPR course.

In the case of a heart attack in a public building, get someone to locate a defibrillator while you make the person calm and comfortable.

In the case of an allergic reaction, locating an EpiPen and defibrillator are good steps to take, he said.

Before an ambulance arrives, there are several things you can do to make it easier for paramedics to do their jobs.

Clear a path to the patient, turn on outside lights, clear the driveway and get the patient’s medication ready in a bag if necessary.

York Region’s 475 paramedics responded to more than 75,000 calls last year, resuscitated 123 patients and delivered 79 babies.

Last year, York Region EMS responded to more than 2,100 chest pain related calls, 727 strokes and 277 allergic reactions.