Ride along on a (long) day in the life of two Ottawa paramedics

[guest]

The Ottawa Paramedic Service took to Twitter Wednesday to give the public a digital ride-along on the noon-to-midnight shift with a pair of veteran first responders.

Paramedics Krista and Julie’s day on the road including caring for a three-year-old boy who inhaled smoke in a kitchen fire (and rewarded them with hugs) and treating an 80-year-old man with a suspected heart attack. Meanwhile, they crisscrossed the city, waited with patients for hospital beds and caught up on paperwork — so much paperwork.

After six hours, a break is cut short by a call after 10 minutes.

Supt. Marc-Antoine Deschamps, the service’s spokesman, documented the pair’s May 18 shift to give the public a beyond the headlines look at what paramedics do every day.

“You see the big calls on the news but you don’t see what their day looks like,” Deschamps said. “It’s important that the public sees all the things that happen behind the scenes.”

Paramedics are there for injuries and illnesses that don’t make the 6 p.m. news, but for those individuals — a family fleeing a kitchen fire or an elderly person having a heart attack — “for that person, it’s the worst day of their lives.”

Paramedic Services Week wraps up June 2.

Today we will follow Krista and Julie who have been paramedics for 18 and 20 years respectively. They have been partners for 7 years now. Their shift is noon to midnight but we will start a bit earlier. Stay tuned! #PSW2018. pic.twitter.com/NJtirPXjrF

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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Noon: Their shift starts with a briefing from Superintendents Lynne & Ken about changes in data management and backup cameras. Today 6 other ambulances and 2 response units start with them at noon. pic.twitter.com/RKDenoxI4b

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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12:10

Krista & Julie are getting ready to deploy, retrieving their controled medications and proceeding to their assigned vehicle for the day

Krista et Julie se préparent à partir, obtenant leurs médicaments controlés et se dirigeant vers leur véhicule pour le quart. #PSW2018 pic.twitter.com/HZrgz5scyM

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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Before leaving for their shift, paramedics must logon to the ambulance’s computer and complete a quick inspection of the vehicle.

Avant de partir pour leur quart, les paramédics doivent se connecter aux ordinateurs du véhicule et compléter une inspection de l’équipement. pic.twitter.com/kikofXAuf8

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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12:17

Here we go! A quick test of the emergency systems and they are assigned a stand-by location in Ottawa east-end.

C’est parti! Un rapide test des systèmes d’urgence et elles sont assignées à un point d’attente dans l’est d’Ottawa. #PSW2018 pic.twitter.com/gWwEoCXZ3a

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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12:27

First emergency call of the day: Stand-by for a working fire at a high rise building near Canterbury and Arch. Paramedics respond with @ottfire to support their interventions and care for patients. #PSW2018 pic.twitter.com/JvSZmmvHNe

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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3 patients have sustained smoke inhalation from a stove fire. They are evaluated in the ambulance and their carbon monoxide levels are assessed with a special device. None is detected and all 3 refused to be transported. A brave 3yo boy gave hugs to both medics before leaving. pic.twitter.com/7LBesgiSo9

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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13:36

It might take the entire shift to catch up the paperwork from this call. For now, out to our base in Vanier.

Il va sans doute falloir le reste du quart pour rattraper la documentation de cet appel… Pour le moment, en route pour notre base à Vanier. pic.twitter.com/D7DGQNEian

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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13:56

High priority call at retirement residence near Montreal Rd. Male 80s with chest pain and heart problems.

Appel de haute priorité dans une résidence pour aînés. Homme 80s avec douleurs thoraciques et problèmes cardiaques. #PSW2018 pic.twitter.com/j0hGiw6Fxx

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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Krista and Julie proceed to assess the patient. Given his symptoms, they initiate a diagnostic ECG and exclude a serious heart attack called a STEMI. Still concerned with his heart, they begin treatment with aspirine and nitroglycerin. Transport is initiated to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/fUP01lBrTe

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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During the 2 minute transport, Krista initiate an intravenous access and advises the hospital they are on the way. Once there, report is given and the patient is quickly assigned a bed. #PSW2018 pic.twitter.com/HhA75xUywX

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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After each call, the ambulance must be put back in a ready state. No time for a break, Julie and Krista are assigned another call for a lady that fell and sustained a head injury. It is now 15:30. #PSW2018 pic.twitter.com/dmJa5kQlTy

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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An elderly female fell, fractured her nose and her jaw. Her neck is immobilized and transport is initiated to the hospital.

Une femme du 3ème âge est tombée et s’est fracturée le nez et la mâchoire. Son cou est immobilisé et elle est transportée à l’hôpital. pic.twitter.com/NzRr9X5Wnv

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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Julie gives her report to triage but no beds are available. She uses that time for a coffee, documentation and she meets an old student who was just hired with us. #PSW2018 pic.twitter.com/mzsZxrdBE1

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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17:30

After an hour of waiting, a bed becomes available. Krista cleans up the stretcher and they are back on the road to Gladstone Base.

Après une heure, un lit devient disponible. Krista lave la civière et elles repartent sur la route. Destination: La base de Gladstone. pic.twitter.com/Pp3KCajmJ0

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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18:00

The crew arrives at Gladstone Base where they enjoy a kitchenet and a resting area for… 10 minutes…

L’équipe arrive à la base de Gladstone avec une cuisinette et divans pour… 10 minutes… pic.twitter.com/b4NsfAKUEb

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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18:10

A Paramedic Response Unit requested transport on a low priority in Kanata after an elderly woman almost lost consciousness in a store.

Une unité premier-répondant requiert un transport dans un magasin à Kanata pour une femme âgées ayant perdu conscience. pic.twitter.com/BLJpLcIHDf

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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Chantale packs up here gear and our crew heads to an hospital in the west with their patient.

Chantale ramasse son équipement et notre équipe se dirige vers un hôpital de l’ouest avec leur patiente. pic.twitter.com/REfIXvuj6d

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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Once at the hospital, there is a 1 hour delay for triage. Operations Superintendent Mark is on site to speed up the process. Julie and Krista make the best of that time by multi-tasking food, documentation and dispatch update. #PSW2018 pic.twitter.com/97Y8Ce4JD6

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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After one hour, Krista can give report to triage and their patient gets a bed right after, allowing Mark to head to another hospital.

Après une heure, Krista peut donner son rapport et leur patient a un lit immédiatement, permettant à Mark de se diriger vers un autre hôpital. pic.twitter.com/seCoTQpU9k

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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8:30 Short hop to our station in Bells Corners where they can catch-up on documentation until a call comes in before 9:00. A child suffered a head injury and his parents took him to an adult hospital. Our crew is tasked with transferring the patient to the Children Hospital. pic.twitter.com/kxCHyFh9Lb

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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22:30

Arrived at the Children Hospital, they offload their patient shortly after triage and meet Dominique and Raphael. The shift is almost over.

Arrivées à l’hôpital pour enfants, elles ont un lit après le triage et rencontre Dominique et Raphael. Le quart tire à sa fin. pic.twitter.com/fxgGPI2uwT

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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22:45

Julie and Krista are at Industrial Base. Time to refuel 4156, eat a snack and complete their documentation while they await the four digit code instructing them to go back to home base. 23:30, dispatch calls: 10-19, time to go home. pic.twitter.com/DgAMNirQq4

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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23:40

Finally at HQ! Time to unpack 4156 & relax with the other medics. They even get to enjoy home baked cookies made by Sarah.

Finalement au QG! Nos paramédics récupèrent leur équipement & relaxent avec les autres médics. Elles profitent également des biscuits de Sarah. pic.twitter.com/k9UVOWu2jZ

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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Midnight: The shift is over. Our crew is going home for 12 hours of rest. Thank you for all of you who participated in our ride-along!

Minuit: Le quart est fini. Notre équipe rentre à la maison pour 12 heures de repos. Merci à tout ceux qui ont participé à notre stage! pic.twitter.com/eaBWBgNEcj

— Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) May 30, 2018
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