Paramedic Services Week is a time to show our gratitude and appreciation to the paramedics who work every day to keep us and our communities safe. According to the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada, the theme of Paramedic Services Week is “Faces of Paramedicine”.
This year, it will be celebrated in Canada from May 23 to 29.
In celebration of Paramedic Services Week, we featured local "Faces of Paramedicine".
Name: Daniel Kelly
How long have you been a medic?
This is my sixth year working as a paramedic with Weyburn EMS.
What do you view as your most important responsibility?
Communication is key when it comes to EMS. Great communication skills with your partner will make every 911 call go as smooth as possible. When it comes to patients and their families, explaining everything clearly will help them process the situation and will usually calm even the most stressful situations.
What’s your favourite community interaction?
Being a bigger part of our community is something Weyburn EMS have been trying to achieve over the last year or two which is a big part of the reason we decided to be a part of Paramedics with Heart. We plan on doing a lot more within our community in the future as we grow our chapter. We’ve been lucky enough to be able to play some practice games with Weyburn’s local Special Olympics floor hockey team, as well as the local All Abilities soccer team. They always put up a strong fight but I love the challenge and the chance to make a few new memories.
Why did you choose EMS?
It’s a little cheesy, but I’ve always known I wanted to be able to help people when they needed it the most. I actually shadowed a doctor in high school through a Saskatchewan program, but it wasn’t quite what I was looking for. My high school guidance counselor then mentioned EMS as an option. I thought about it for a while and went for some ride-alongs with my local paramedics and knew as soon as I got there that this was what I was meant to do.
