Superior North EMS
Proudly Serving the People of the District of Thunder Bay
Third Quarter 2003 Volume 1, Issue 3
Visit our web site
www.SuperiorNorthEMS.com
Director’s Corner
Individual Highlights:
Director’s Corner
.................................... 1, 8
Manager’s Desk
Western...................2-3
Eastern....................... 4
Save Recognition .......... 5
EMS Football .............6-7
Awards .......................... 9
Poem ............................ 11
Staff on the Move...12-13
Word Search Puzzle ... 16
Lighter Side............20-21
Final Thought ............. 22
Ideas are like rabbits.
You get a couple and
learn how to handle
them, and pretty soon
you have a dozen.
“The New Normal” - Just a
new Buzzword, or Are you
sure you still want to be a
paramedic?
Everyone has heard those
words in the past six months,
but if you’re like me, you
probably assumed the “new
normal” part was not really
applicable to our regions.
After all, we are so remote
and isolated, that “these
types of events” just don’t
happen in the North. We did
not have a SARS case or
terrorist attack anywhere
close to us. On October 1315, 2003, I attended the
annual meeting of the
Association of Municipal
Emergency Medical Services
of Ontario and came back
with one sad realization.
Perhaps, we have not
encountered SARS up close
or a terrorist act, but now,
odds are, that most of us will
confront such an event
before ending our careers . I
came back from these
sessions shaken by the
information presented.
the first time, many of us
found out that the expert
panel was more of an
“oxymoron”
as
one
speaker put it.
How
could
they
call
themselves expert when
in reality, they did not
know the mode of
transmission,
the
incubation period, the
nature of the organisms,
all of the symptoms, the
treatment and most of all,
the origin. This panel
was
assembled
immediately in a large
city that has all of the
best medical resources of
the province at its
disposal. I shudder to
think of the consequences
if that first carrier had
returned from Hong
Kong to Thunder Bay
versus Toronto.
How
long
before
the
symptoms would have
triggered the questions
the “experts” posed when
we
have
limited
resources
to
such
situations?
Three sessions in particular
left us all with a cold chill
down the spine. The first
Paramedics
were
extremely well praised by
Dr. Young and many
other speakers.
They
were true heroes. We
heard this over and over.
Paramedics had to work
under the least amount of
controls
with
uncomfortable equipment
facing many unknowns.
Three of them became
very ill and one has still
not returned to full
duties. This hit home.
For the first time that I
can recall, paramedics in
large numbers faced a
common threat and under
extreme
conditions,
served the public.
Continued on Page 8
The Scoop
Page 2 of 22
Western Region - Manager’s Desk
Wayne Gates
WAYNE GATES
[email protected]
As I write this letter at the
change of seasons, it
causes me to reflect on the
change paramedics have
experienced over the
years. When I first started
in EMS in 1986 we had
state of the art patient care
equipment such as soft
donut
collars,
Flynn
ventilators, short spine
boards, 12 ft. straps, sand
bags, and the good old
AS5A call report that was
filled out in pencil (just
tick off the boxes)! Today
we have rigid collars,
disposable BVM, KED,
quick connect straps,
speed
blocks,
defibrillators, medications,
and the list goes on and
on. The biggest change I
have seen is the pride
paramedics now take in
their profession. The old
days of the dreaded words
“ambulance driver” are
not often heard anymore.
Now when you arrive on
scene we hear the words
“the paramedics are here”
and people stand back to
see what magic they will
work. We have managed
to achieve this type of
recognition because of
the hard work that “you”,
the paramedics, have
done in the communities
we serve. Community
relations,
education,
media recognition, and
the professional way you
conduct yourselves have
been the building blocks
that have allowed us to
progress to where we are
today.
As we continue to
educate the public I am
pleased to announce the
new paramedic units
(ambulance) makeover.
As you can see from the
picture “paramedic” is
now the dominating word
on our new ambulances.
Thunder Bay will be
receiving a new center
mount stretcher vehicle.
A survey will be
conducted in the near
future asking staff to
provide feedback on this
new unit (pros & cons).
More types of these units
will be ordered in the
future depending on the
feedback.
We have seen numerous
improvements, both in
labour relations and
patient care equipment.
Some of our goals for the
next year are to find
appropriate
accommodations
to
replace
the
Roland
station, increasing the
staffing hours in the rural
stations, and the training
of more Advanced Care
Paramedics. These tasks
will be challenging, but
we will continue to move
forward, although not
always as quickly as we
would like.
I would like to welcome
Bill
Lewis,
Rural
Supervisor,
Western
Region, back to our
organization. Most of
you know Bill from when
he was working in our
region in 2001 as a
paramedic and clinical
coordinator with Base
Hospital.
Bill then
decided to change his
roots and went to the
dark
side
[another
district] to assume a role
in management. After
gaining
valuable
experience Bill saw the
light and has returned to
J
the
good
side
Welcome back BILL!
Continued on Next Page
The Scoop
Continued from Page 2
The I-Medic program is
still a work in progress.
We had hoped to have all
the
Thunder
Bay
Paramedics fully trained
this fall, however, there
has been some issues in
obtaining the hardware
for the project and
therefore we will not
likely have things up and
running until the New
Year. We currently have
eight paramedics trained
on the explorer tablets
and have equipped two
ambulances with docking
stations. We are still in a
trial and error stage
regarding the mounting
of the vehicle docking
station so please provide
any
feedback
or
suggestions to your shift
supervisor or myself.
Another project that will
be up and running by the
New Year will be the
Page 3 of 22
Automatic
Vehicle
Locator System (AVL).
The City of Thunder Bay
will have their fleet of
vehicles on this new
system by 2004 including
all urban EMS vehicles.
The AVL allows for the
instant location of any
unit via an Internet site
and will help assist
dispatchers send the
closest
unit
to
emergencies. The system
has been in use in
southern Ontario for a
few years now, and now
the
technology
is
available for the City of
Thunder Bay.
In my new role as
manager for the Western
Region, I would like to
thank all the paramedics
for the support you have
given me over the past
years. I would also like
to thank the office staff,
Sherry and Lee Ann for
View of an ambulance equipped with an I-Medic
docking station.
their help, support, and
patience as I learn my
way through this new
administrative system.
In closing I would like to
extend a special thank
you to Helen Letourneau
and Tuula Maunula.
When I first took on the
role of Quality Assurance
and Training, Helen was
very supportive and kept
me on track.
As
everyone in both the East
and West Region knows,
Tuula
became
my
administrative
support
person starting in 2003.
She always arrives to
work with a cheerful
smile and will regularly
try to find the good and
positive in any situation
we may have been
dealing with.
COMMANDMENTS FOR AN ENTHUSIASTIC TEAM
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Help each other be right – not wrong.
Look for ways to make new ideas work – not for the reasons they won’t.
The rock that is an
If in doubt – check it out! Don’t make negative assumptions about each other.
obstacle in the path of
Help each other win and take pride in each other’s victories.
one person becomes a
Speak positively about each other and about your organization at every opportunity.
stepping stone in the
Maintain a positive mental attitude no matter what the circumstance.
path of another.
Act with initiative and courage as if it all depends on you.
Do everything with enthusiasm – it’s contagious.
Whatever you want – give it away.
Don’t lose faith – never give up.
Attitude is a little thing that makes
Have fun!
a BIG difference!
Page 4 of 22
The Scoop
Eastern Region - Manager’s Desk
Paul Charbonneau
Two interesting things
happened recently that
have
me
pondering
learning.
I had the
opportunity to meet an
old colleague, who had
been
my
original
instructor when I joined
Toronto Ambulance in
the ancient times. We
reminisced about how,
after only four weeks
training, we were on the
“cars” and racing around
the city “saving” lives.
We discussed how that
four weeks of training
was wholly inadequate
and that in reality it was
the street school of
ambulance that made us
the paramedics we were
to become. On the street,
we learned the “whys”.
It was up to us to find the
answers.
The second
thing
was
the
announcement of the
opening of the new
Lifelong Learning Centre
at Lakehead University
last
week.
The
philosophy behind this
centre is not to be
focused
on
degree
granting programs but
programs of interest to
the life and well being of
all ages.
How are these two
connected?
Well, it
made me realize that all
the learning I did in
Toronto, either on the
street or during upgrade
training by the service,
was part of my lifelong
learning and part of what
made me a professional.
As a profession, and as
individual professionals,
we have an obligation to
our clients and ourselves
to participate in the
lifelong learning process.
HOW TO BECOME A LIFELONG LEARNER
1.
START WITH YOUR ATTITUDE
2.
ASK QUESTIONS
3.
JOIN OTHERS
4.
CHECK OUT THE OTHER SIDE
5.
READ BROADLY
6.
KEEP A JOURNAL
7.
EXPERIMENT
PAUL CHARBONNEAU
[email protected]. on.ca
This makes us the best
we need to be. That
lifelong learning will be
new courses we take to
challenge us however,
just as importantly the
reviewing and renewing
of our present skill sets.
How many of us have
taken
a
piece
of
equipment, that we have
not used in a long time,
out of the unit and
practiced its application?
How many of us have
questioned why a client
was presenting a certain
way and, not knowing the
reason why, researched
the situation when we
returned to the station?
How many of us wonder
why?
Research,
in
books,
journals, and on the
internet,
practice
of
skills, and questioning of
other professionals helps
us be the professional we
should be. Quest for
knowledge, knowledge is
power. We can increase
our power to care.
ARE
YOU
THE
PROFESSIONAL YOU
ARE CAPABLE OF
BEING?
WEB SITE LINKS
Lakehead University
www.lakeheadu.ca
Confederation College
www.confederationc.on.ca
Ministry of Education
www.edu.gov.on.ca
Thunder Bay Public Library
www.tbpl.thunder-bay.on.ca
Merriam-Webster On-line
The Scoop
Page 5 of 22
Save Recognition Awards
Submitted by: Norm Gale
“It is in helping others up that we,
ourselves, are truly elevated.”
January 13, 2002
Jim Claridge
Bryan Hannula
February 26, 2002
Rob Plummer
Melanie Bonfiglio
(l-r) Elaine Graham, Ian Moorfield, Marika Listenmaa,
Melanie Bonfiglio, Dr Affleck, Kevin Paradis, Tanis Auld, Pat Dixon,
Councillor Ken Whent, Gord MacCabe, Brian Schenk, Kristie Hulse,
Bryan Hannula
Eighteen Thunder Bay paramedics have received official
recognition of their efforts in saving lives in Thunder
Bay. These paramedics were recognized because of their
direct role in resuscitating nine people. Base Hospital
describes a successful resuscitation as a patient who was
discharged from hospital with no cognitive impairment
and a comparable standard of living who was VSA at
one point. Both Base Hospital and Superior North EMS
provided official recognition at a ceremony on
September 4, 2003. Acting Mayor Ken Whent (City
Councillor) made the presentations.
May 20, 2002
Elaine Graham
Marikka Listenmaa
June 28, 2002
Gord Conrad
Ian Moorfield
August 25, 2002
Kevin Paradis
Ernie Kadikoff
Chester Andraka
Kristie Hulse
February 13, 2003
Gord MacCabe
Pat Dixon
We at Superior North EMS are proud of all of the efforts
of our paramedics working under extraordinary
circumstances and are very happy with the positive
results.
March 11, 2003
Gord Conrad
Tanis Auld
March 25, 2003
Peter Heithorn
Brian Schenk
July 14, 2003
Kevin Paradis
Brian Schenk
Left
Far
Kristie Hulse in presentation
line accepting her award.
Page 6 of 22
The Scoop
The EMS Football
Keeping Superior North EMS Safe
As most of you know,
The Football, its official
name is unknown, is a
secure
package
that
contains the necessary
Gold Codes, or nuclear
launch codes, the U.S.
President’s
Decision
Book, which details
nuclear strike options
available to the President,
a secure SATCOM radio
and handset. It follows
the President wherever he
goes and is never more
that a few steps from his
side. A military officer
carries the Football and
undergoes the nation's
most rigorous security
background
check,
"Yankee White".
Superior North EMS has
its
own
“Situation
Football”.
In early
2003, once a districtwide
Duty
Officer
System
was
implemented, it was
recognized that situations
could
occur
when
immediate response by a
senior manager would be
crucial to the decision
being made. Due to the
long
distances
and
sporadic
cell
phone
coverage available in
many areas of Northern
Ontario, a Sat Cell
portable
phone
was
purchased while on sale
at half price. A prepaid
card is bought each year
to ensure that regardless
of location, a member of
the Superior North EMS
management team is on
duty 24/7.
Each month, a ritual
takes place where the
“Football” is passed on
to the next “D.O.” for
the
coming
month.
Although a schedule is
posted, the exact date of
the transfer is up to the
two
individuals
to
coordinate.
In the
meantime, depending on
location, the D.O. with
the “Football” may
agree to continue with
the role of D.O. until the
“Football” can be safely
transferred
to
the
incoming D.O.
The phone is normally
only turned on to make
outgoing calls and can be
charged on 120 or 12 volt
systems.
It can also
receive calls like a
regular phone. It must be
outside to function. All
supervisors, management
secretaries,
CACC,
MOH-LTC field office
staff and the Chief
Administrative Officer of
the City of Thunder Bay
have been provided with
the paging code to
satellite pagers carried by
the director and three
managers. Each take a
turn being Superior North
EMS duty officer on a
rotating monthly basis.
Even when off duty,
managers carry their
satellite pagers at all
Close-up of the Nuclear Football, on display at the
Smithsonian Institute
times but only the Duty
Officer will respond to
pages for the D.O.
As recently as September
29, the sat cell phone was
used in the Nakina area
when the City of Thunder
Bay clerk’s office needed
to confirm wording on an
EMS by-law going to
council that evening.
Despite being in regular
cell
range,
the
connections kept failing.
Out comes the “Situation
Football”
and
the
wording is confirmed in
time for the noon
deadline so that a special
council
meeting
scheduled
for
that
evening to approve the
new Geraldton station
goes ahead as planned.
This system ensures that
a rapid response to any
situation from a senior
EMS manager can be
achieved from anywhere
in Ontario, regardless of
the remoteness. Contrary
to reports, the “EMS
Situation Football” is
not handcuffed to the
D.O. and as a matter of
fact, neither is the
American one either.
Having
said
that,
Superior North EMS
managers have not lost
their “Football” unlike
President Clinton in
1999. Now if we could
only sort out the nuclear
codes that came with the
kit….
The Scoop
Page 7 of 22
"Individual commitment to a group effort — that
is what makes a team work, a company work, a
society work, a civilization work."
Vince Lombardi
"Coming together is a beginning, staying together
is progress, and working together is success."
Henry Ford
"When he took time to help the man up the
mountain, lo, he scaled it himself."
Tibetan Proverb
Jocelyn Bourgoin passing the “The Football” to Wayne Gates for the
month of October 2003
"A group becomes a team when all members are
sure enough of themselves and their contributions
to praise the skill of others."
Anonymous
Guinness World Record
City of Thunder Bay Council presented the Guinness World Record Certificate to the
Thunder Bay Paramedics at the September 22, 2003 Committee of the Whole meeting.
In April 2003, Thunder Bay Paramedics established a new Guinness World Record for
the longest hockey game ever played, and in so doing raised over $39,000 for Trauma
Services at Thunder Bay Regional Hospital. The game lasted for 92 hours, besting the
previous record of 80 hours by 12 hours.
Over 80 volunteers were required for the event, and support from the community in the
form of services was significant, all without which the event could not have succeeded.
Paramedics who were not playing dedicated their time in the form of volunteering at the
game and/or in working shifts for those who were playing. The 40 players consisted of
paramedics, police officers, customs agents, and others who resolved to crush the existing
world record, regardless of the size of the challenge.
Thunder Bay's Paramedics continue to work with Thunder Bay Regional Hospital to raise
funds to support the region's trauma services.
Members of the Organizing Committee, Mr. Norm Gale, Ms. Terri Hrkac - Thunder Bay
Regional Hospital, CJ Miller, Randy Oleski, Chester Andraka, Don Lemieux,
Marika Listenmaa, Steve Zulauf, and Pat Dixon were on hand to receive the award.
"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together."
Vincent Van Gogh
Page 8 of 22
Continued from Page 1
The image of this
profession was at the
forefront of the battle.
Despite the unknown, the
possible risks to family
and close ones and also
to self, these paramedics
continued to show up to
work and move these
patients without knowing
for sure they would
remain healthy. At times
like these, when a group
of individuals is facing
an unknown enemy, to
have them continue the
battle to the best of their
abilities and with much
doubt as to the final
outcome is the making of
true heroes.
The
paramedics involved in
this situation proved
themselves
to
the
members of the SARS
control group.
The second presentation
was
much
more
worrisome.
Paul
Maniscalco's presentation
on terrorism had a
chilling effect on the
group. As a well-known
author, EMT-P, and
current terrorism analyst
for the U.S. government,
he
was
extremely
knowledgeable of the
potential of threat to both
the U.S. and Canada. His
message was clear; there
are many more attacks
being planned and some
will be carried out.
Canada has many groups
intent on creating chaos
in our society. Islamists
are only one such group.
The Scoop
Skin heads, Neo Nazis,
KKK, and many other
groups including some
religious in nature have
plans of causing major
disruption to our society.
Many such plots have
been uncovered but the
law of numbers dictates
that eventually, some will
be successful.
Interestingly,
while
writing this article, I
received
an
email
regarding an article in
The Toronto Star of a
plot for a dirty bomb
being worked on in
Hamilton. Since then we
all heard of the El Al
flight being potentially
threatened with a surface
to air missile. We also
just heard in the media
that the Great Lakes offer
good targets to attacks.
Fortress America is not
accustom to terrorist
attacks on our continent,
but the time is coming
when we will be forced
to adapt to such events on
a more routine basis.
Being in a remote
community will not
preclude us from facing
the consequences of these
events. The North has
always been an attractive
hiding place for those at
odds with society. This
new breed won’t be any
different. Although we
may not be direct targets,
we may very well be
holding areas subject to
“accidents”.
The risk for a major
event to hit our area in
the next five to ten years
is probably better than
average. Whether it is a
flu pandemic, a new
infectious disease, or an
intentional
Multiple
Casualty Incident (MCI),
we need to be better
prepared.
As
paramedics, we must be
able to respond with
knowledge
and
commitment
to
the
people we serve.
In
doing so, we also
contribute to the making
of our profession. In the
coming year, we will find
out more about how to
protect ourselves in these
circumstances.
Many
paramedics will need to
gauge the risks of
protecting
themselves
against the risks of
bringing home diseases
that may harm their loved
ones. Others may decide
the Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) or new
immunizations
made
available are not enough
and choose to change
career. Regardless, we
will need to make these
decisions and live by the
consequences.
An example of this
impact, is that if I was on
the front lines doing
regular patient care, I
would have to shave my
beard, yup, the same one
paramedics have raised
thousands of dollars to
shave off in the past five
years. You all know how
dear it is to me but I just
could not live with
myself if I became
infected because of a
poor fitting mask and
brought this home to my
family. This is part of
the “New Normal”. We
must be more vigilant to
protect ourselves.
Thunder
Bay
Fire
Department has been
designated as one of the
new Chemical Biological
Radiological
Nuclear
(CBRN)
depots
in
Ontario.
I recently
attended
a
training
exercise with the Ontario
Fire Marshall (OFM) and
the
new
CBRN
firefighters. Again, EMS
will have a key role with
this group and as such,
we need to be at the
table.
Norm Gale
represents us on the
planning committee for
the City of Thunder Bay.
We can expect to be
more involved in all
planning on such matters.
In the coming year,
Superior North EMS will
try to provide up-to-date
information and training
to better protect the
paramedics in light of
these new threats. There
is a “New Normal” and
we all need to learn more
about it before it reaches
us.
The Scoop
Page 9 of 22
Awards
Submitted by: Jocelyn Bourgoin
Paramedics are a strange
breed indeed….
For
many
years,
paramedics have decried
their perceived lower
status in the hierarchy of
Emergency Services. We
decry our lack of media
exposure and yet many
paramedics will pass on
stories of the good old
days when they smashed
cameras from people who
took pictures at accident
scenes or at least berated
them.
No one ever
returned media calls and
then we wondered why
they did not know our
names?
We complained that we
did not get proper
recognition or medals
etc. as Police and Fire
regularly did.
I’m
pleased to say all of this
is changing and changing
quickly. The Governor
General’s
Exemplary
Service medal is now
well established and I am
pleased
that
Paul
Charbonneau
and
Huguette Marchak have
been the 2003 recipients.
Congratulations to you
both. The Association of
Emergency
Medical
Services
of
Ontario
(AMEMSO) of which I
am a director has also
reactivated the McNally
Award and at our last
meeting we approved a
plan to issue long service
medals. This year, Jeff
Aiken of Manitouwadge
was the recipient of the
McNally Bravery Award.
I must admit that with all
the
pomp
and
circumstances of these
events, I am still a bit
uncomfortable, but I’m
sure the first time police
officers or fire chiefs
held such events that they
wondered too if this was
a bit like tooting your
own horn. After one
hundred years of them
doing it, one can see the
result in their standing in
society. EMS is still in
its infancy but we are
catching on very quickly
as to how best to present
our profession to our
customers.
We at Superior North
EMS have also identified
the need to recognize our
staff and have instituted
our own awards. One of
my early goals was to
ensure the good deeds of
our staff be recognized
locally as well as
provincially,
and
if
possible nationally. We
are succeeding. I would
remind all staff to
nominate people you
think are deserving of our
award system. If you are
unsure of the criteria,
check them out at
www.SuperiorNorthEMS
.com The time has come
for this profession to be
recognized, so if it
happens to you, be proud,
don’t be intimidated by
all the fancy uniforms,
medals, bagpipes, and
long speeches; you are a
deserving
professional
and you are finally being
recognized as such.
Enjoy
and
congratulations to our
2003 recipients.
Huguette Marchak and
Paul Charbonneau
being presented with
the Governor
General’s Exemplary
Service medals by
Major General
Richard Rohmer, the
most decorated
Canadian in history.
Jeff Aiken is presented the McNally
Award for Bravery by Debbie
Zimmerman
Page 10 of 22
The Scoop
Remote Paramedic Program
Submitted by: Dave Wilson
Amanda Redgrift of the
Nakina Station, SNEMSGreenstone attends class
remotely
using
a
telconveaner on loan
from Contact North in
Nakina.
SNEMSGreenstone currently has
10 medics attending the
paramedic
program
remotely either at their
local station, or directly
at the Contact North site.
instructors, as well an
electronic
blackboard
displayed on the remote
computer.
Courses are delivered
over a telephone line and
use a combination of
interactive voice between
classmates
and
Amanda
and
her
classmates
anticipate
completing the four-year
course in 2005.
Typically
students
complete
course
requirements
by
a
combination of on-line
classes, personal study,
class
presentations,
written and practical
examinations.
More about Superior North EMS Technology
Submitted by: Jocelyn Bourgoin
For many years, students
in the North have been
accustomed to receiving
portions of their education
using the Contact North
network. The system has
progressed tremendously
since
Confederation
College first introduced
the
Ambulance
and
Emergency Care Program
via Distance Education.
When it first started in
1978-79, students would
receive copied pages from
a textbook along with
audiocassettes of taped
lectures. No interactive
CDs back then! Imagine
learning your A & P from
photocopied black and
white sheets of thermal
type paper. By the way,
the scars on my eyelids
came
from
sticking
toothpicks in them to
remain
awake
while
listening
to
those
audiocassettes.
Years later, I found out I
was the first EMCA to
graduate from this system
in Ontario. I also taught
the program for nine years
using some of the
technology. Few would
appreciate how difficult it
is for our instructors and
students to obtain their
EMCA. The fact that so
many have overcome
these obstacles is a
testament to the North’s
endurance
to
adapt,
improvise, and overcome.
Times have changed and
in some stations, students
either go to a nearby
learning centre or, as in
Amanda’s
case,
the
equipment is set up at the
EMS station to make it
easier for her to attend
classes while covering the
base.
These large
equipment
boxes
on
wheels include a quality
interactive live audio feed,
display terminal, writing
pad to write notes on for
the instructor to see etc.
As bandwidth increases in
remote communities, the
internet will become the
medium of the future to
further
enhance
the
learning experience of
paramedics. Discussions
are underway to locate an
emergency training centre
in Thunder Bay which
would be wired for high
tech communications that
would reach out to each
community to educate
police, paramedics and
fire fighters in various
courses.
Just as the
cassettes of the late 70’s
went the way of the dodo
bird, so will the consoles
Amanda and others are
currently using. Such is
progress.
The Scoop
Page 11 of 22
A Paramedic Mother
Written by: Carole Broughton, Terrace Bay
The paramedic mother
is a special soul.
Years of worry for her child’s heartache,
are sure to take their toll.
Her child has chosen
to help the sick, injured and dying.
Those beyond her help
mourned for by secretly crying.
Most will never know
the pain, sorrow and yes, the joy.
For the lost ones, the loved ones,
the child’s smile for a toy.
Most will never know the fear sometimes brought;
with the unknown tragedy that is next to be fought.
But the paramedic mother is not just the ordinary.
She feels her child’s sorrow; and in her heart she must carry,
years of anguish and elation
for all the tragedies and celebrations.
I thank you my mother;
for it was I who chose this path.
To have sleepness nights, missed meals,
and deal with Mother Nature’s wrath.
But in so doing, I never knew;
that along with myself, I’d dragged you too.
All those nights I fought for a stranger’s life,
Giving them comfort, reassuring their wife.
You lay in your bed, knowing tomorrow;
You will comfort me and heal my sorrow.
Without your love and support,
your feeling my despair.
I couldn’t do what I do.
A special bond we do share.
Page 12 of 22
Staff on the Move
The Scoop
It takes humility to seek
feedback. It takes wisdom to
understand it, analyze it, and
appropriately act on it.
Stephen R. Covey
Your feedback is really
important to us. Please write
us at:
EASTERN REGION
Jan Morrison - hired as full-time PCP in Schreiber, July 6, 2003
Tom Moffat - hired as EMA, part-time, in Beardmore,
July 19, 2003
Superior North EMS
3rd Floor
500 E. Donald St.
Thunder Bay ON P7E 5V3
(807) 625-3259
[email protected]
Theiann Scherby – Supervisor, Nipigon Cluster, September 8, 2003
(more on page 13)
Linda Beckerleg - hired as part-time EMA in Manitouwadge,
August 17, 2003
Heather Clark - hired as part-time EMA in Manitouwadge,
September 1, 2003
Kim Parise - hired as part-time EMA in Manitouwadge
September 1, 2003
Rhiannon Raynak - hired as part-time EMA in Geraldton
September 14, 2003
Francine Polini - moved back to PCP in Nipigon after serving as Acting
Supervisor Nipigon Cluster, September 14, 2003
New AEMCA Graduates
EASTERN REGION
Scott Cameron, Nakina
Lindsay Hagglund, Red Rock
WESTERN REGION
WESTERN REGION
Wayne Gates – Manager, Western Region, effective
September 2, 2003
Bill Lewis – Supervisor, Western Rural (Armstrong, Shuniah,
Conmee, Upsala), effective, September 1, 2003
(more on page 13)
Debbie Porter – part-time EMA in Conmee. September 28, 2003
Joslyn White – part-time PCP in Upsala, September 28, 2003
Janet Hipefner - part-time in Upsala, September 28, 2003
Kristi Campbell, Thunder Bay
Kim Minnear, Upsala
Annette Pasciullo, Thunder Bay
Chad Pomerleau, Thunder Bay
Primo Scalzo, Thunder Bay
Marianne Stevens, Upsala
Dawn Walters, Thunder Bay
Michelle Wright, Shuniah
The Scoop
Page 13 of 22
Meet Theiann Scherby,
Supervisor, Eastern Region
Nipigon Cluster
Theiann Scherby began work
with Superior North EMS –
Eastern Region as Supervisor of
the
Nipigon
Cluster
on
September 8, 2003.
Theiann has been involved in
EMS for the past 16 years; first
as a volunteer EMA, then both
a part-time and full-time
EMCA,
and
finally
an
Ambulance Coordinator with
Red
Lake
Ambulance
(Northwest EMS).
Theiann
completed her EMCA program
through
Confederation
College’s outreach program in
1990.
Theiann is a First Aid/CPR
Instructor and both a Service
Instructor
and
Regional
Instructor.
Theiann states that she is an
avid reader and is known to be
an acknowledged equestrian.
As well, if the opportunity
arises, be sure and ask for her
rendition of Rachmoninov’s
Prelude in C Sharp Minor as
Theiann
is
quite
an
accomplished pianist.
Please join in welcoming
Theiann to our organization.
Meet Bill Lewis,
Supervisor, Western Region, Rural
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the
management of the
Western Division for all
the support they have
given me thus far; it’s
been great. I would also
like to thank all the
Medics in the rural
services for their support,
and I look forward to
working with each of
you. You can give me a
call any time during
normal business hours if
you need something or if
you want to talk about an
issue, my office is always
open.
Just a brief history about
myself. I moved to
Northwestern Ontario in
the spring of 2000 with
my family. I worked for
15 years for a wide
variety of EMS services
in south central Ontario,
from rural stations to
urban centers. I began
my new career in the
North working for
Superior North EMS in
Nipigon and Thunder
Bay as a part-time PCP.
In the late summer of
2000 I started at Thunder
Bay Regional Base
Hospital Program as a
Clinical Coordinator
where I looked after
Western Thunder Bay
District, Rainy River
District, and part of
Kenora District. I
remained in this position
until the spring of 2002
when I accepted a
position as Manager of
Atikokan EMS until
September of this year
and now, as Wayne Gates
likes to say, I came back
from the dark side and
now you are stuck with
me.
Staffing is still an issue in
the rural stations. We
recently lost two full
timers, one in Conmee,
Sean Adams has gone
into nursing at McKeller
Hospital, and Arthur
Collins from Armstrong
has taken a position at
Atikokan EMS. We wish
them well in their new
careers. On the bright
side we have hired some
gaps. Welcome to Joslyn
White and Janet Hipfener
from Ignace. They are
going to work out of the
Upsala station part time.
We also rehired three of
last years summer
students; Debbie Porter
for Conmee, Cindy
Bisset and Ryan Landry
for Shuniah. Welcome
back!
The Health and Safety
Committee is up and
running we are just
starting monthly base
inspections. We hope to
have more information
coming your way shortly.
Currently I am working
on Daily Base Duties,
Weekly Base Duties, and
Monthly Base Duties
with the idea that each
station will be doing the
same thing at the same
time. If you have any
Page 14 of 22
The Scoop
Hot Paddles
What a Team!
Submitted by:
Helen Letourneau
It was a beautiful day,
everyone showed up, no
one pulled a muscle, and
we almost came home
with the “Gold Division
Consolation”
medal.
Not bad for a brand new
team with a number of
members who had never
paddled before. In fact
we placed 26 out of 89
teams. Our final times
were:
Race One
2:29:74
Race Two
2:30:44
We won the heat in Race
One.
It was pretty
exciting.
We also
opportunity
had the
to meet
other employees of
Superior North EMS
that we might otherwise
not have. Our team was
unique as we had
members from across
the district. In addition
to Thunder Bay, staff
travelled
from
Armstrong,
Longlac,
Manitouwadge, Nipigon,
and Upsala. Awesome –
don’t you agree?
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank
Ron
Miron
from
Longlac for designing
our logo and printing our
shirts. Your help was
really appreciated Ron!
I would also like to
congratulate
Jocelyn
Bourgoin on the new
tent he purchased on
race day. For those of
you
who
skipped
breakfast you missed
Jocelyn’s
bargaining
technique in obtaining
his new tent. By simply
putting a heat source too
close to the screen, and
thereby melting it, he
was able to purchase the
entire tent at a reduced
rate.
Congratulations
Linda Smith for the
purchase of her brand
new tent the following
day.
As a team we raised
$1,558.00 which assists
three organizations; the
Canadian Mental Health
Association,
the
Catholic
Family
Development
Centre,
and
St.
Joseph’s
Foundation.
If anyone is sorry they
weren’t
able
to
participate in all the fun,
don’t worry.
Hot
Paddles is registered for
2004! It’s never too
early to sign up. If
anyone has any ideas to
make next year’s event
even more fun, please
submit them. By the
way if anyone is
interested in being team
captain next year the
position is available.
The Scoop
Page 15 of 22
First Annual Mother, Jugs, & Speed Open
Submitted by: Dawn Trabbish
Drenched, cold, and
miserable didn’t stop us
from having a great time.
Twenty-four
golfers
participated in the first
annual Mother, Jugs, &
Speed
Open
on
September 12th, 2003 in
Nipigon. Citing OH&S
concerns, several teams
packed it in halfway and
what was mistaken for a
crack of thunder was
actually one of our
fearless leaders playing
bumper cars on the 9th
fairway. Thank God for
the die hard golfers who
managed to finish and
turn in scores for the 9hole course.
Bragging rights for the
year belong to Pat Dixon
and John McKinnon who
brought in a score of 39
to take home the
championship. A close
second were Andrew
Dillon and Mario Danis
and closing out the top
three were Enn Kurm and
J.P.
Jackson-Hughes.
Paul Charbonneau and
Rebecca Bond exhibited
precision drives to win
themselves awards for
closest to the hole while
powerhouses Enn Kurm
and Fran Polini drove
home the longest drives.
Fran was also the lucky
winner of a new TV and
DVD player.
Special thanks to our
gracious host, Paul, who
let us take over his home
afterwards. Back at the
“bears den”, we dried
out, filled our bellies, and
partied till the wee hours
of the morning. We lost
a few of the boys to the
dice game, a wrestling
mishap and one even
took a nap but eventually,
we all converged around
the bonfire to enjoy tales
shared by the “comedic
duo”. Thanks also go to
Wayne and his “bus” for
providing refuge from the
intermittent showers that
continued throughout the
evening.
Thank you to everyone
for your participation and
support. We hope you all
had fun and we’ll see you
next September at the
second annual Mother,
Jugs, & Speed Open.
Friday, September 12th, 2003
North Shore Golf Course –
Nipigon
1:00 pm - ?
Page 16 of 22
The Scoop
Word Search Puzzle
Submitted by: Chris Millington, Amanda Redgrift, and Dave Wilson, Nakina
Clues Across
Clues Down
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4.
6.
7.
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11.
13.
17.
19.
21.
22.
26.
27.
29.
30.
34.
37.
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47.
1.
2.
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28.
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48.
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52.
“node” in charge (2 words)
three important life letters (acronym)
BP cuff real name
also called auricle (Latin)
nitrile PPE
top ‘o ladder medic (name)
all silent on the living front (acronym)
international EMS symbol
department (acronym)
gilded time (2 words)
swelled with fluid
tyvec clothing (2 words)
dying breath
protector or children (legislation) (4 words)
celestial repeater (acronym)
sometimes mimics intoxication
drinking (acronym)
anti-thrombin (acronym)
identification system or respite in the desert
directs ambulance movement
mirrored word
“bitter orange” paste (2 words)
comes and goes after death (2 words)
walks like a “__________” and talks like a
“______________”
“list” of elders
lowered core body temperature
liquid drive-thru eye opener
a value in threes
donut shaped muscle
dreadful Asian flu (acronym)
“node” in delay (2 words)
applies traction
new patient “scale” (acronym)
under skin “bubble wrap” (2 words)
putting your foot down (2 words)
back up vein
pure gas
“explosive” spray
lung water (2 words)
“foundation facility” (2 words)
exiting break (2 words)
mascot animal (2 words)
adrenaline (synonym)
long downloader (2 words)
ambulance radio system (acronym)
heartache that passes
SAED manufacturer
paramedic association (acronym)
caused busy nights (2 words)
“line” of death (2 words)
double medic together
a valve in half
biologically cleaned (2 words)
SAED manufacturer
Answers to this word search puzzle are located at:
www.SuperiorNorthEMS.com
Please look in the Staff Section, and while you’re on the site please take some
time to look around.
The Scoop
Page 17 of 22
Page 18 of 22
The Scoop
News – Staff, Stations
Above: Breaking ground for the new
ambulance station in Geraldton at the
beginning of October 2003
Left & Above: By the end of October
much progress has been made. The
anticipated completion date is
January 31, 2004
Down with the old and up with the new.
The Scoop
Page 19 of 22
More News – Staff, Stations
IIT
T’’S
SA
A BBO
OYY!!
Congratulations to
Norm Gale and his
wife Michelle on the
birth of their son.
Devon Sean Gale was
born on
October 7, 2003 and
weighted 8 lbs. 3 oz.
Pictured are members of the Rural Joint Health and Safety
Committee who toured chemical suppliers in Thunder Bay on
November 3, 2003, following up on a recommendation that all
rural SNEMS stations have one standard set of cleaning
chemicals.
Feedback
We don’t always take the time to thank someone for a job well done. Maybe we’re just too busy
or simply in a hurry. Maybe we just take it for granted or assume that they know how much their
assistance has helped. When someone takes the time to show appreciation it does feel good and
definitely gives us a boost. The following letter was addressed to Wayne Gates and received from
a client shortly after an experience he had with our paramedics. Chances are many clients feel
the same way but for one reason or another simply don’t express it in the same manner.
On Saturday, July 19, my wife collapsed while we were shopping at the A&P store on Arthur Street. An ambulance
was called and my wife was transported to Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, McKellar Site.
I did not get the names of the ambulance attendants but we feel they should be recognized for their quick response, their
professional actions, and their caring and compassionate attitude.
This was a very difficult time for us, made much easier by two professionals, who also happened to be very nice young
men. We would like them to know that my wife is recovering well.
Gratitude is the memory of the heart!
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like
The Scoop
Page 20 of 22
Lighter Side
One day two paramedics are out in front of the station washing the ambulance. A little boy
comes by, followed by a dog tied to a little white wagon. In the wagon are some bandages
and a toy stethoscope. The word "AMBULANCE" is printed on a piece of paper taped to the
side of the wagon.
The boy walks up to one of the medics and says, "When I grow up, I'm going to be a
paramedic. This is my ambulance." He points to the wagon.
The paramedic looks at him and says, "Is that right? Well good for you." The medic looked
at the boy's wagon and noticed that the rope connecting the dog to the wagon was tied
around the dog's testicles. Surprised, the medic turns to the little boy and asks him, "Why
is the rope tied around your dog's testicles? Why don't you tie it to the dog's collar?"
The boy says, "I can't do that!"
"Why not? It would make your dog a lot more comfortable."
The boy looks at the medic and replies, "But then I'd lose my siren."
A woman called 911 for an ambulance for an unconscious
patient. The 911 operator told the women that she would send
an ambulance out right away.
"Where are you?" asked the operator.
The women replied, "At the end of Eucalyptus Drive."
The operator asked, "Can you spell that for me?"
There was a long pause and finally the women said,
"How about if I drag her over to Oak Street and you pick her
up there?"
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in
a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The
rset can be a tatol mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Amzanig huh?
The Scoop
Page 21 of 22
(More) Lighter Side
Bill was motoring down a rural highway when he hit a rabbit. Horrified, he stopped and
knelt over the lifeless body.
A woman drove up and asked what was wrong. Hearing Bill's story, she got out of her
car with a can and sprayed the rabbit.
To Bill's amazement, the rabbit jumped up, ran 10 feet and waved his paw. He then
ran another 10 feet and waved his paw again. On he went, running and waving, until he
was out of sight.
Dumbfounded, Bill asked the woman what she had used. She showed him the label:
"Hair spray- Restores life to dead hair, adds permanent wave."
Over Zealous Paramedics
Three nurses are walking along the beach when they
find an old lamp. One of the nurses rubs the lamp and
out pops a genie! "For freeing me, I'll give each of
you one wish," annouces the genie. The first nurse
says, "I want to be twice as smart as I am now, that
way I'll be a better nurse." The genie puts his hand
to his temple and concentrates, then smiles and says,
"It is done." The second nurse declares, "Well, I want
to be ten times as smart!" Again, the genie
concentrates and then says, "It is done." The third
nurse, not to be outdone, asks, "Can you make me one
hundred times smarter than I am now?" The genie
puts his hand to his temple, then pauses and asks the
third nurse, "Are you sure you want to be a
The Scoop
Page 22 of 22
Ideas, Comments, Suggestions
We’re on the Web!
See us at:
www.SuperiorNorthEMS.com
Your ideas, comments and suggestions are very important to us. The goal of
this newsletter is to share news within the District. Is there anything special
happening, in your area, at your station? We want to hear about it and so does
everyone else.
To share your news, provide suggestions and comments you can:
Send an e-mail: [email protected]
Send a fax: 807-622-2698
Call us: 807-625-3259
Final Thought
SHAKE IT OFF!
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried
to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up
anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt
into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's
amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was
astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something
amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on
top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the
donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off
and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never
giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.