Get to know AHS EMS during National Paramedic Services Week

National Paramedic Services Week (May 22-28, 2022) honours the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) profession and recognizes the professionals who provide this vital public service. This year, through social media and other digital opportunities, AHS is offering a behind the scenes look at the work of EMS within the healthcare system and our communities.

AHS EMS operates 515 ground ambulances in Alberta, plus 11 medical aircraft. Approximately 5,600 EMS staff and paramedics respond to more than 589,000 911 events each year, or about 1,600 calls each day.

Our frontline responders are also active in Public Education and Emergency and Disaster Management Response, when Albertans need emergency medical assistance on a large scale.

Paramedics are often the very first point of contact for a patient entering the healthcare system and while most Albertans would be familiar with EMS 911 response, AHS EMS paramedics offer services to patients in a variety of ways, including:

• Incident Response Paramedics (IRP), who can offer specialized care during large scale or extended incidents, such as structure fires, as well as care for patients who may have suffered from contamination, such as carbon monoxide or chemical exposures.
• Flight Paramedics provide air medical care to patients requiring immediate acute care during transfers between larger centres as well as transfers of other ill or injured patients who require movement to a higher acuity facility. Airport Paramedics at both Calgary and Edmonton International Airports also provide emergency medical support to travelers and use specially equipped Segways for rapid response.
• Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) paramedics work with law enforcement to provide immediate advanced life support care during high-risk police operations.
• Community Paramedics are specially trained to provide short-term treatment for patients in their own homes under the medical direction of Physicians and Nurse Practitioners. This can include antibiotic administration, blood transfusions, and hydration therapy.
• Emergency Communications Officers (ECOs) answer 911 requests for EMS service and initiate the EMS emergency response to the scene; they also provide pre-arrival instructions (PAIs) over the phone such as how to perform CPR or relieve a choking emergency, or assist with childbirth.
• Rapid Access Paramedics (RAP) who respond on specially equipped mountain bikes to provide first response advanced life support in congested and crowded areas, such as events and festivals, where standard vehicle access may be challenging.

Many groups and individuals within EMS also provide vital support services, including Clinical Educators and the Vehicle Equipment Supply Service Technicians (VESST).

EMS paramedics are proud to serve Albertans. To learn more about what they do each day, follow AHS EMS on X and Facebook. You can also share your thanks for their work, through Thank a Paramedic - thankaparamedic.com .

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.