EMS colouring book gives kids emergency know-how

GRANDE PRAIRIE — A colouring book that teaches kids how they can help out in times of emergency is now available thanks to Alberta Health Services EMS and the Regional EMS Foundation.

Nolan and the Snowmobile Crash — a 12-page colouring book created by Alberta Health Services EMS and funded, in part, by the Regional EMS Foundation — tells the story of a boy and his father on a snowmobile trip in a mountainous region of northern Alberta. When his father is injured in a mishap, Nolan takes action with a call to 911, then awaits the arrival of EMS.

The story was written by Amy McCann, a paramedic (EMT-P) with Alberta Health Services EMS in Grande Prairie. A former teacher in Ontario, McCann joined AHS-EMS here in 2011.

"I wanted to tell a story that kids in northern Alberta could relate to," says McCann. "We live in an area of the province that’s largely rural and that spends about seven months in freezing temperatures. I wanted the story to reflect the life and activities of kids and families specifically in the North Zone. Hopefully, kids will make a connection to this story and that will help them remember the steps Nolan takes when he finds himself face to face with an emergency situation."

The colouring book’s launch also marks EMS Awareness Week, which runs May 26 to June 1.

“This colouring book is a great opportunity to make kids aware of what their role could be in emergencies and help them to learn those key steps if they find themselves in a similar situation,” says Laura LaValley, Executive Director for the Regional EMS Foundation. “The Foundation likes to get behind initiatives that educate people in our region.”

JoAnn Cazakoff, a paramedic and Public Education Officer with AHS-EMS in Grande Prairie, edited the book, which was illustrated by Hew Deyer, a local artist and animator. As well, an animated version of the book has been developed by Dyer for upload to the AHS YouTube channel, with English and French versions narrated by Paul Therrien, a Grande Prairie resident and principal at Ecole Parkside.

The colouring books will be distributed when AHS-EMS staff make public-relations visits to schools throughout the year.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.8 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.

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