CHAT News file photo

By Teagan Rasche

May 23-29 2021

Police and fire department praise EMS workers during Paramedic Services Week

May 27, 2021 | 2:49 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – First responders are on the front lines in emergency situations helping to keep us safe.

As EMS workers are honored during this year’s Paramedic Services Week, other emergency workers are praising them and acknowledging the team effort.

Staff Sergeant Jason Graham with the Medicine Hat Police says the relationship with paramedics is vital.

“We’re dealing with them multiple times a day, sometimes we see them repeatedly call after call after call,” Graham said. “Especially nowadays with the amount of opioid use and drugs and mental health.”

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Graham says police and paramedics equally rely on each other by helping each other out at accident scenes and with traffic enforcement.

But first responder teamwork doesn’t end there, firefighters also work closely with paramedics.

Gerald Bodnaruk, a captain with Medicine Hat Fire Services says they consult with each other on scene for the best course of action and treatment.

For the last few years, firefighters have had additional medical training that has helped EMS workers.

“We’ve been responding to medical calls since about June of 2017, just right around four years now,” Bodnaruk said. “It’s an added service for the citizens of Medicine Hat. It’s a big benefit to assist our paramedic friends with help in the city.”

CHAT News was hoping to include a Medicine Hat paramedic in this story, but Alberta Health Services said they didn’t have anyone available for us to speak with.