Paramedics are among the most important public servants in a community and this week Chatham-Kent joined the rest of Canada in an effort to celebrate their work.
May 27 to June 2 is Paramedic Services Week across the country. Chatham-Kent EMS and Medavie EMS recognized and thanked their paramedics Wednesday with a BBQ and open house at the headquarters in Chatham-Kent.
Mike Stinson has been a paramedic in Chatham for 15 years and stayed humble when asked about the appreciation week.
"It certainly means a lot, but we don't go out there and do the job for stuff like this," Stinson said. "At the end of the day though, to hear that you are helpful, made a difference and that people do appreciate you, feels good."
He added it is all about collaboration to make a paramedics job successful. He said they have to work with firefighters and police on the front lines, along with medical professionals back at the hospital.
Stinson said one of his favourite stories of a call he responded to involved a random citizen who went out of their way to save the life of a man who had a very serious stroke. The man was locked in his apartment and his wife had left, but he was able to use the phone.
"He was very confused and actually dialled the wrong number," he said. "Whoever was on the other end of the line took it upon themselves to figure out where this guy was and contacted EMS. Just some random stranger. He was able to get us going and we contacted the wife. We picked him up and got him to the hospital. Just thinking of Good Samaritans who also help us do our job makes that story really stick out to me."
Chatham-Kent EMS employs roughly 100 paramedics running eight ambulances during the day. Operations manager at the CK headquarters, Rodney Hetherington, talked about how proud he was of each one of the first responders.
"Day in and day out they always give their best effort," Hetherington said. They're here for the community and to respond at a moment's notice."
There will be another event Friday from 11am to 2pm. It is open to the public and civilians will have a chance to meet the paramedics, tour the headquarters and an ambulance.