Cornwall Ontario — The City of Cornwall and Cornwall SDG Emergency Medical Services is celebrating Paramedic Services Week from May 25th to May 31st.   

Paramedic Services Week is a special time set aside to honour and recognize the dedication of Paramedics and staff in our community.  Paramedics work diligently every day to save lives, promote recovery and prevent injuries from getting worse in an emergency.  This week is recognized nationally and promotes Paramedics and staff with the National theme, “Our Family Caring for Yours.” 

In 2014, Paramedics in Cornwall and SDG responded to over 12,000 emergency calls.  Ambulances are constantly moving throughout the City and Counties day and night to ensure safe and rapid response to any call for service.   

“Each day, Paramedics go to work prepared to meet the unexpected.  They equip themselves both mentally and physically to deal with the challenges they will face in serving the community and its citizens,” said EMS Chief Myles Cassidy, who has been in the EMS field for 25 years. 

To ensure quality care, Paramedics engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education throughout the year to acquire and enhance their lifesaving skills. 

“The highly trained Paramedics who serve Cornwall and SDG respond to disaster scenes, medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents and other emergencies, providing everyone with access to quality emergency care,” said Chief Cassidy.  “Appropriate medical care in an out-of-hospital setting dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury.”   

To meet the growing demands for emergency medical services, much has changed in the past 10 years.  The Public Access Defibrillator program has delivered CPR and Automated External Defibrillator  training to thousands of citizens in life saving interventions. To date, 197 defibrillators have been installed in public places throughout Cornwall and SDG for use by the public in a medical emergency. 

In celebration of Paramedic Services Week, members of Cornwall SDG Emergency Medical Services will be at the Cornwall Square on Tuesday, May 27th displaying equipment and supplies used by Paramedics and offering demonstrations of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) used in public buildings. Residents are encouraged to stop by and say hello.