I took a midnight ride in an ambulance last week. I have ridden in ambulances many times, doing CPR, holding pressure on a wound, restraining a combative patient or just holding a hand. But this night it was me strapped to the gurney. After a short hospital stay, the prognosis is that I will live as long as I don’t eat anything that tastes good.

We take a lot for granted when it comes to our health and health care. I’ll admit I was pretty scared, but it was most reassuring when the first responders from Hall 5 and the paramedics arrived. They went about their business, assessing, administering and choosing a course of action. All the time they were reassuring me and my family that everything was under control. During the ride, as I puked and groaned and whimpered, the attendant adjusted the oxygen and the IV and calmly kept me apprised of how I was doing.

At the hospital, a short-staffed triage ward was very busy and I heard the paramedic say they hadn’t been back to their station all shift. But I got first class treatment and the pain was soon down to a dull throb. All I had to do was lie back and trust all these professionals to the job I had seen them do so many times.

We have a system in our province that is second to none. My fire service colleagues and I fought long and hard, working with many other agencies, to ensure that we could have the first responder program we have today. It is so reassuring when you can see it work firsthand.

Last year my artist partner LeEtta and I completed a painting and poem commission for the Fraser Lake Ambulance Service, which they raffled off as a fundraiser for juvenile diabetes. It is a great tribute to our paramedics. You can see it on our web site at jleecreativeproductions.com. Anyone interested in a print can drop me a line at nine-1@shaw.ca.

Our paramedics are going through some challenges right now but it hasn’t affected their care or response. Remember, when you phone 911, it isn’t the bureaucrats that show up in your driveway, it’s the first responders. At least that’s what McGregor says.

Paramedics

Hear the sirens in the distance?

Help is on the way;

Calm down and take a deep breath,

It’s going to be OK.

Stand back, you’re in good hands now,

They’re just like family there;

Cautious, quiet questions asked,

Lead to tender, gentle care.

They bring order to the chaos,

Comfort to the ill;

Performing roadside miracles,

With guardian angel skill.

In the darkness of a winter night;

In the chill of wind and rain;

No well-lit operating room,

They still relieve the victims’ pain.

They’re trained to beat the flat line,

To return a stolen breath;

They’ll restore the gift of life,

From the unexpected death.

When you hear sirens in the distance,

Guide them safely on their way;

Say a prayer for paramedics,

And the lives they’ll save today.