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Students in support of striking paramedics

Published: August 06, 2009 12:00 PM
Updated: August 06, 2009 12:58 PM

Editor: Since April 1, our ambulance service has been on strike, yet has continued to provide the exceptional service our province’s ambulance paramedics are renowned for.

I am one of over 150 paramedic students in B.C. completing my training and waiting to begin my career. As an essential service staffed by committed, talented and respectful people, 911 calls to BC Ambulance continue to be answered and responded to, regardless of job action status; so how does this strike affect anyone?

My journey through the process of becoming a paramedic began a year ago, building on my prerequisites and applying for the training. Primary Care Paramedic training in B.C. is expensive, stressful, extremely demanding mentally and physically, and very time-consuming.

Equivalent paramedic training in other provinces runs over one to three years. In B.C., we are complete in 20 weeks. The demand this puts on the students is immense, however extremely rewarding.

Once the training is complete, the student must pass a series of practicum shifts in hospitals, and on the ambulance. Unfortunately, this is where we are stuck.

After completing our clinical practicum, we now have to wait for a resolution to the present job action before being allowed to complete our practicum on ambulance. This means that I, along with my classmates across the province, have to put our books down and return to our regular jobs, while our vast amount of knowledge attained over the last four months waits to be put to use.

We are not looking for sympathy, but simply for understanding and support. I, along with my fellow paramedic students, want the public to understand why the ambulance paramedics of B.C. are striking.

It is not all about money. It is about providing a better emergency service to the public. We want people to understand what the students, the future paramedics who could be arriving at your door to help, are going through.

We, the student body, support our paramedics 100 per cent in their endeavour, and know they are fighting a modest battle not only for themselves as paramedics, but also for the general public who receive their service.

I am extremely happy to know that I have the knowledge and confidence that may one day save somebody’s life, and I am excited to soon put that to good use, but we must first solve the problems that lie in front of us.

I encourage everybody reading this to briefly educate themselves on the issues at hand and the reasons behind the strike. This is a service out there to help you, so please help us. Visit www.saveourparamedics.com for information about the ambulance strike.

Brinton Deluca,

Langley