Janmarie3

And how many heads can we count that we have peeled off the highways. If people saw what most of us have seen...I bet they'd put that helmet on. I had terrible dreams after my first one.

The "you" in your statement isn't "me" is it? If it is, then in all actuality life isn't easy anywhere a person lives no matter what they may do for a living. But what makes it different or maybe even a little easier is the attitude that a person has about his life. If you go around blaming everyone from God to politics to wages etc... as being that all decisive cause of how life is for you...then well honestly, it will never change. The way I look at it is that these medics in Calgary are taking matters into their own hands to make a difference for themselves and others who will come into the profession behind them. They are over worked and maybe by taking responsibility and going through with this, and getting what they are striking for, wages go up and becomes more attractive to others to get into EMS, There won't be a shortage of hands and over worked medics. I think it is about time that EMS is considered a vitally important asset to every community and should be treated as such. And sometimes a city has to be hanging by the balls before they finally "get it." In the agency I worked for, we ran 2 counties. We were stationed in Kootenai county but only 2 miles from Benewah county, we covered that part of the county as well. Kootenai county is where all our funds came from and they were paying out for Benewah county. Benewah county gave out nothing to help us with the costs of taking care of their citizens. Kootenai county decided to pull back funds for Benewah county and in the end, it cost us "out of pocket" and to much to run it so we had to pull out as well. We didn't want to but it came down to that if Benewah county couldn't pitch in funds for the better of their citizens, we couldn't cover it ourselves. It didn't take long for Benewah county to comply and start granting us funds to keep running their county. It is a sad thing for the citizens at first, but when the Mayor of the city and commissioner of Benewah county had their "balls to the wall," He changed his attitude about our importance real quick. I think that if the mayor wants to be re elected he is going to have to satisfy the needs of the citizens of Calgary. I don't think he is going to want a public uprising because of it and from my experience working inside city hall, the phones will be ringing off the hook with angry Calgarians wanting to know why Grandma didn't get a ride to the hospital.

I agree with you Ruffems, it is sad.

Must really suck to have that kind of attitude. There is more to my life in Calgary and don't worry, I am not after your job. Hope the rest of your day is better :-)

I am assuming because of the oil boom, not only has the dollar become almost equivilent to US dollar, but has also caused the massive growth and increase in the COL. What is it now? 95 cents to one US dollar? And looking into the possibilities and options of crossing the border, the wages and cost of living would, at best, average out to be the same. Northern Idaho itself is going through a massive growth spurt and cost of living is getting higher. Maybe the strike, if it happens, would be a wake up call to the world that EMS anywhere is a very valuable profession and should be taken more seriously.

Wow, what EMTs and paramedics are paid in Canada just blows me away compared to what is offered here in the States. My friend in Calgary just told me about this strike, so I will be paying attention to the developments and outcome of it.

In all seriousness every level plays an important role in the system. How important is really up to the individual. I have seen so many basics, especially in a BLS service become to complacent and think they know it all already. This in my opinion is when they become useless to the patient and society and basically useless to the medic. I have to get to work, but basically I would encourage that your education not stop at the basic level. Learn more!

The only time I have ever seen two medics on an ambulance together is when one is being trained and trying to get all his requirements met and then is shortly released on his own with his own medic rig. Course that was backwoods country style, perhaps in the cities there is a need for two ALS providers on an Ambulance.

"Unshorn" doesn't that mean "Unshaven?" Hmmmm well that counts me out of the unshorn enchanted ones :-)

There is a law in physics that states: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, what we resist, persists. Judging, berating, criticizing, and complaining are all forms of resisting. And it sticks like crazy glue. Basically nothing will ever change or get better if all we do is resist reality. What I can say about this subject, what ever you are, an ambulance driver, life guard, first responder all the way up to the very top of your game.....do your job with EXCELLENCE, live in the moment and never lose yourself. Never losing yourself is the most important above all, especially if you are a woman but it also includes men in this profession as well. Something happens to all of us when we choose to live this life. With all the better then thou attitudes and constant complaining about one thing or another.....we forget who we were when we started. As a women our greatest power lies not in competing with or trying to be like men, but embracing our natural and womanly strengths of compassion, enchantment and tenderness. We are intuitive healers among a lot of other things, we are remarkable beings in many aspects, not just on the battlefield. I was at the top of my game in the agency I came from and I realized how much it had changed me as the person that I was when I started. I took a step out of it and away from it to be able to bring myself back to me. And in doing this I realized that we are all okay. Underneath all the illusions of worry, anxiety and the belittling of our own selves and others are all mental constrictions called up by our minds to distract us from the terrifying truth that underneath it all . we're just fine. Relax, embrace your own okay-ness and your dreams will surge back into your hearts and your spirits are free to soar once again. Without so much of your energy tied up in imagined neuroses, we have the time and energy to re-engage with our purpose and once again make a difference in our world. The world needs us no matter what level we are at. We have a purpose and hiding behind a fictional story that you are broken or not good enough or incomplete because someone else said so...is not it. The world needs that very special something you knew you had when you first started. Balancing yourself out is the key to unlocking your full potential as a human being. Follow as much as you lead, comfort as much as you command and never forget who you are.

Thanks for the website and just to give an update on this adventure of mine. I will be visiting Calgary within the next two weeks to see for myself what will be required and my options. This is getting so exciting and my goal is to be in Canada full time by Fall. With the passport thingy being waved because of the long waiting time, all I have to do is show my birth certificate and proof that I applied for a passport and I can scoot across the border without having to actually wait for my passport. There couldn't be a better time to get things in motion then right now. This is so awesome :-)

Getting my foot in the door is the first step in this journey. Even if I would only be qualified to work as an EMR. The experience alone would be awesome even if its a bit boring...but the cool thing is one does not have to stay at that position. I would be working on the next step up the ladder while doing it. So far things are looking pretty good and it gets more exciting the more I look into it :-)

This just popped in my mailbox as I was writing that last post. An answer to one of my emails to a Canadian ems service. If anyone is interested. Thank you for your enquiry regarding reciprocity of training and the ability to gain employment in BC. Individuals who have received training outside BC may apply to have their training recognized in BC by completing the four forms located at the following URL: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/ema/oop.html. In addition to the forms located at the above URL, applicants with training from outside Canada will be required to complete two competency packages. The first will compare your training to the National Occupational Competency Profiles used by the Canadian Medical Association for program accreditation. The second package will compare your current and past work experience to the scope of practice profile in British Columbia. If your training is from outside Canada, please contact this office to request these additional forms and provide your full name, address and phone number. Once your forms and transcripts are received in this office, they will be reviewed by the program coordinator to determine what level your training is equivalent to in BC. You will then be required to complete an examination/evaluation. Information regarding Paramedic Qualifications and Human Resources Offices for the BC Ambulance Service can be obtained from the BC Ambulance Service website at the following URL: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/bcas/careers/ If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Susan Slemko Office Manager, EMA Licensing Ministry of Health PO BOX 9625 Stn Prov Govt VICTORIA BC V8W 9P1 Phone: (250) 952-1199 Fax: (250) 952-1222 mailto:susan.slemko@gov.bc.ca Public Site: http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/ema

Yes :-) I was told this topic was around here somewhere....thanks for replying though. I don't mind starting over since I am not a paramedic yet and haven't invested 2 years and then some in the US paramedic course. So for me as an advanced EMT I don't mind the extra training plus the experience......I think it would be exciting and I am still young. I researched schools and sent out some emails for further information.....I also found some funding options for Americans studying in Canada/Mexico/ My goal would be to get into a school by this fall. Thanks :-)

This might be a strange question. But how difficult would it be for an American EMT to be able to work in Canada? I supose I'd have to start all over and go through all the training for Canada's standards. I was looking at Calgary's EMS website and the training hours isn't much different then ours....6 months for basic and 2 years for paramedic. Has anyone moved across the border and went through the training and working as in EMS in Canada? And if so how hard was it to get in and get hired?