Paramedic

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system, of which paramedics are a part, is a complex health care system made up of personnel, equipment, and resources established to deliver aid and emergency medical care to the community. It comprises of both pre‑hospital and in‑hospital care.

The roles and responsibilities of the paramedic in this system have changed dramatically in the past 10 years. Advanced Paramedic is an enormous responsibility for which the paramedic must be mentally, physically and emotionally prepared.

Students must realize that they will be responsible for providing not only competent Paramedic but also emotional support to patients and families. Students also need to realize that during their careers as paramedics they will be exposed to many kinds of physical and emotional stress. They will face situations involving infectious diseases, fear, physical danger, death and dying.

They must thus become familiar with the use of equipment and strategies that will help them remain physically and emotionally safe and healthy. By understanding safe practices, they will be better able to avoid harm from violent people, roadway hazards and infectious diseases.

They will also be able to make appropriate choices about how they live rather than having a physical or emotional injury make that decision for them. They will also learn how they can take action to prevent illness and injury, not only in their own lives but in those of their co‑workers and the patients they encounter.

The program provides an integrated vision of pre‑hospital care. Students will learn patient assessment, transportation techniques, medical emergencies, pharmacology, pre‑hospital trauma life support, advanced cardiac life support, emergency vehicle operations (a probationary driver’s license is required on admission), and crisis intervention, among others.

There is a significant fieldwork/stage component in hospital and in ambulances which requires students to be fluently bilingual in both English and French.

As required, the patient is transported to the appropriate receiving centre. The care given by the paramedic may include:

• providing CPR (including intubation, defibrillation and administering oxygen);
• administering medications;
• stabilizing and improving the person’s condition;
• transferring patient care and information relative to the situation and condition.

John Abbott College is the only CEGEP in Québec to offer the Paramedic program in English. Completion of this DEC allows the student to challenge the Québec provincial certification exam, Programme nationale d’intégration Clinique (PNIC).

The graduating student is required to pass the PNIC in order to be hired by an ambulance service in the province of Québec.

Once in possession of their licence, graduates have the opportunity to work in any Canadian province.

• Paramedics respond to diverse emergency situations, in varied environments and, occasionally, in collaboration with other emergency respondents.
• Paramedics intervene with people of all ages and conditions who call for Paramedic. Their interventions consist of providing primary care of a medical, traumatic, or behavioural nature (often in combination). They are also qualified to respond to other situations such as disaster relief, fires, floods or incidents involving antisocial behaviour.
• Within their scope of practice, paramedics evaluate the clinical condition of the patient and determine and apply actions required to relieve signs and symptoms and prevent the deterioration of the patient’s condition.

• leadership
• team spirit
• initiative
• critical thinking
• stress management
• analytical mind
• physical fitness

Career opportunities include:
Emergency Medical Services, centres for First Aid training, the Canadian Armed Forces, fire and rescue departments, emergency communication, international organization such as the Red Cross, industrial settings and medical supply sales.

There is a university training program in Advanced Care Paramedics now available in Québec to allow an increased level of care in the field. In order to…