Editor:
Christmas 2006, I was in the emergency room at St. Mary's Hospital watching two paramedics care for an infant and toddler - mom was being treated. The compassion displayed by these paramedics was unparalleled to anything I've ever witnessed. I continued to watch in fascination while silent tears slid down my cheeks. Two paramedics, one male, one female - two heroes.
Canada Day 2009, my son had a barnacle cut. We were told it would be a two-hour wait. Fairly certain stitches were needed, I went outside to make a couple of phone calls. Spotting a paramedic, I asked him to take a quick look. There was absolutely no hesitation. A half hour later his partner came by to check on my son. His voice full of compassion, he put a butterfly bandage on his cut, brought him an ice pack and a clean white cloth to replace the bloodied beach towel.
It took everything in me to hold back the tears.
These gestures of kindness speak volumes about the type of people these paramedics are. My son wasn't even their call - the paramedics were simply doing what they do, each and every day.
Is there a level of responsibility higher? Para-medics are often the first at the scene of an accident. The decisions these first responders make literally save peoples lives every day.
What is so wrong with wanting faster response times, better staffing levels and a multi-year contract. Will these conditions not benefit all of us? And what about equal pay with other emergency responders? Aren't they worth it? As far as I'm concerned, they are our unsung heroes, and they deserve everything and more that they aren't getting paid for.
Nancy Heard
Sechelt
