BONNYVILLE - The Bonnyville EMS hall opened its doors to the public on May 22. There was a free barbecue, a showcase of some of the equipment including an ambulance, and activities and giveaways for children.
This year’s open house theme was “Help us Help You” which emphasized the appropriate use of the 911 system. Assistant Division Chief-Medical operations and event organizer Sandi Delaney says, “Unfortunately, sometimes we see people using the system when they shouldn't, and not using the system when they should.”
Delaney says that despite the open houses being a lot of work, “It’s an important event to help celebrate the paramedics and their huge contribution to the EMS division, as well as educating the public about who we are and what new advances have been made.”
Delaney speaks highly of her team, saying, “I think that every person who gets into this profession does so with the desire to help others. Being a calming presence who takes command of someone else’s bad situation and helps solve it for them is something that makes us extremely proud. On the other side of that, when we are unable to achieve the desired result for a situation, we have others to lean on who know exactly what we’re going through and will lend support.”
The event was kid centered, and Delaney spoke about the significance of bringing children to the open house.
“Often when kids are hurt or sick, they are already afraid, and they don’t want strangers near them. If we can let them come in when they’re happy and maybe a bit excited to see inside an ambulance, ask us questions and see some of the things we do, it might ease some of the fear.
One activity was the teddy bear clinic, where kids participated in bandaging their stuffed animals. One lucky kid who's stuffy sustained an open wound, was sutured by the expert hands of Advanced Care Paramedic Brittini Erickson.
Erickson spoke to how helpful it is for them to participate in bandaging the teddy bears with the staff to foster an understanding that they are there to help and heal.
The ambulance was a popular attraction, and children also got to listen to their parents' heartbeats through a stethoscope.
