The Emergency Medical Practitioners Development/Recert Conference saw a wide variety of events and speakers on Saturday, with one of the most interesting being that of Tim Hillier.
Hillier has been working as an EMT for almost 30 years in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where he now holds the position of director of education with M.D. Ambulance.
Prior to his speech, there was a heartfelt talk done by Janelle Stabbler, who was in a motor vehicle accident in Sept. 2011 in Swift Current. Stabbler talked about her devastating crash, how the other drivers of the car that hit her head on were killed, and how she was trapped in her vehicle for 90 minutes before EMS could arrive.
She said the most important aspect of the traumatic accident was the help she got from first responders on the scene.
"Just knowing someone is there is the biggest part of it," Stabbler said.
Hillier reiterated this point in his speech titled "Too Hot Too Handle", which focused on burns and how first responders can save lives by how they treat victims at the scene.
"What you guys do in the field can make a big impact in the first 10 minute period," he said.
Hillier also talked about the danger first responders and EMS face in situations with toxic fumes or electrical dangers and cited the case of two British Columbia paramedics that died in May 2006, after they were called to a toxic situation at a mine and died from fume inhalation.
"Save yourself before others," Hillier said. "Over half of fatalities in rescue situations are us."
Read more in Monday's Times-Herald.
Adam Miller can be reached at 691-1258
