Paramedic students learn life-saving skills with interactive EMS day

Paramedic students watching and practicing a demonstration with EMS for National Paramedic Services Week. (Dave Mitchell/CTV News Edmonton)

Post-secondary students in Edmonton had the chance to learn life-saving skills and what it means to be a paramedic on Wednesday.

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The hands-on event at AHS Northwest EMS Station gave students a better understanding of where they can take their careers.

Options include working in ground ambulances, the air transport division, speciality teams, bike teams, community care, dispatchers and more.

“I think it’s a common misconception to the public that paramedics are just ambulance drivers that will pick you up in a fancy vehicle and drive you to somebody that can help you, when really that couldn’t be further than the case,” AHS EMS public education officer Ian Cowie told CTV News Edmonton.

Student’s were able to use medical equipment and follow professional demonstrations.

Primary care paramedic student Abby McKinnon says the best part of the day was

the number of resources there were available to students.

“That’s the good thing about today, if you’re really interested in one thing if it doesn’t work out you have so many different ways you can go within EMS,” McKinnon said.

The event was in celebration of National Paramedic Services Week, which goes until Saturday.