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Paramedics prove they are life savers By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER 19 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 29, 2009 Dressed in a sky-blue golf shirt the colour of his eyes, Matthew Laframboise toddled around the Halton Region auditorium completely oblivious to the fact that the room was full of people who were there to celebrate the fact that he could still toddle around the room. It was only a few months ago that 18-month-old Matthew rode in the back of a speeding ambulance, with paramedic Ian Manson frantically battling a popcorn kernel lodged in his airway and blocking air from entering his tiny lungs. It's a day that Manson's partner Joe D'Etienne remembers well. The pair was covering Georgetown when a 911 call reporting a choking 18-monthold sent them to Matthew's house. As they drove over, they made a plan to bring the equipment into the house to treat the child. But once they pulled up, D'Etienne recalls, "All those plans changed." He could see Matthew's mother standing in the doorway with the child, now limp and purple, lying in her arms. It was immediately clear to D'Etienne that there was no time to waste, and he ran to the door, grabbed the child and raced him back to the ambulance. Manson began the attempt at suctioning the blockage out of the toddler's throat, and D'Etienne asked Matthew's mother if she was coming to the hospital with them. She said yes, but when she went back into her house to retrieve her purse and shoes, D'Etienne decided it was time for a fourminute dash to the Georgetown hospital. On Thursday night, at a celebration honouring the work done by the region's Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the paramedic finally had his chance to apologize for leaving her behind. "When it's a kid, you're a little more hyper," D'Etienne, himself a father of three, explained later. Matthew's story was one of seven chosen to illustrate the dedication and skill demonstrated by Halton EMS staff as they respond to more than 50,000 calls each year. "The paramedics honoured at the celebration of life ceremony represent all of the paramedics here in Halton, who continuously touch the lives of thousands of Halton residents," said Halton regional chair Gary Carr. "The skills and professionalism our paramedics demonstrate are greatly appreciated." Dramatic stories ranged from the call that brought paramedics to the home of a hemorrhaging pregnant woman who had lost so much "Paramedics often don't find out what happens to their patients after they are brought to a hospital, so this is a good opportunity for them to see the positive impact they have had on people and families." Dr. Bob Nosal, Medical Officer of Health, Halton Region ambulance to a hospital in Toronto. Not only did the celebration evening give patients a chance to thank the paramedics who had rushed to their aid, it also gave paramedics a chance to see recovered patients like Matthew toddling around the gym. "Paramedics often don't find out what happens to their patients after they are brought to a hospital, so this is a good opportunity for them to see the positive impact they have had on people and families," said Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton's medical officer of health. Not all calls involve survivors, and D'Etienne admitted that the losses can weigh heavily on the shoulders of paramedics. For him, the memory of helping to save Matthew's life will help counteract more difficult and tragic memories. Halton employs 152 para- medics, who work out of 10 stations across the four municipalities. Staff members include advanced-care paramedics, who are trained to provide emergency room care to patients; bicycle paramedics, who provide medical care to patients during community events, and tactical paramedics who provide medical support to the Halton Police Tactical Rescue Unit during high risk calls. blood she was in severe shock, to the quick response to people in cardiac distress. Halton EMS employee Adam McPetrie was recognized for his role in saving the life of his father, who collapsed while the pair was out on a walk on the Bruce Trail. A team of paramedics was also recognized for their work saving the life of John Everrett, who suffered severe injuries after dazedly wandering into a lane of traffic on the QEW following an accident that saw his car hit a pole near the Ford plant in Oakville. Paramedics spent more than 90 minutes at the side of the highway stabilizing the critically injured man so he could be transported by air Spring into summer. 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