Recently across Canada, EMS personnel around Canada were celebrated with an appreciation week and the time also served as an educational opportunity for motorists and individuals coming in contact with the workers.

Michelle Garrett is the manager of the local EMS. She says ensuring house numbers are visible to EMS is crucial, as well as the caller knowing specific information such as the number of patients.

"Know your address, make sure we can see your house number. That's a big thing and we get lost because your house number is hidden by trees or no light on, that's a big thing for EMS and people don't recognize how important that is. Tell us how many patients and be as accurate as you can, accuracy of information is one of the biggest things."

Another important issue Garrett raises is when emergency vehicles are in dense traffic situations, she says most drivers seem unsure of what to do with an approaching ambulance.

With the closing of the 2nd Avenue Bridge in Swift Current, late last week emergency vehicles swayed in and out of traffic lined up down North Railway Street attempting to make it to the south side of the city to reach their destination.

"That is probably the biggest challenge is that there's not enough awareness of what to do when an ambulance is approaching. Lots may not see it until it is close and panic by stopping dead where they are, they may pull over, most just continue on their way."

The nearly 11 year EMS veteran tells SwiftCurrentOnline it takes a special individual to be an EMS, and says knowing that she can be a part of helping or saving a person's life makes the position worth her time and passion.

"What we see on television of someone having a heart attack or cardiac event and drop down is not usually how it goes, it's usually fidgeting around and denial is the big thing. So recognizing what is going on because you're educated but now saying 'oh my God you're having a heart attack' because that will elevate it. Being calm, being professional and taking the fear away really changes the outcome for them [the patient]."