EMS Holly Poirier, formerly of Kipling and now residing in Saskatoon, has started filming her fifth season of Paramedics: Emergency Response.
How did this show come about, you may wonder? The producer was sitting on an airplane and talking to some random guy who commented 鈥淵ou know what would be a good show is if you followed a paramedic around.鈥�
鈥淗ey that鈥檚 actually a pretty good idea,鈥� said the producer.
He approached the MD Ambulance in Saskatoon and talked to them about it and they also agreed that it was good idea.
They first started filming with a couple of paramedics in Saskatoon until they came across Poirier and her partner at that time, who had the qualities and personality they were looking for and so it began for the two of them. Although they said 鈥榥o鈥� at first, they eventually gave in and here they are.
When the show first began, Poirier says she was very aware of the cameras always being there but says now she鈥檚 used to wearing a bodycam and a microphone. 鈥淚t鈥檚 second nature now,鈥� commented Poirier.
A day in the life of a paramedic
鈥淒ays are busier because there鈥檚 a lot of transfers and what not but I run an emerg. car, so I very rarely actually do a transfer,鈥� explained Poirier, who added: 鈥淣ights tend to be more violent crimes 鈥� stabbings, shootings, overdoses, parties after the bars close down so the filming is done through the nightshift because of continuity.
鈥淥ur service is one of busiest services in Western Canada. I do have day shifts which are basically all emerg. calls for us, but it鈥檚 a hectic shift from 6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. 鈥� barely having time for a break. Calls are steady鈥�.it鈥檚 go, go, go all night long. We鈥檙e lucky to see a base.鈥�
鈥淲e just got two new trucks on the street and it鈥檚 still busy. And no it hasn鈥檛 slowed down during COVID 鈥� it鈥檚 actually worse. We have to wear ski goggles on calls and N95 masks on AGMP calls which means certain airway procedures. There鈥檚 a certain protocol for everything,鈥� Poirier explains.
Backing it up a few years, Poirier actually started out wanting to go into massage therapy shortly after graduating Grade 12, also working in the local care home and hospital as a care aide, but soon changed her career path to become a paramedic as this was something she always wanted to do. Being a lifeguard throughout her high school years, becoming a paramedic was always in the back of her mind.
Starting her career in Yorkton in 2011, she soon moved on to Saskatoon in 2013.聽
Among the memorable situations of being a paramedic Poirier has come across are bad ones and unfortunately those come almost every day. Bad car accidents and suicides are a couple of the worst calls that come in.
Poirier especially doesn鈥檛 like getting those 鈥榢id鈥� calls, especially a cardiac arrest, now that she has her own two-year old daughter Harper. Her significant other Gilles is used to her being in this line of work.
It鈥檚 definitely different working in Saskatoon than in a rural area.
