Hats off to EMS
Last week I had occasion to look at Emergency Medical Services up close and personal, from health-centre personnel at the Mayo and Carmacks health centres to volunteer ambulance services in Mayo, Carmacks and Whitehorse, as well as the flight crew and medevac air ambulance team. I also spent some time at emergency at the Whitehorse hospital.
I was driven through a blizzard to Carmacks via ambulance by driver Ian Spencer, attendant Darlene Hutton and nurse Jan. The medevac team and Whitehorse ambulance crew had minutes to spare to fly out of Carmacks before darkness fell.
The journey down gave me pause to value the work of volunteers, the professionalism of medical staff and the skills of the pilot. The emergency unit staff was very busy but did all possible testing. When I was released, I was breathing the fresh air, looking at the stars and thankful to be on my own two feet once more.
The hardest part of being a patient is giving over control to somebody else. Here in the Yukon we are fortunate to have the medical care we do have. Perhaps the best way to avoid such close encounters is to follow your doctor’s advice on lifestyle changes so you can remain blissfully unaware of worst-case scenarios.
I did have time to consider a few notes to self.
Note to self: get your will in order, write down your wishes regarding your funeral, get your important documents in one place, tell the people you love that you do love and appreciate them. In short, get your ducks in a row.
I also consider myself lucky to have lived this long. I admit, like most people, that I have taken my good health for granted and have believed I would go on like this forever.
For those of us who believe we are indispensable, think again. We come in alone and go out alone.
If you do find yourself in a medical crisis, you are lucky to be here getting the care you need. This is my note of thanks and appreciation for the excellent care I received.
Marcia MacDonald
Mayo