Desi News Corp - Index

Desi News Corp - Desi News - March 2009 - Index

work together to overcome
traumatic situations. The bond
you develop with your coworkers
is incredible, he says.
Finally, Muhaseen says, paramedicine
is a dynamic profession
that is continually changing
due to improved technologies
and new ways of delivering
health care.
“At one time, paramedics
were simply ambulance drivers
who took people to the hospital.
Today, a paramedic is trained
to distinguish between a
heart attack and an aneurism,
and begin treatment at the
scene. To recognize what medications
the patient is using and
what you can administer en
route to the hospital.”
Centennial’s Paramedic program
is one of the oldest and best
in the province.
The college recently added a
joint-degree program with the
University of Toronto, which
immerses students in the
profession for two action-packed
years. It’s the only Paramedicine
BSc degree in Canada.
Now in his second year,
Muhaseen has begun riding
with Toronto’s paramedics,
learning first-hand what the
work entails and, bluntly, discovering
if he has the stomach
for it.
Working out of one of the
busiest ambulance stations in
Canada, located in downtown
Toronto, his crew responds to
a call every two hours on
average.
As a student, Muhaseen was
eased into the work by running
medical calls – such as patients
with chest pains – before taking
on more serious trauma
situations.
Rather than being a passive
observer, the ambulance team
allows students to interact with
the patients, make diagnoses
and provide first aid. The
professionals step in to assist if
the student makes a misstep,
says Muhaseen.
“Out on the road, it’s very
stressful, but very exhilarating,
too,” he says.
“Role-playing in the classroom
only partly prepares you
for what you will experience in
real life.
“There’s a saying in the
profession: the work amounts
to 80 per cent boredom and 20
per cent sheer terror!”
Centennial’s popular program
is highly disciplined –
students are expected to be in
uniform in class – and practice
drills take place constantly.
“It’s very competitive. About
one-half of the students who
begin the program don’t make it
through to graduation,” says
Muhaseen. “Being book smart
doesn’t always mean you will do
well at the accident scene.”
“That’s why the professors
have you training and practicing
to the point where the work
becomes second nature. It has
to be when you are working on
patients who are on the verge
of death.”
Having spent five months on
duty, Muhaseen has noticed
there are not many minorities
in the profession as yet, but that
is set to change. He also likes
the fact that a primary care
paramedic can earn $100,000
per year with overtime.
What do his parents think of
his career choice?
“Initially they were hesitant,
thinking it was a stepping stone
to being a doctor. But as they
learned what I was doing and
saw the rigour of the program,
they’ve come to realize just how
important my work is.”
– MARK T OLJAGIC
Ask us!
For more information
about Centennial’s
Paramedic program,
visit www.centennialcollege.ca
/paramedic.