Weyburn EMS-s is celebrating 25 years of operations in Weyburn.

It was twenty-five years ago that Emergency Medical Services in Weyburn transitioned from private-ownership to a board-run organization.

"A lot of the big changes that EMS has seen over 25 years, is absolutely the education, and changes in the role from what EMT did 25 years ago to what an EMT can do today,” said Jason Roy of the Weyburn EMS. “Twenty-five years ago, it was a very basic treatment. Now, we almost bring the emergency room to you."

Roy, who has been part of EMS in Weyburn for 28 years, recalls the biggest changes he has seen since the inception of Weyburn EMS.

“The change in ambulance from 25 years ago to now, I would say the amount of equipment that is stocked that we can supply,” he said. “Doing things like giving a lot of medications, intravenous treatment, to defibrillators, advanced airways.”

He noted that the biggest surprise for him has been the addition of the STARS Air Ambulance in the region.

“I can honestly say that I never, ever thought I would have a helicopter backing me up in 25 years,” said Roy.

As Weyburn EMS enters its next 25 years, some advances on the horizon for how things could change in the next twenty-five:

“In the next 25 years, I absolutely see that we will be bringing a whole lot more treatment from the hospital,” he said. “We actually may be seeing things where we may be talking to a doctor before we leave the scene.”

 

Participants of the Weyburn Wor-Kin Shop day program were able to experience various elements of emergency medical services when Weyburn EMS visited the Wor-Kin Shop last week (photo courtesy of Weyburn Wor-Kin Shop).

Wor-Kin Shop participant Wendy Smith enjoyed being a mock victim at the Wor-Kin Shop during a visit from the Weyburn EMS last week (photo courtesy of Weyburn Wor-Kin Shop).