Three Chatham-Kent paramedics joined about 100 others this past weekend in a memorial ride from Toronto to Ottawa raising money and awareness for the Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation.
Medavie spokesman Donald MacLellan says since the Foundation began keeping records in 1980, 38 paramedics have lost their lives in the line of duty.
“We strive to protect ourselves in every which way we can, but there’s times where we don’t know what we’re getting ourselves into,” MacLellan says. “Some days we’re involved in high traffic areas such as a motor vehicle collision on a major highway, or we’re treating patients in unknown circumstances and situations that could potentially pose some risk or danger to those involved.”
The Foundation is working to build a monument in Ottawa to honour their colleagues who have been killed on the job.