Ottawa Paramedics Named MedicAlert Legends of the Call

MedicAlert Recognizes Two Fast Acting Paramedics Who Went Above and Beyond the Call of Duty

Two Ottawa paramedics are being honoured by the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation. Robert Wilson and Jill deBoer from the Ottawa Paramedic Services have received the MedicAlert “Legends of the Call Award”. The award recognizes emergency responders who have demonstrated outstanding performance during an emergency by effectively using the MedicAlert Look, Read, Call procedure:

• Look: to see if a patient is wearing a MedicAlert ID.
• Read: the engraving on the back of the MedicAlert ID to learn vital information about the patient's allergies and medical conditions.
• Call: the unique MedicAlert 24/7 emergency hotline to reach a live MedicAlert agent for the patient-provided full medical history in less than five seconds flat.

Wilson and deBoer were among the first on the scene after a MedicAlert member suffered an epileptic seizure at a fitness centre. The member was able to speak but was left feeling very confused – Wilson and deBoer weren't confident that the information being provided by the patient was accurate. By calling the MedicAlert 24/7 hotline they were able to receive immediate access to the member's medical history and emergency contact information.

“Paramedics are trained to look for medic alert information on a person during their assessment to have the important medical information they need when a patient is incapacitated and family or acquaintance is not available,” says Wilson.

“Because of the patient's confused state, we were having trouble getting crucial information from him. Calling MedicAlert provided that information quickly, and also gave us his emergency contact information so we were able to reach his parents within minutes of the incident occurring,” adds deBoer.

Wilson who has been working as a paramedic for 18 years became a paramedic to help make a difference and save people's lives.

deBoer has been a paramedic for four years.