By Nicholas Davis
Toronto Sun
Copyright 2008 Toronto Sun
TORONTO — When Shamez Kassam was in Grade 5, he used to watch television in the evenings with his mother and father. One of their favourite shows was Emergency, a one-hour drama that debuted in the 1970s about the daring rescues of paramedics Roy DeSoto and John Gage.
DeSoto and Gage became the first paramedic team on television. They were part of a mobile unit equipped to stabilize a patient and ready them for the ambulance ride to the hospital.
“What I enjoyed about the show was that they were doing something that people at the time didn’t know much about,” says Kassam. “It helped me understand that there was more to being an ambulance driver than just putting someone in a car and taking them to the hospital.”
Emergency lasted five seasons and planted the seed in Kassam’s mind about a career as a paramedic. The seed was firmly rooted when Kassam’s dad became ill one day and an ambulance had to transport him to the hospital.
“My father survived that experience and a lot of the credit had to go to the emergency medical staff that attended to him,” remembers Kassam. “After that, I took a real keen interest in becoming a paramedic.”
As a teenager, Kassam became a cadet at St. John’s Ambulance, and in 1989, he graduated from Humber College’s Ambulance and Emergency Care program. Since then, Kassam has been working as a paramedic — 12 years with Halton Region and the past seven years with Toronto EMS (emergency medical services).
After 19 years as a paramedic, Kassam has seen the job evolve into much more than what he first saw on television with his parents.
“When I first started, there was no advanced life support, just basic life support — the old bed, oxygen and blanket days,” says Kassam, who is now married and has children. “The job has evolved to the point where we’re now capable of bringing a portion of the hospital emergency department to the scene.”
With continuing advances in medicine and technology, Kassam and his fellow paramedics are constantly upgrading their skills. At Toronto EMS, Kassam says they have to take three continuing medical education courses a year.
“We are no longer the ambulance drivers that people thought we were,” says Kassam. “I think our skill set can make an impact on whether a person gets to the hospital alive.”
There are times, though, when there is nothing a paramedic can do to save someone. And although they deal with trauma on a daily basis, those times can often leave a lasting traumatic effect on paramedics.
“I remember eight years ago, I was called to the scene of a young girl who ended up accidentally hanging herself while playing,” says Kassam. “When we got there she had no vital signs. We tried everything we could to save her, but we couldn’t.
“On the scene, I had to take time out to gather myself. I called my wife and told her not to let our children out of her sight. That little girl’s death is something I will take to the grave with me.”
Kassam was able to finish his shift that day, but he credits talking with his co-workers about the experience for helping him get through.
“That’s one of the best things about my job,” says Kassam. “The people I work with are generous, kind and thoughtful and are always there for you when you need them most.”
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On Thursday night at the Denison Armoury, as part of the National EMS Week celebrations, Toronto EMS will host their annual awards ceremony. More than 100 awards will be given out to citizens, EMS staff members, and members of allied services who have gone above and beyond expectations in assisting others during medical emergencies. Shamez Kassam will be honoured that night with the Paramedic-of-the-year Award.