Paramedic Services Week is underway, and Moose Jaw & Distric Paramedics already have one event under their belt.

They held a Bike Safety program at Yara Centre Sunday, taking the opportunity to teach bike safety, in addition to promoting their Bike Medics program which involves paramedics on bike patrol at events where there may not  be room for an ambulance.

"Every year we look to our staff to come up with ideas (for Paramedics Services Week)," explained Angela Sereda, who owns the Moose Jaw operations with husband Kyle.

"(Paramedic) Mike Slater came up with Bike Medics for people to understand what they are and where they are," she continued. "It was a great opportunity for people to come and see what we have for equipment, ride with them and learn bike safety."

Sereda says that they take to heart the theme for Paramedic Services Week - "Always In Service."

"365 days a year, 24 hours a day we are available for the public," she stated. "A lot of it now is not just emergency service, but it's working on education and prevention of chronic diseases, which is where Community Paramedicine comes in."

Sereda just completed the Community Paramedicine Program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.  According to the course description, “Community paramedics use their mobile care response skills to bring services to members of the community who may not be able to access available services otherwise. They work collaboratively with health-care professionals in the community to provide faster and more efficient health-care services."

Sereda says she looks forward to being able to integrate those skills in the Moose Jaw area soon. 

There are a number of events planned locally for Paramedic Services Week, including "Teddy Bear Clinics" at local schools, allowing young children to have their stuffed animals "cared for" by a paramedic. 

"It's more for their fear of seeing an ambulance," said Sereda, explaining the idea behind the Teddy Bear clinics. "A lot of it is getting to see us in a different capacity."