At that time PCPs could take call from their home if they lived within 15 minutes of the emergency services headquarters. Huys lived in Goodlands and could take call from her home. Now the paramedics have five to eight minutes to respond to a call.
Training to become a paramedic used to include Alternate Route Maintenance Licensing. This has changed to ongoing education and licensing through the College of Paramedics of Manitoba. Liability insurance is obtained through Paramedics Association of Manitoba.
Huys has witnessed the evolution of emergency services during her career. She said the scope of practices has increased, they are now able to do more and carry/administer a broader scope of treatments.
She said at the beginning of her career the shifts were one week on, one week off, 24/7. Now it is based on a 96-hour rotation with 12 hours in-house and 12 hours on call (home).
The paramedics often work closely with other emergency groups such as the local and area fire departments.
“The firefighters are an incredible bunch, they have always been there for paramedics. I am so blessed to have worked with these amazing people. In fact several of the firefighters are former EMRs.”
“We also work with Premier Air, STARS and Life Flight to transfer patients or for emergencies. Fortunately Deloraine has an excellent airport and fuel available that can accommodate those aircraft, thanks to the municipality and people like Ben Arde who worked hard to sustain and maintain the facility.”
Being a paramedic was much more than a job for Huys. It carried on over to the community, where she made many effective and lasting connections. Huys delivered Car Seat Safety seminars for new parents, Farm Safety Days for Grade 4-8 students in Deloraine, Waskada, Pierson and Melita and Home Health & Safety for seniors.
“We went to the daycare and had so much fun with the kids. We put tiny electrodes on them and gave them the readout of their EKGs. They were so excited about it all.”
Huys also served many years on the Workplace, Health & Safety Board, facilitated CPR recertification for the nurses, worked at Wellness Fairs, community events such as RCMP Musical Ride, Deloraine Fair & Races and played an integral role in fundraising for special equipment such as the stair chair and electric stretcher for the ambulance.
“The community really came together for us when we were fundraising.”
Huys said she was blessed to have had amazing coworkers and managers such as Jill VanGheluewe and Kelly McMechan.
“Kelly is great to work with and is very approachable,” said Huys.
Kelly McMechan, Manager Health Services - EMS Operations, West Zone returned the praise. He said Emergency Medical Services in Deloraine would never be the same after March 28, 2024, the date of Huys’ retirement.
“I was lucky enough to have worked with Bev for many years, she is a very dedicated partner and employee. She has seen changes from a volunteer and casual EMS service through many organizations, Southwest, Assiniboine, and Prairie Mountain Health RHAs to now Shared Health ERS. Bev worked diligently with pride in her heart to be a paramedic, she is very proud of the Deloraine station where she worked all her 26 years,” he said.
McMechan teased Huys about being the ‘mom’ of the station, always worried about everyone else and how they are doing professionally and personally, and going about her own business without complaint. He said he used the phrase “excessively nice” to describe her many times.
In 2018 Huys was one of six Prairie Mountain Health paramedics to receive Exemplary Service Honours. She received 20 years of service medal at the Manitoba Legislature. The Manitoba Lt. Governor General’s Medal awards were created in 1994 and recognize professionals in the provision of pre-hospital emergency medical services to the public and performed in an exemplary manner. The nomination mentioned Huys’ connection with the public, how patients often stop by the Deloraine EMS office to say thanks for her help either on their way into or out of hospital. She greets them with a big smile and probably a hug if that is what they need at the time. If you pass Bev in the hospital hallway, or uptown on a day off and ask how she is, she will always give her answer as “absolutely wonderful”.
Short-term plans for the future include taking the summer off to go camping.
Following that Huys hopes people will feel comfortable coming to her if they need help. She wants to continue to make a difference.
“My community means everything to me,” she concluded.
by JUDY WELLS, Recorder staff