May 26, 2021

‘The forgotten leg of the public safety triangle’: More than 100 paramedics, EMS workers honored by Springfield city officials for ‘thankless job’

By Jackson Cote on May 18, 2021

In honor of the 46th annual National EMS Week, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi and Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood joined American Medical Response (AMR), the city of Springfield and Baystate Health’s primary ambulance provider, to recognize AMR’s EMS professionals, giving out more than 100 awards to AMR paramedics and EMS professionals. (Jackson Cote/MassLive)

It wasn’t an unusual call for paramedic Rejeanne Boissonneault, but life-threatening nevertheless.

A man at a homeless shelter on Worthington Street in Springfield had gone into cardiac arrest after overdosing on heroin in a public area. Thankfully, Boissonneault and her colleagues were able to rush to his aid. In the middle of the facility, in front of most of the residents there, the paramedics were able to resuscitate the man, bring his pulse back at the scene and take him to the hospital moments later, saving his life.

For Boissonneault, it’s just part of the job of being a paramedic, a line of work that’s currently being honored as part of the 46th annual National EMS Week. “It is a thankless job, but when you have weeks where there’s recognition for EMS, I think it’s a great way for people who may have not been having a good run of things to know there’s support,” she said.