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The paramedics sat quietly, the weight of responsibility heavy on their minds, as the ambulance raced through the city streets to the home of a family in distress. Inside, frightened parents hovered over their infant — her once rosy cheeks now a haunting shade of blue. The child lay motionless, her tiny chest unmoving. She appeared to be in cardiac arrest, but why? A congenital condition? Without a moment to spare, the paramedics sprang to action, their training kicking in as they performed CPR and provided oxygen.

Bibin Peter, one of the paramedics, gently took the mother aside to ask what happened in the minutes leading up to their emergency call. She told him she was introducing her young daughter to solid foods and gave her peanut butter to taste. As soon as he heard the mother’s words, he called for an epinephrine autoinjector, suspecting that the child had suffered an anaphylactic shock – a rare but severe allergic reaction that can be deadly if it’s not treated right away. Precious seconds ticked by as the paramedics administered epinephrine, the only hope of counteracting the allergic reaction that had stolen this child’s breath. And then a soft gasp filled the room, followed by the reassuring sound of the infant's cry, as relief washed over the faces of the paramedics.

It’s an experience that will be forever etched in Bibin’s memories of his career as an Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP). Born in Kerala, Southern India, and raised in Qatar, he now lives and works 10,000 kilometers away in Prince Edward Island (PEI) trading the golden desert sands of the Arabian Peninsula for the island’s distinctive red soil.

Bibin recalls how excited he was to take his first trip to Toronto after living in PEI for a year and a half. 

“I still remember flying back to PEI. As soon as the plane doors opened and I stepped out and inhaled the fresh air, I’m like, ‘it’s so good to be home.’”

After graduation, he chose to remain in PEI to gain field experience. He joined Island EMS, PEI’s ground ambulance service operator and a subsidiary of Medavie Health Services.

Two Worlds

Being a paramedic in the bustling cityscape of Qatar is quite different from working in PEI, and although Qatar is approximately the same as PEI in geographical size, it has close to 3 million residents. In stark contrast, PEI only has 176,000. 

“The ambulance service in Qatar is always busy, always. It is intense.”

Additionally, Qatar is culturally diverse, with ethnicity playing a role in the wide range of conditions paramedics treat. For example, Nepalese patients are at high risk of cardiac arrhythmia due to the high altitude in their country of origin. In terms of the age of patients, PEI skews significantly older.

“Most of our patients here are geriatric. In Qatar, geriatric calls account for 2% of the whole call volume.”

Bibin doesn’t think he could go back to city life now. He enjoys the Island’s slow pace, scenic beauty, and friendliness of its people. Outgoing with an easy laugh, Bibin is grateful for the friendships he has made here, along with the many outdoor activities the Island offers, like hiking, cycling, walking the beaches, and swimming in the ocean – activities he enjoyed when he lived in Qatar. 

And he’s grateful for the support he has received from his employer and team.

“They are super accommodating and willing to work with you. I enjoy every single day working with this crew on the road.”

Saving Lives to Starting New Ones

Bibin says the most rewarding part of his job is the gratitude he receives from families he has helped. 

He says the number one quality paramedics need to succeed is patience, along with good investigative and listening skills, to determine the best patient care plan. This was reinforced to him when he diagnosed the infant with anaphylaxis. Other standout moments in his career include delivering four babies — all in Qatar. He’s still “waiting to become a stork” in PEI.

His advice to anyone interested in a career in paramedicine is to make sure it’s a calling. “If it is, then you’ll love it.”

In April 2024, Bibin returned to India to marry his wife Ann, a residential care worker, in a 500-guest wedding. He now hopes his new bride will fall in love with Island life like he did.