The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists celebrates Respiratory Therapy (RT) Week annually and this year it will run from October 21-25, 2019. The week-long celebration serves to recognize and appreciate Respiratory Therapists across the country and provide an opportunity to educate the public about their many roles and responsibilities.
Respiratory Therapists specialize in airway management, the treatment of respiratory related conditions, and the education of patients and their families regarding their respiratory condition and associated treatments.
They are also responsible for the treatment of patients who have experienced trauma or are in surgical or intensive care units; assisting in mechanical ventilation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); stabilizing high-risk patients being moved by air or on the ground; and providing support in high risk deliveries of babies who experience difficulty breathing.
Due to these many roles, RTs are essential in completing the health care team and helping to educate, treat and support patients who suffer from asthma, COPD (emphysema and chronic bronchitis) and other respiratory illnesses.
The Michener Institute of Education at UHN is kicking off RT week on Friday, October 18 with its Annual Stethoscope Ceremony. This event marks a rite of passage in the students’ professional careers, where they will have their stethoscopes placed around their necks by a Registered Respiratory Therapist and recite the Respiratory Therapy Student Oath.
Other events hosted throughout the week include the RT Olympics – where students compete in teams to perform RT skills, a bake sale, trivia night and a yogurt parfait breakfast. All funds raised from these events will support Respiratory Therapists Without Borders, a collaborative project to educate and empower health care practitioners initiated by concerned Respiratory Therapists around the globe.
Help us celebrate the RT profession by joining in the activities!
