Respiratory Therapy -- A Vital Profession
For thousands of British Columbians, breathing is a struggle. They might be accident victims, premature babies with immature lungs, heart attack and stroke patients, or people who live with asthma and emphysema.
When it comes to their care, a respiratory therapist will likely play a vital role on the healthcare team.
Respiratory therapists are healthcare professionals who assist physicians with the diagnosis and treatment of lung disorders.Every year, TB Vets funds bursaries to help education BC's next generation of Respiratory therapists. With your help, TB Vets also provides funding for up-to-date equipmet for respiratory therapy students to practice on.
TRU's Respiratory Therapy Program
Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops is the only place in British Columbia where students can train to become respiratory therapists. TRU's Respiratory Therapy graduates receive high praise from the hospitals that employ them. Visit TRU's website for more information on this exciting program and rewarding career.
Respiratory Therapists at Work
Most respiratory therapists work in hospitals. You'll find them in neonatal nurseries, operating rooms, intensive care units, general wards, and emergency departments. Respiratory therapists also work in the community, bringing their expertise to home care, teaching, research and rehabilitation.
They need good judgement, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to maintain composure in critical medical situations.
Did you know?
Many accidents and health problems require special respiratory equipment and the expertise of respiratory therapists.
Heart attack, stroke, drowning or shock
The first question in first aid is, “Is the patient breathing?” Whatever else may be wrong, if you can’t breathe, you will die. Respiratory therapists and respiratory equipment are a vital part of emergency rooms.
Sporting accidents
In 2000, Montreal Canadiens player Trent McCleary nearly died after being hit in the throat by a puck. His larynx was crushed, and one of his lungs collapsed. Doctors inserted a breathing tube in his throat so he could breathe. Respiratory therapists helped him recover.
Choking
A young mother in the Gulf Islands choked, and inhaled a piece of carrot. Foreign objects in the lungs can lead to deadly infections. She was flown to Vancouver, where a bronchoscope donated to VGH by TB Vets was used to remove the carrot that same day. Without the bronchoscope, she would have needed surgery.
Birth
Premature babies can have problems breathing because the lungs are the last organ to develop. Often, preemies must breathe through a ventilator for some time. Respiratory therapists watch over premature babies until their lungs are mature.
Flu
Many people worry about strange new diseases like SARS or Avian Influenza, but forget that the regular flu that strikes each winter can be deadly. In Canada, 70,000 to 75,000 people are hospitalized with flu each year. Many of them require ventilators to help them breathe and respiratory therapy to help them recover.
Surgery
Anytime you have general anesthetic because of surgery, a respiratory therapist is there, making sure that you get enough oxygen, and your vital signs are stable.
Smoke and Pollution
According to the BC Ministry of Health Services, up to 2,000 hospital admissions and up to 2,700 emergency room visits each year are caused by air pollution. These patients may need respiratory equipment and respiratory therapy to get better.
Your donations to TB Vets pay for respiratory equipment for BC hospitals, bursaries for respiratory therapy students, and research to help end tuberculosis. You help BC breathe!
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