For most people, going above and beyond means working overtime to complete an important project or help a neighbour out of a tough situation.

But for Dr. Nic Sparrow, going above and beyond means saving people91裸聊视频檚 lives or drastically changing the recovery outcome of a severe injury or health crisis, and he is hoping more doctors and community members will join in the fight.

Sparrow is an emergency room doctor at Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson, but he feels the duty of saving lives doesn91裸聊视频檛 end when he leaves the hospital at the end of his shift.

Sparrow remains on call and often leaves the comforts of his home for some of the harshest realities of life 91裸聊视频� the most severe 9-1-1 calls in the West Kootenay. He does this work as a volunteer 91裸聊视频� giving his time and providing his own supplies and equipment.

The idea of doctors attending accident scenes, cardiac arrest calls and drug overdoses seems like a new approach here in Canada, but the practice is actually quite common in Europe and other parts of the world.

Sparrow first became familiar with the practice while working in the United Kingdom.

After moving to Canada, Sparrow started volunteering his time for this type of work in 2008 while working on the Sunshine Coast.

Sparrow is quick to emphasize that he does not do this work alone, that it is a team effort 91裸聊视频� he is there to support the first responders, ambulance attendants, paramedics and fire department personnel.

91裸聊视频淚 think they do an absolutely amazing job 91裸聊视频� but there are some calls that a physician who is trained in pre-hospital response can assist with,91裸聊视频� said Sparrow.

91裸聊视频淭o support the emergency services, and secondly to help save lives and help the most critically ill or injured patients in the community 91裸聊视频� that is my goal,91裸聊视频� explained Sparrow who has attended 260 calls over the last four years.

Sparrow says its hard to calculate how many lives have been saved through the work.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not working in isolation, I91裸聊视频檓 working always with the paramedics, with the firefighters 91裸聊视频� so it is hard to equate to lives saved. But I have definitely, massively changed the outcome for a subset of critically ill patients,91裸聊视频� he said.

This is partly because he is able to provide things like anti-seizure medications 91裸聊视频� stopping patients from enduring long periods of seizures and advanced life support drugs and treatments to the scene of cardiac arrests.

91裸聊视频淭here are certain things that I can provide that other providers at the moment in the pre-hospital environment cannot 91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 partly why I respond,91裸聊视频� said Sparrow.

91裸聊视频淭he paramedics on the ground and the firefighters 91裸聊视频� they have to deal with some really tough stuff and work in the confines of what they are allowed to do 91裸聊视频� when we have basic life support, there are only a limited number of things the province allows them to do.91裸聊视频�

Before moving to Canada, Sparrow responded with the ambulance service of the UK as a first responder and also alongside ambulance services in South Africa.

91裸聊视频淚 have seen the benefit of having physicians in rural areas respond,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淚 think it should be a national program. There should be volunteer pre-hospital trained physicians 91裸聊视频� and maybe in the fullness of time it won91裸聊视频檛 be volunteer 91裸聊视频� across the province in rural areas assisting the ambulance service.91裸聊视频�

Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association

Sparrow and others have formed a non-profit organization to help fund this work 91裸聊视频� the Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association (KERPA).

He hopes other physicians will join him in the work but explained it may take a while before that could happen.

91裸聊视频淭here is quite a lot of specialist training you require to translate your emergency skills into the pre-hospital setting,91裸聊视频� explained Sparrow.

He also knows the idea is a tough sell.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an unusual model because you are not being paid for your time, you are on call 24/7 unless you turn your phone off. It91裸聊视频檚 not an overly attractive job concept.

91裸聊视频淵ou have to be slightly weird in order to want to do it 91裸聊视频� hopefully the Kootenays will attract some more weird people to join me,91裸聊视频� added Sparrow.

KERPA has developed a wish list that includes a designated marked vehicle to take to the scene of calls. The vehicle could then be stocked with the necessary equipment and outfitted with lights and sirens.

Sparrow has been using a LifePak 12 defibrillator/monitor on loan from Interior Health and an upgrade to a LifePak 15 is also on the organization91裸聊视频檚 list.

They would also like an automated chest compression device 91裸聊视频� the LUCAS 3.

KERPA has already raised about $20,000 and has purchased a state-of-the-art hand-held ultrasound machine.

The above equipment will cost about $75,000 to $100,000 so KERPA is looking for a dealership or someone else to sponsor the vehicle and is accepting donations through its Facebook page.

91裸聊视频淲e are just a volunteer organization, trying to help 91裸聊视频� we have no political agenda,91裸聊视频� added Sparrow. 91裸聊视频淚 feel I have a duty to help these people and I am going to do it 91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檓 just going to do it.91裸聊视频�

And that is where the conversation ended 91裸聊视频� Sparrow91裸聊视频檚 phone rang, and he was needed elsewhere.