A unique transatlantic exchange has given Canadian and Swiss paramedics the chance to work a shift in each other’s communities, thanks to a reality television show called Job Swap.

On Sunday, two Swiss paramedics reflected on their several days in Kingston, where they worked one shift with Frontenac Paramedic Services while being followed by a Job Swap film crew.

Silvan Schibler and Sandra Wenger work together as paramedics in the town of Spiez in the canton of Bern, Switzerland.

In addition to working a shift with Frontenac Paramedics, the paramedics had the opportunity to take in some of Kingston’s top tourist sites. On Sunday, they were at Fort Henry to observe a parade and fire some historic rifles.

During a break from filming for the show, the two Swiss paramedics reflected on their time in Kingston, just two days before their departure.

“It was a fantastic experience to come over the big pond and see how these guys work,” Schibler said. “In the end, after these couple of days spending with the local paramedic service, we’ve figured out we’re quite the same. Personality-wise, humour-wise, as well as skills and knowledge. We do the same stuff, just in different countries.”

While working a shift alongside Frontenac Paramedics, Schibler and Wenger responded to four or five calls, including a motor vehicle collision and some medical events such as shortness of breath, pain and drug-related calls.

Both paramedics said they felt at ease working with Kingston’s first responders, and that the similarities between them all were greater than the differences.

One difference Wenger noted was that paramedics in Switzerland have a slightly wider scope of practice, with access to more powerful drugs.

“We’re allowed to use other or more potent medications, painkillers, for patients, stuff they’d only be allowed to use here only on a very specific call,“ Schibler said, filling in the comment for Wenger, whose English was not as strong. “We have freedom to use them in different ways.”

Working in a city was also a shift for the pair.

“Back home, we are more of a rural, mountainous area rescue service,” Schibler said. “We get more sports activity injuries, snow sporting injuries, farming accidents and, of course, all the medical stuff as in chest discomfort and shortness of breath and seizures. It’s not as much in a big city back home.”

Schibler and Wenger were impressed with the way Kingston’s paramedics worked together.

“One of the major things we’ve experienced is teamwork, with different crews coming on scene and seamlessly fitting into the crews,” Schibler said. “The security, their calmness and personality-wise how these guys behave themselves on scene with the patients is a huge part of what we can take back home.”

Frontenac Paramedics Supt. Jeff Burgess was the overseer for the Swiss paramedics’ experience in the Kingston service. He said the pair passed evaluation tests with flying colours and were able to work alongside local paramedics with no hiccups.

“They’ve done fantastic,” Burgess said. “They’re great people. They’re mirrors of us, in another country.”

While Schibler and Wenger are in Kingston, Frontenac Paramedics’ Alison Shorey and Harris Lemon are in Switzerland experiencing that country’s equivalent to their jobs.

The process of working and filming at the same time wasn’t an easy one, but Burgess said the experience has been worthwhile.

“This whole week has been a lot of work, a lot of retakes, but a lot of accomplishment and pride for our service,” he said.

Schibler has visited the West Coast of Canada once before, but it was Wenger’s first time in the country.

“Our time here was fantastic,” Wenger said. “It was amazing experience to meet all these guys here at work. Everyone is so friendly and so kind. It was a pleasure to be here.”

“Thanks for an experience of a lifetime. It’s been a wild ride for us,” Schibler said. “We’ve been welcomed with open hearts. It’s something we’ve never experienced before, and we will never forget. It touches the right spot in our heart, actually.”

mbalogh@postmedia.com