Every Breath You Take: Recognizing Respiratory Therapists

Oct 18, 2022

by Sarah McVanel, Chief Recognition Officer, Greatness Magnified

Pop quiz: Do you have a heart? Do you enjoy that oxygen in your blood? Have you ever gone to an emergency room? Have you ever had a super scary time with a loved one who found it hard to breathe?

If the answer is yes to any above, then you love love love respiratory therapists. And yet, you may not even know that this professional group exists.

Unless you or someone you love has had serious cardiopulmonary issues (learn what this is here), you may never have met one, let alone realize how essential they are in almost any major crisis (e.g., traumatic car accident, premature baby’s birth.) It’s kind of like life insurance; you hope you never need to draw on it, but you’re glad it’s there if you do.

He’s the tricky thing. Besides RTs being the best-kept secret of the healthcare system, they are also invisible heroes. Patients and families may not be conscious or too immersed in a crisis. They may not know who was present, who did what, and whom to thank (RTs are onto the next patient and pressing crisis). How do you thank someone you don’t know or see?

It’s Respiratory Therapy Week (October 23-October 30.) Here are a few ideas of what you can do:

1. Post to social what you do to keep yourself healthy and end it with “This week I dedicate my health to every #rt for #respiratorytherapyweek”
2. Check out RTs making a difference HERE
3. Learn about what an RT does so you can thank them in the future
4. If you work with RTs, make a point of telling them exactly what you appreciate about them
5. If you work in a hospital, drop off some goodies to the RT staffroom with a short card, “Hey RTs, we in the ICU appreciate you!” (bonus points for having some colleagues sign it)
6. Forward my video thanking RTs and tag the RTs
7. Share a post on CSRT’s Instagram to your story (you can copy the pic above to share on your SM, just right-click and save)
8. Tell a high school student interested in biology at RT as a career option (here are the schools in Canada)

So, which of these are you going to do right now?

Huge love to all my RTs and those who work alongside them. I am grateful for you every day.

Looking for more ways to thank your favourite healthcare heroes?

• Our Healthcare Heroes Need Recognition Now!
• The Essential Services Post-COVID Recognition Challenge
• Recognizing the Invisible Greatness