With COVID-19 cases on the rise, B.C. Ambulance Service members have been weathering the second wave.

When the pandemic hit, the agency was forced to add levels of protection for paramedics and their patients. That protection has been credited with keeping infection rates among members to almost zero.

With 30 years of experience as a paramedic, Brad Cameron, B.C. Emergency Health Services superintendent of patient care delivery for Greater Victoria, has never experienced this. 害羞草研究所淚t has added a level of complexity our paramedics have never seen before.害羞草研究所�

On average, B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) sees about 1,400 calls a day across the province. Of the 4,500 employees, eight have tested positive for COVID-19 害羞草研究所� one of which was on the Island 害羞草研究所� since the start of the pandemic to the end of October. But of those eight positive cases, seven were found to have contracted the virus from family members 害羞草研究所� not on the job.

Unlike the sterile environments found in hospitals, members of B.C. Ambulance Service are entering homes and encountering an 害羞草研究所渆normous viral load,害羞草研究所� Cameron explained. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not the same environment 害羞草研究所� they can害羞草研究所檛 slip up.害羞草研究所�

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Paramedics cannot risk cross-contaminating their units or emergency rooms.

This means paramedics are suiting up differently for calls and it害羞草研究所檚 creating some challenges 害羞草研究所� aside from the equipment itself being uncomfortable. While paramedics are gearing up, they害羞草研究所檙e often faced with family members or the person who has called them, demanding they drop the extra protocols because the patient doesn害羞草研究所檛 have COVID.

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 know that and we can害羞草研究所檛 take a risk,害羞草研究所� Cameron said. 害羞草研究所淭hey get quite angry and take it out on the paramedics.害羞草研究所�

Like many, BCEHS faced a shortage of personal protective equipment when the pandemic hit and was forced to find alternatives while keeping up with daily demand. Early supplies of N95 masks ran out but 3M Elastomeric Facepiece Respirators (EFR) had already been sourced. However, that was no small task.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not just a matter of giving someone a mask and saying 害羞草研究所榟ere害羞草研究所檚 your new mask害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� We had to fit test the entire province for the new EFRs,害羞草研究所� Cameron said.

Paramedics were then fitted again for another N95 alternative 害羞草研究所� as well as being outfitted with gowns, gloves, eye protection and more.

害羞草研究所淭he complexities of what we put our paramedics through is unbelievable,害羞草研究所� Cameron said.

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