As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to worsen, there are concerns about the risk to frontline healthcare workers.
The local paramedics are taking precautions when responding to all infectious disease calls, wearing gloves, plastic gowns, N95 masks, and full-face visors. According to a paramedic practice educator for BC Emergency Health Services in Vancouver, it can be frightening to those who do not know but it has been a standard precaution for many years. Seeing paramedics in masks does not necessarily mean they are responding to reports of COVID-19. Every influenza-like call, every potentially infectious call will require paramedics to wear this gear.
The current protocol was established after the Ebola, H1N1, and SARS outbreaks. The main lesson learned from that was that healthcare workers are at risk-taking off their protective gear than putting it on.
Response exercises and additional training for paramedics are now underway across the province to prevent those mistakes from occurring again.
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