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. 91裸聊视频淚t has added a level of complexity our paramedics have never seen before.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频� one of which was on the Island 91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� not on the job.

Unlike the sterile environments found in hospitals, members of B.C. Ambulance Service are entering homes and encountering an 91裸聊视频渆normous viral load,91裸聊视频� Cameron explained. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not the same environment 91裸聊视频� they can91裸聊视频檛 slip up.91裸聊视频�

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

This means paramedics are suiting up differently for calls and it91裸聊视频檚 creating some challenges 91裸聊视频� aside from the equipment itself being uncomfortable. While paramedics are gearing up, they91裸聊视频檙e often faced with family members or the person who has called them, demanding they drop the extra protocols because the patient doesn91裸聊视频檛 have COVID.

91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 know that and we can91裸聊视频檛 take a risk,91裸聊视频� Cameron said. 91裸聊视频淭hey get quite angry and take it out on the paramedics.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not just a matter of giving someone a mask and saying 91裸聊视频榟ere91裸聊视频檚 your new mask91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� We had to fit test the entire province for the new EFRs,91裸聊视频� Cameron said.

Paramedics were then fitted again for another N95 alternative 91裸聊视频� as well as being outfitted with gowns, gloves, eye protection and more.

91裸聊视频淭he complexities of what we put our paramedics through is unbelievable,91裸聊视频� Cameron said.

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