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. 香蕉视频直播淚t has added a level of complexity our paramedics have never seen before.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播� one of which was on the Island 香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播� not on the job.

Unlike the sterile environments found in hospitals, members of B.C. Ambulance Service are entering homes and encountering an 香蕉视频直播渆normous viral load,香蕉视频直播� Cameron explained. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not the same environment 香蕉视频直播� they can香蕉视频直播檛 slip up.香蕉视频直播�

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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香蕉视频直播檚 creating some challenges 香蕉视频直播� aside from the equipment itself being uncomfortable. While paramedics are gearing up, they香蕉视频直播檙e often faced with family members or the person who has called them, demanding they drop the extra protocols because the patient doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have COVID.

香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 know that and we can香蕉视频直播檛 take a risk,香蕉视频直播� Cameron said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey get quite angry and take it out on the paramedics.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not just a matter of giving someone a mask and saying 香蕉视频直播榟ere香蕉视频直播檚 your new mask香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� We had to fit test the entire province for the new EFRs,香蕉视频直播� Cameron said.

Paramedics were then fitted again for another N95 alternative 香蕉视频直播� as well as being outfitted with gowns, gloves, eye protection and more.

香蕉视频直播淭he complexities of what we put our paramedics through is unbelievable,香蕉视频直播� Cameron said.

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