Paramedics make plea to public to help keep them protected during the COVID-19 pandemic

Paramedics are often the first to respond to people who are in medical distress, or in an emergency situation.

To help keep the paramedics safe and fully prepared for every call they attend, medical communications officers say if you need an ambulance, it’s critical that you provide them with any COVID-19-related information when you first make the call for help.

In a release sent Friday morning, Medavie Health Services says this information could be the difference in a paramedic being exposed to COVID-19.

LeeAnn Osler, Medavie’s deputy chief of medical communications, says the company is asking the public to be up front and honest when calling 911 for a medical emergency.

“If your chief complaint is shortness of breath or a fever, we will catch the PPE (personal protective equipment) precautions in our call screening,” said Osler. “However, if your chief complaint is something entirely different like a fractured leg from falling from a ladder while working from home, pre-screening for PPE could be missed.”

Osler is asking that anyone who calls for an ambulance to let the company know on that call if they have been tested for COVID-19, have been at any gatherings with 10 or more people in the last 14 days, or have any signs and symptoms that include fever, cough or shortness of breath.

She says that will help to keep paramedics safe and ensure they are prepared when walking into homes to help others in a time of need.