Firefighters ought to have the ability to work as medical first responders in the course of the pandemic in the event that they get the precise private protecting gear, the top of the Hearth Service Affiliation of Nova Scotia stated Tuesday.
Daniel Gaudet spoke to CBC Information after listening to about April George, a Nova Scotia girl who died after collapsing final week at her Bass River, N.S., house. It took 80 minutes for assist to reach after her husband known as 911, regardless of a hearth corridor sitting simply minutes away.
Almost a 12 months earlier than, at the beginning of COVID-19 lockdowns, Emergency Well being Companies (EHS) advised firefighters throughout Nova Scotia to now not attend most medical requires security causes.
“It was the precise name at the beginning, however now figuring out COVID and the circumstances in Nova Scotia, I really feel snug that if they’ve the correct PPE [personal protective equipment], they might reply to calls,” stated Gaudet.
“Nevertheless, these numbers can begin rising once more, so I believe we should be very cautious.”
As of Tuesday, Nova Scotia had 12 lively circumstances of COVID-19.
Coaching for firefighters ongoing for months
Firefighters are actually being known as just for fires, car crashes, or if paramedics request assist shifting a affected person from the scene to the ambulance.
Gaudet, who can be the chief of Nova Scotia’s Saint-Bernard hearth division, stated masks fittings and coaching on COVID-19 protocols have been provided for as much as six firefighters at every station since final summer time.
There are roughly 270 hearth departments within the province with 2,000 medical first responders.
Gaudet has been calling stations attempting to find out who can reply to medical calls, and estimates 50 hearth halls now have that functionality. He didn’t say which of them.
McNeil says Bass River case ‘alarming’
On Tuesday, Premier Stephen McNeil stated what occurred in Bass River is “alarming.”
“I do know that it is being regarded into to see what occurred in that exact case, and what we are able to do to make it possible for service is there,” McNeil advised reporters at a COVID-19 briefing.
“My understanding is now that coaching is ongoing and that a part of that service can be again up and functioning.”
He could not say when that may occur.
Volunteer firefighters and paramedics are additionally eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, stated Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of well being.
EHS at coronary heart of drawback: Gaudet
Gaudet stated the foundation of the issue is EHS, the place understaffed and overworked paramedics wrestle to answer calls. That leaves huge holes in protection, that means folks would possibly wait hours for an ambulance.
“It is not for the medical first responders program to repair the issue that we’ve got proper now with the ambulance service within the province,” stated Gaudet, who has known as on the federal government to make a report on ambulances public.
Charbel Daniel, a senior supervisor at EHS, advised CBC Information that 35 teams of medical first responders have been fitted with masks and educated in September, to allow them to now reply to all calls. He did not say the place these first responders are situated.
He stated EHS is now coaching 58 extra teams and can put together all the remaining 126 teams within the coming months.
‘A significant function’
Michael Nickerson of the Nova Scotia Paramedics Union stated overworked and under-resourced paramedics may use the assistance of medical first responders.
“In rural areas, when ambulances are responding from higher distances, medical first responders do play a significant function. They are not a substitute for paramedics in any method, however they’ll begin to present therapy earlier than paramedics do arrive,” he stated Tuesday.
He stated paramedics really feel a private obligation to reply each name for assist. That results in burnout.
“It is extraordinarily scary and unhealthy. The paramedics are struggling in addition to the residents,” he stated. “It impacts them mentally, emotionally and bodily, not with the ability to assist folks.”
In Bass River, meantime, Kevin George is fundraising to carry a funeral for his spouse of 19 years.
“Solely 46, she was,” he stated Tuesday. “She was the guts and rock of my complete whole life.”
