PPE, Precautions & Paramedic Safety: COVID-19
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Gord Minaker - PCP-IV, UBC Medical Student
Kaela Richardson - Respiratory Therapist, UBC Medical Student
Kevin Lambert - Critical Care Paramedic, Paramedic Practice Educator
Janie Nichols, Infection Prevention Specialist
March 25, 2020
In this episode, we review best practices regarding personal protective equipment (PPE), precautions to be taken on COVID calls, and paramedic safety in the context of COVID-19.
Please see below for a timeline of the questions we ask during this episode, and for links to resources.
Please refer to the BCEHS Handbook for latest guidelines: https://handbook.bcehs.ca
Clinical Questions - clinicalpractice@bcehs.ca
Podcast feedback & suggestions - podcast@bcehs.ca
1:03 - How is COVID-19 spread?
2:16 - What can paramedics do on a day-to-day basis?
4:21 - Are calls still being screened for “Influenza Like Illness” waits?
6:00 - What calls should we be wearing PPE on?
7:14 - What should do before we arrive on-scene to prepare?
9:23 - How should we prepare the ambulance for transport?
13:14 - Are surgical masks ever acceptable when encountering COVID cases?
14:59 - What sort of eye protection should we use?
16:35 - Should we use the buddy system for PPE?
18:19 - Reviewing Donning and Doffing
22:00 - Should we be double gloving?
22:44 - Should we wear boot covers?
24:08 - Limiting gear exposure in the ambulance during transport
26:47 - Reverse Isolation for Patients
27:49 - Who do we need to notify of COVID calls?
29:19 - Reducing the number of people exposed on calls
30:33 - When should drivers doff? What PPE should we wear in the cab of the truck?
32:36 - How should we reduce hospital exposure?
36:15 - How should we clean the ambulances?
37:46 - What PPE should we wear to clean?
38:12 - A final word from Kevin Lambert
BCEHS Doorway Assessment: https://handbook.bcehs.ca/covid-19/covid-19-update-march-23rd/on-scene-doorway-assessment/
Donning PPE video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn3Q9UlRi34&t=2s
Hand Hygiene video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7aILlTnE78
Doffing PPE video here: https://youtu.be/Rro4RJ5Az88
Donning & Doffing Poster: https://handbook.bcehs.ca/clinical-resources/infection-prevention-and-control/ppe/donning-and-doffing/
Hand Hygiene Poster: https://handbook.bcehs.ca/clinical-resources/infection-prevention-and-control/hand-hygiene/cleaning-your-hands/
Cleaning and Disinfecting Resources: https://handbook.bcehs.ca/clinical-resources/infection-prevention-and-control/cleaning-and-disinfection/