The world may be at somewhat of a standstill, but life continues for many, with first responders still busy with calls amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “What has changed for our paramedics is they’re finding themselves now having to do what we call point of care assessment on all patients,” explains Darren Sandbeck, the chief paramedic with Alberta Health Services.
Upon initial contact, paramedics maintain social distance with a patient. “The health and safety of our paramedics are paramount.” [ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ] If the person can speak, questions will be asked about travel history, if they’ve been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19, or if experiencing symptoms.