The pandemic may have changed how first responders answer calls for help, but their focus remains the same – saving lives.
Both firefighters and EMTs face new risks in this time of coronavirus.
“As a manager, it scares me more for the well-being of our employees,” says Jason Flegner, deputy director of operations for Bell Ambulance.
Flegner has been an EMT for nearly 20 years. Since March he’s had about 30 employees test positive for coronavirus.
He admits his staff is tired, but they’re commitment to the job remains the same.
“We’re staffing on average of 35-40 ambulances a day which is a few more than this time last year,” says Flegner.
He says the biggest impact has been time.
“Before COVID hit, a crew could turn around a call in 30-45 minutes,” says Flegner. “Today it’s almost double that because of all the PPE that’s used and the time it takes to get that on. The procedure from the hospital to the nursing home too.”
It’s a similar impact for firefighters.