Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
How Covid-19 changed the way paramedics work
BEING at the forefront fighting the Covid-19 pandemic brought a lot of change to the way paramedics operate.
They had to change the way they work not only for their patients, but also to protect their loved ones at home.
For ER24 advanced life support paramedic Tao Carstens being a paramedic is like being a duck – calm on the top, but paddling frantically at the bottom.
Originally she wanted to study medicine, but did not get in. Little did she know that she would find her passion and love in paramedics.
Unfortunately, she said, with this job some things are beyond their control, despite how many interventions were performed to save someone.
The Weekend Argus went on a ridealong with her for the day, with her shift starting at 5.30am up to 5.30pm – but sometimes longer.
We went on about five calls and after each one the ambulance had to be cleaned thoroughly in case the patient was Covid-19 positive.
They are very thorough in making sure all touch surfaces are wiped down with alcohol; even bleach, if needed.
“One of the biggest challenges working during Covid-19 is getting rid of habits. Like how many times a day you touch your face; the masks help with that. Like if you need to do something and your pen ends up in your mouth. We used to clean the ambulance. Nothing compared to how we do things now. A full clean takes about an hour and a half. It means we are stood down for that time. This is not with every call. Now, everything is packed away and not exposed. This saves us time,” Carstens said.
Cleaning entails changing lines, wiping everything down with alcohol not once, but twice, and opening everything up so there is ventilation.
It has been hard working with the anxieties of Covid-19, she said, but paramedics did it because it was their passion and calling. “Sometimes we do check how a patient is doing after we have made the drop. But sometimes it’s so bad that I just don’t want to know”.
Carstens’s partner, who did not want to be named, said: “Each time a patient’s heart is not beating, and you manage to make it beat again … those moments you never forget. It’s about helping people. Patients won’t remember what you did, but how you made them feel.”
Melomed 24 advanced life support paramedic Baderodien Ragman said he got Covid-19 when the first wave hit, and was hospitalised. “I didn’t want to be in the hospital. I told myself if I have to die it must be at home with my family. My wife nursed me to health at home. I think I’ve overcome the stress of Covid-19 now. It’s part of the job.”
Intermediate life support paramedic Fodlique Slinger said it took some time adjusting to wearing the masks and suits. He lost his mother to Covid-19, and said he just feels blessed when his family and others get to see another day in these times.
All the medics said they dealt with life-threatening emergencies during the waves of the pandemic. Sometimes people abused the service by calling to be taken for doctor’s appointments, or giving false information so an ambulance comes faster. Since the easing of the lockdown levels, they had seen an increase in trauma cases, they said.