More protections in place to keep paramedics from being exposed to COVID-19

If you call 911 and are in need of help from paramedics, you will now need to put on a surgical mask before that can happen.

Both Medavie Health Services and the Saskatoon Fire Department say their paramedics will not do an assessment until a patient is wearing a surgical mask.

Through direction given in the @SaskHealth 2020 Pandemic Screening Algorithm, effective April 1st, all patients are being asked to apply a procedural mask prior to firefighter-paramedics continuing a patient assessment.

For our health and yours, let’s work to #FlattenTheCurve. pic.twitter.com/jl9bLUjrvE

— Saskatoon Fire Department (@SaskatoonFire) April 6, 2020

It’s part of the effort to mitigate exposure to COVID-19 for front-line workers.

The paramedics will supply the masks.

Last month, they put out a plea to people calling for help, asking patients to be upfront with dispatchers about their health and disclose any symptoms they may have before crews were sent out.