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The Non-Infected Pandemic
Paramedics are paying the price
Emergency Medical Services are stretched thin. The 9–1–1 calls aren’t waiting, though a brief dip in emergency calls did occur for the first few weeks of this pandemic. Transfers between medical facilities are on the rise, and the time it takes an ambulance crew to complete a call has increased. All due to COVID-19 and the plethora of mitigation measures.
A paramedic stood in line in front of me for 15 minutes, patiently waiting their turn at a donut shop for a chance to grab a quick beverage and lunch while their partner refueled the ambulance. As she approached the counter, the employee refused to serve her. The employee told her she “didn’t have time to wait on her, since they transport COVID-19 people [patients].”
Tipping Point
I looked on in disbelief. This first responder was in the middle of a hard shift and could only stop at a gas-station donut shop for a quick bite to eat and was told they would not wait on them. All of this because they provide care and transportation to the sick and injured. I took my business elsewhere.
Is the public so worried about healthcare providers? — Yes, EMS personnel are both public safety personnel and healthcare providers. A true hybrid of 9–1–1 responders who are trained to deal with the public…
