This message was sent to [email protected] To advertise in this publication please click here     December 3, 2020   .PARAMEDIC NEWS   Paramedics to train special teams for highly contagious patients St. Thomas Times-Journal Think of it as an elite paramedic team. The Middlesex-London Paramedic Service is moving to create a “high-risk response team,” tasked with transporting patients with airborne and highly contagious viruses such as COVID-19. “The goal is to provide additional protection for our paramedics and the community to safely move infectious patients,” said Mike Merko, the paramedic service’s deputy chief of operations.   READ MORE     Salute frontline worker and paramedic Kevin Brown Kelowna Now Everyday for the past 30 years, Kelowna paramedic Kevin Brown has made a difference in peoples' lives. "It's a real privilege to do work I love, helping people in distress and working with the colleagues I do at the station, in the ambulances and at the hospital," said Brown.   READ MORE   Paramedics called in to support COVID-19 response at Brandon personal care home CBC Paramedics working in the Brandon, Man. area were called in to support the staff at Fairview Personal Care Home last week after a COVID-19 outbreak was declared on the fourth floor. The added help was called in late in the week following the outbreak, which was announced on Tuesday. As of Sunday, 20 residents and six staff had tested positive for COVID-19 in relation to the outbreak, according to a spokesperson for Shared Health.   READ MORE   .CHAPTER NEWS   Report shows impact of overtime costs on Winnipeg's fire-paramedic budget CTV News Overtime costs are putting pressure on Winnipeg’s fire-paramedic budget. A new report to the Finance Committee said the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is asking for a $4.47 million over expenditure. It attributes the cost overrun to a rise in overtime in the fire department: $6.7 million this year compared to $3.5 million last year, and $2 million the year before.   READ MORE   Front-line workers at epicentre of British Columbia's COVID-19 crisis say colleagues, promise of vaccine keep them going CBC For paramedics on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis, taking a moment to decompress after a harrowing call before gearing up for the next one can be critical for maintaining mental health. But in the Fraser Health Authority region right now, those breaks are few and far between.   READ MORE   Trailer load of toys on its way to kids who could use some holiday joy Orillia Matters The holiday spirit was in full force Wednesday afternoon on Bell Farm Road as a truck load of toys for kids was delivered to those children who may need the pick-me-up that comes with a gift. A 53-foot tractor-trailer from Thomson Terminals dropped off $50,000 worth of toys for the County of Simcoe Paramedics Services' annual toy drive.   READ MORE   Paramedic Memorial Bell makes a stop in Temagami The Star The Paramedic Memorial Bell made a stop in Temagami recently. Temagami Mayor Dan O’Mara told The Speaker in an email that paramedics from the North Bay base brought the Memorial Bell to the town last week so that “the crew here could get to host it and give recognition to those who died on the job.”   READ MORE    SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by Technimount System   Bracket Pro Serie® 26 bracket is ambulance transport tested, keeping your ZOLL EMV+ Ventilator secure Bracket Pro Serie® 100 secures your Crossvent Ventilator by Bio-Med Devices during patient transport Bracket Pro Serie® 105 for EnVe/ReVel® Ventilator is lightweight, keeping your ventilator truly portable NEW! Lightweight, scalable mount, the Bracket Pro Serie® 101 protects your Bio-Med Device TV-100 Ventilator Press Release: Technimount System Collaborates with Bio-Med Devices on Development of Mounting System for TV-100   27 Manitoba healthcare workers test positive for COVID-19 CTV News In the last seven days, 27 health-care workers in Manitoba have tested positive for COVID-19. Lannette Siragusa, Shared Health’s chief nursing officer, gave an update on health-care workers during a provincial news conference Monday afternoon. “Many are putting aside their own fears to work long hours in a stressful environment providing care and increasingly consoling families who have lost a loved one,” she said.   READ MORE   Brother of Good Samaritan says paramedic accused dying 19-year old of 'acting' out his injuries The Hamilton Spectator “One of the paramedics said he should win an Oscar for how good he was acting.” The words came from the brother of Yosif Al-Hasnawi, testifying Tuesday about the care the 19-year-old received as he lay wounded from a .22-calibre hollow-point bullet stuck in his abdomen.   READ MORE   Eastern Health Paramedics pack the back for Annual Christmas Drive VOCM Eastern Health paramedics packed the back of emergency vehicles this weekend as part of their annual Christmas toy, food and clothes drive. The 10th annual event kicked off at Walmart stores in the metro region Saturday, on Aberdeen Avenue and Kelsey Drive in St. John’s. Paramedic Roy Hussey says he’s seen an uptake in donations compared to previous years. He says it’s good to see that even during hard times people are willing to give.   READ MORE   Red restrictions likely to last months: Premier CTV News After nearly three weeks of widespread restrictions across Manitoba, the province's premier said he feels it is 'critical' high-level restrictions continue into the winter months. Manitoba has been under code red restrictions since Nov. 12. These current health orders are set to expire on Dec. 11, but Pallister hinted at the possibility Manitoba may stay under code red for a while yet.   READ MORE    PRODUCT SHOWCASE   Reusable N95 Masks now available! REUSABLE FOR UP TO 30 DAYS ELASTOMERIC COMPLETE WITH REPLACEABLE N95 FILTERS FULLY ADJUSTABLE 2 SIZES FOR BEST FIT Click here   City Council orders check-up on Toronto paramedics Toronto Sun Help may be on the way for the city’s burnt-out paramedics. Toronto City Council on Thursday ordered the city’s top paramedic Gord McEachen, along with Chief People Officer Omo Akintan, to address fatigue and the mental health of the city’s over 800 frontline paramedics.   READ MORE   British Columbia paramedics concerned about holiday season News 1130 “How do we prepare for Christmas, and those pressures, people are going to be isolated”. Paramedics are making a plea to the public as we approach what they say is one of their busiest times of year.   READ MORE   Factors that shape notification of health care outbreaks of COVID-19 Health Affairs Health care-associated infection (HAI) outbreaks can be large-scale adverse events requiring notification of those infected, exposed, or at risk of infection. Such notifications are a critical public health function intended to mitigate risks, prevent harm, and promote safety in health care facilities.   READ MORE   Ottawa Paramedic communications officer trainee helps deliver a baby over the phone CTV News For the third time this month, an Ottawa Paramedic Services communications officer trainee helped deliver a baby over the phone. Ottawa Paramedics say at approximately 3:40 a.m. Monday, a man called 911 to report that his wife was in labour.   READ MORE   Pilot program will see paramedics providing home-care visits to local seniors Timmins The Daily Press Cochrane District is one of five regions across the province approved for a three-year pilot program that will see paramedics extending services to provide health care and check-ups on home-bound seniors. The Ministry of Long-Term Care announced last week it is investing up to $5 million to launch the Community Paramedicine in five regions across the province, including Cochrane District.   READ MORE     Nova Scotia first responders launch education site on trauma amid year of COVID, violence Halifax Today A new website is launching today to assist Nova Scotia first responders coping with trauma, in a year in which a pandemic and a mass shooting have added to the distressing experiences they routinely face.   READ MORE   Air Ambulance base launched in Prince George CKPG Today Prince George is the home for a permanent ambulance helicopter. The helicopter and crew will have quick access to some of the smaller communities that surround Prince George. According to BCEHS, the helicopter will change the patient’s experience from potentially spending hours in the back of an ambulance to get to where they need to go.   READ MORE   New emergency health services vehicles to improve access to care Haligonia Government is doing more to alleviate pressure on our emergency health system and our paramedics by freeing up front-line staff from non-emergency tasks. The province has purchased vans for the Emergency Health Services (EHS) system to provide non-clinical transportation for Nova Scotians requiring transfer between health care facilities. The vehicles are part of a one-year pilot project called the Medical Transport Service.   READ MORE   Watch this cargo electric bicycle ambulance in action slicing through traffic Electrek Bicycles, and especially e-bikes, are often the quickest way to cut through urban traffic. And so it makes perfect sense to see them being transformed into ambulance e-bikes for first responders. That’s exactly what a team at the tech firm Wunderman Thompson Paris set out to do when they designed their own electric bicycle ambulance.   READ MORE   Ontario expanding existing community paramedicine programs to long-term care Ontario The Ontario government is investing up to $15 million to expand the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program. This initiative will help more seniors on long-term care waitlists stay safe while living in the comfort of their own homes for a longer period of time.   READ MORE   PRODUCT SHOWCASE   Feeling alone? This holiday season, give the gift of recovery with addiction and mental health treatment from EHN Canada. Our research-based programs offer results that last, with facilities across Canada and unique online options so you can get the treatment you need from anywhere. We take care of you.   LEARN MORE     Cerner Ambulatory Practice Management Specialty Practice Management is a complete front- and back-office solution that offers a rapid return on your investment and improved satisfaction among your staff. Practices with 10 or fewer providers turn to this comprehensive solution to manage self-pay accounts and eliminate the common mistakes that prevent or delay insurance reimbursement. Read more   La Ronge EMS receives designation change Saskatchewan Health Authority ​Please be advised that Saskatchewan Health Authority has designated La Ronge Emergency Medical Services as an Advanced Life Support ambulance service. An Advanced Life Support ambulance service employs Advanced Care Paramedics who can deliver a higher level of prehospital care such as advanced medications, airway supports, and manage more complex patient care situations.   READ MORE   Chatham-Kent EMS criticized for controversial move Blackburn News Paramedics with Chatham-Kent EMS are under investigation after they were seen apparently either loading a pool table onto the back of an ambulance or unloading it. The Manager of Corporate Communications for Medavie Health Services, which operates Chatham-Kent EMS, said Medavie is aware of an incident that took place on November 29 involving an ambulance and paramedic crew but would not share the circumstances behind the controversy.   READ MORE   'My jaw dropped,' says Ontario woman of $12K air ambulance bill in Nova Scotia CBC Ontario resident Madelyn MacNeill considered herself healthy and didn't expect to be rushed to hospital for emergency surgery while visiting her parents in Nova Scotia this past summer. Nor did she expect the almost $13,000 bill for ground and air ambulance transportation that arrived weeks after she returned to Ontario.   READ MORE   Hamilton eligible for new paramedic program for patients on long-term care wait lists Yahoo News Hamilton may be eligible for a new program to support patients on the wait list for long-term care and their caregivers, the province announced Friday. The community paramedicine program launched by the Ministry of Long-Term Care last month involves paramedics working outside their traditional roles to help seniors on long-term care wait lists stay at home longer.   READ MORE   Man charged after stealing ambulance from St. Clare's hospital VOCM A man is in custody after an ambulance was stolen from St. Clare’s Hospital. The RNC got a call about somebody going around the hospital parking lot and checking ambulance doors. While officers were en route, the ambulance was stolen.   READ MORE     PAC eNews Connect with PAC Dennis Hall, Director of Publishing, MultiView, 469-420-2656 | Download media kit Lexi Silverberg, Content Editor, MultiView, 289-695-5367 | Contribute news Paramedic Association of Canada 201-4 Florence St.   |  Ottawa, ON K2P 0W7  613-836-6581  |  Contact Us  |  www.paramedic.ca Click here to unsubscribe.  Learn how to add us to your safe sender list so our emails get to your inbox.         ADVERTISE   SUBSCRIBE   PAST ISSUES       7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063