Special Features - Thank You First Responders

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Thursday, April 9, 2020 A19

FIRST RESPONDERS edics, police, am ar p s, er rk o w re ca gnizing our health co re in s ew mmunity safe.

N co rd r u fo o ts o ep b b ke A to e h T ay d in r Jo themselves day afte f o e iv g y sl es lfl se o h and firefighters w

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Thursday, April 9, 2020 A21

FIRST RESPONDERS Staff at Abbotsford Regional Hospital stand by in appreciation of a drive-by caravan of police, fire and ambulance workers thanking them for their work on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. PHOTO BY DALE KLIPPENSTEIN

‘This is our fight’: Nurses bond Health-care workers deal with stress and anxiety, but take strength from each other and the community

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Health-care workers are bonding in new ways and supporting each other through these pandemic times.

ABBOTSFORD NEWS FILE PHOTO

“art of nursing.” But that art is hard work and emotionally draining – particularly when nurses have to not only deal with increased workFor nurses, the fight against COVID-19 has brought increased stress, anxiety and even dan- place stress, but also all of the issues confronting everyone in a socially distanced world. ger to an already complex job.

“Nurses are highly stressed right now,” It has made an already hard job dramatically Sorensen said. “Every patient should be conmore difficult. But as they face off against the sidered as a possible carrier of COVID until toughest foe that Canada’s health-care system they’re tested negative. They’re wearing a lot has encountered in a century, nurses are also of personal protective equipment. There’s a experiencing new levels of camaraderie, purlot of uncertainty in the work environment pose and appreciation.

“It’s a period of high anxiety for most of us,” about what might come through the door that Christine Sorensen, the head of the BC Nurses’ day.”

Nurses have family members who are out of Union and a longtime nurse, told The News work, children out of school and an array of this week. other challenges. Some also have to deal with Some hospital departments and health-care facilities are seeing large numbers of confirmed community members who don’t want to be associated with nurses or their associates, out or suspected COVID-19 cases. Others have of the misguided belief that doing so would put many empty beds – a rarity in normal times them at risk of contracting the virus.

– as they anxiously await a potential surge in To keep going, health-care workers are cases. bonding in new ways and pushing each other And while the details shift, the exhausting facts remain the same: to prevent the transmis- forward.

“There’s a lot of camaraderie right now in sion and spread of the virus, every health-care the health-care system: The idea that we’re in it worker must continuously keep COVID-19 top of mind. On top of all that, they also have together, we’re here to support each other, we’ll get through this together … that this is our big to deal with shortages of personal protective fight and we’re going to do this together as a equipment. team,” Sorensen said.

“This is a very unusual time for nurses,” So“We always work as teams, but even more rensen said. “You have some departments that so now. There’s more emotional connection as are working incredibly hard physically, and teams, a coming together as health-care workare stressed and the anxiety’s there – ICU and ers for that emotional support.” emerg – and you have other units where it’s They’re also taking strength from shows of quieter but the patients they’re caring for are support in the community. acutely very ill.

“They are great morale boosters to see “And because there are limitations on visithe community come together to support tors, there’s a lot more emotional support.” all health-care workers and essential service Sorensen calls that emotional support the

Tyler OLSEN Abbotsford News

workers, because this really is a team effort,” Sorensen said.

“I think for a long time, health-care workers – particularly nurses – while we know we’re valued by society, we’ve often felt under-appreciated, particularly by employers or the government … It reminds us all how important human connection is, whether it’s the nurse providing that support to a patient, or the community providing the support to the nurse.

It tells us all about human connection and the need for it.”

Simply seeing acts of social distancing in the community can help mitigate some of the stress, Sorensen said.

But the flip side of that comes from seeing people who still haven’t got the message about the importance of social distancing, and from worries that warmer weather may spur more people to gather together.

“I do see – and I don’t know their situation – areas where there’s construction or there’s road crews or there’s young people still congregating. I know what the risk is. I know that it isn’t only elderly people who will get this disease and who will be very sick, and I think of all of the people who are doing their very best to control this,” Sorensen said.

“Nurses are frustrated when we see people flaunting the directives from the public health officer to stay home, socially isolate yourself, stay six feet apart.

“When people aren’t doing that, it’s frustrating because we’re putting our lives on the line and everybody’s actions today have ramifications for other people and it seems selfish when people aren’t following those directives.”

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Thursday, April 9, 2020 A23

FIRST RESPONDERS

Firefighters: Full staff & high morale

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service has participated in drive-by thank-yous to front-line workers, including staff at local grocery stores. PHOTO BY DALE KLIPPENSTEIN

Extra COVID-19 protocols and changes keep fire crews safe while working city’s front lines

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Fire Chief Don Beer.

“The only time [the firefighters] actually come together is when they are responding to an incident.”

The extra precautions seem to be working Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service is fully staffed – the department does not have a single staff and the morale is high among its firefighters, who want to do everything they can for the com- member currently off duty from COVID-19.

While there have been a few who have shown munity through the COVID-19 pandemic, said COVID-like symptoms, they quickly self-isoFire Chief Don Beer.

“I think that firefighters get into the business to lated, were tested, and got negative results back within 96 hours. There were also five employees, help people, and so when there’s a crisis like this, including Beer himself, who had to self-isolate they really want to pitch in and help,” Beer said.

“I’m super proud of the men and women of Ab- for two weeks after returning from international travel in mid-March. botsford Fire Rescue Service for their dedication “They’ve really come to the table and taken in showing up to work, knowing that their job has it – as they take everything – seriously to make risks inherent with possible exposure.” sure their health is protected as best they can.

That’s not to say there are no changes to evRight now I can tell you that we have no absenceryday protocols for first responders in the Fire es,” he said. “They’re doing an extremely excelRescue Service. The city’s eight firehalls have lent job under the conditions.” implemented a series of changes to everyday Fire departments across the province are only routines to help keep their first responders safe being dispatched to “Code Purple” calls now, on the front lines.

The department is practising enhanced physical which are the most serious emergency incidents, as per a March 31 order by provincial health authordistancing and cleaning among the different fire ities. crews and halls, treating every person they assist “I can tell you that the order that [provincial as a potential carrier, conducting online training health officer] Dr. Henry put forward, with [us for staff, keeping careful accounts of their personal protective equipment, communicating with responding] to the purple only, has been a bit of a neighbouring departments about regional issues, challenge in this, because of the fact that we think and only responding to the most significant calls that we can do more,” Beer said. “But we also don’t – as provincial health authorities have mandated. see the full big picture that she’s looking at.”

When firefighters respond to a medical scene “This is all new territory, so we’re making adjustments along the way. But something as sim- where a patient is suspected of COVID-19, and ple as a shift change … The oncoming shift stays it’s not a life-threatening situation, the crews will in the truck bay, and the outgoing shift does one wait on paramedics to arrive and help assess last cleanup of the work area and walks out the the patient, Beer said. And in emergency cases, back door and then signals to the other [shift],” a single firefighter wearing personal protective Beer said. “They physically separate themselves equipment (PPE), instead of an entire crew, will in the halls to keep from passing any virus from make the initial assessment.

“Whenever you’re dealing with a person these shift to shift.

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SUBMITTED PHOTO

days, you treat them as if they’re infected,” he said. “It’s a matter of wearing the proper PPE, and actually putting a surgical mask on the patient as well, so they’re not transmitting the disease as readily or easily.

“It’s the best way to protect the front-line responders and minimize the use of critically low supplies of PPE.” The fire department started rationing their PPE supplies around three weeks ago, Beer said.

“We do inventory weekly, and almost a onefor-one exchange as they get used, just to keep track of them really close,” he said. “So far we have been able to manage with what we have in stock, but we continue to watch and carefully manage that.”

Weekly co-ordination takes place among the fire departments of Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission and Langley Township to address any potential staffing issues, PPE supplies and other COVID-19 concerns.

“We have a mutual-aid agreement with our immediate neighbouring departments,” Beer said. “If any of our departments require some assistance… we would be prepared to send a crew to an incident in their jurisdiction.

“We’re talking to each other on a weekly basis, if not more frequently.”

Beer said that seeing the community’s support for each other, and all the first responders, has been meaningful for his staff.

“Looking out for our neighbours is everyone’s responsibility, in my mind, like my wife and I [got] from our friends and family, who went out and did grocery shopping for us while we were hunkered down for 14 days.

“I think it’s a community effort, and I’m really encouraged by that.”

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Thursday, April 9, 2020 A25

FIRST RESPONDERS Among the initiatives undertaken by the Abbotsford Police Department (along with Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service and BC Ambulance) during the COVID-19 pandemic are drive-by thank-yous to front-line workers, including staff at Abbotsford Regional Hospital.

PHOTO BY DALE KLIPPENSTEIN

APD: ‘Strength in community’ Chief Mike Serr says Abbotsford Police Department is doing everything it can to ‘keep everybody safe’

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Abbotsford Police Chief Mike Serr.

we can look to call that person … as opposed to actually physically attending.”

Serr said officers are practising social-distancThe top focus for the Abbotsford Police Deing as much as possible while investigating incipartment (APD) during the COVID-19 pandents. They are also taking precautions such as demic is maintaining essential police services the use of hand sanitizer, wipes and face masks, while keeping its officers and community safe, particularly when they must come in close says Chief Mike Serr.

Serr said the APD’s slogan “Strength in Com- contact with someone – for example, during an arrest. munity” is crucially significant at this time.

The APD also has a decontamination process “I’ve always been just so impressed with how community-oriented Abbotsford is and how ev- in place for instances when officers come in contact with someone who is symptomatic. erybody supports each other,” he said.

Serr said the department has also made some “I think when we come through this, and there changes to how and where people are working. are still some difficult times ahead, it’s going to be really important that that support continues.” Some staff are now working from home, while some police units – such as school liaisons – have The APD currently employs more than 220 been collapsed and more officers assigned, for officers and 80 civilian staff, and Serr said the pandemic only affected those numbers slightly at example, to patrol.

Serr said that, unlike some other jurisdictions, the start of the crisis.

Abbotsford so far has not seen a predicted inHe said there were “never more than 30 crease in crimes such as domestic violence, compeople” who were away from their duties – for example, because they had returned from a trip mercial break-ins and vehicle thefts.

“We’re watching our analytics very closely, away and self-quarantined before coming back and it’s interesting that our crime rates are going to work. down during this, and it does make sense – more But Serr said no members have been diagpeople are at home, and breaking into cars and nosed with COVID-19.

He said several steps have been put in place to residential properties is more challenging,” he protect front-line officers and limit their contact said.

Serr said the APD is also keeping a close eye with the public.

Serr said, whenever possible, reports are taken on how the illegal-drug situation could affect crime rates in the coming weeks and months. As over the phone or by text or video, saving the in-person attendance to “priority one and prior- drugs become more difficult to acquire and prices rise for users, there could be a corresponding ity two” calls. hike in property crime and thefts.

“We will always attend the most serious calls, Serr said the APD is continuing to connect but a call that may not require a physical response, we’ve changed how we attend,” he said. with homeless and marginalized people through its street outreach response team to help them “So, for example, if someone had their shed broken into and there may not be any evidence, find “pathways of support.”

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But some other APD programs have currently been put on hold, including its gang-intervention initiatives – due to the face-to-face contact they require with individuals and their families – and the Junior Police Academy.

Serr said the APD, meanwhile, is continuing to find other ways to connect with the community.

This includes a series of 7 p.m. drive-by thankyous that officers – along with Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service and BC Ambulance members – have made to front-line workers at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, local care homes, the COVID-19 testing site, grocery stores and other locations.

The APD is also active on its social media platforms, posting positive messages and encouraging and sharing youth artwork in support of front-line workers.

Serr said it’s important for the APD to have a strong community presence at all times, particularly during a crisis such as this.

“Our community needs to see us and they need to hear from us. They need to be reassured that they’re protected and safe (because) there’s a lot of uncertainty in the world right now,” he said.

Serr said it has been encouraging to see the vast majority of the public following the social-distancing and self-isolation guidelines put in place by the health authorities.

He said the APD looks forward to continuing to serve the community through the pandemic and beyond.

“We’re very proud, in these very difficult times, to be supporting and serving our community, and we know they need us, and I can promise you, we will be there for them. We’re doing everything we can to make sure that we keep everybody safe,” he said.

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Thursday, April 9, 2020 A27

FIRST RESPONDERS

BC paramedics stepping up

JOSHUA BERSON PHOTO

Daily stresses continue to grow, but paramedics say training and experience will help them overcome

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Fraser Health paramedic Sarah Bender responds to a call.

JOSHUA BERSON PHOTO

really enhanced why we’re seeing how we’re able to respond in such an efficient manner to this.

Ambulance paramedics and emergency dis- We deal with crises all the time and those experiences have prepared us.” patchers are often the first step in the arduous One of the big adjustments that the BC journey for anyone battling coronavirus.

Emergency Health Service made early on was They are that first calming voice, the careful touch or helpful advice that a person struggling to organize and focus paramedics all across the province to best equip them as they fight on the with the disease encounters.

But, despite their bravery and commitment to front lines of the pandemic.

In mid-March, an emergency coordination the job, ultimately they are human just like all of centre was set up for paramedics across the us and face the same doubts and concerns that we all do in the face of the COVID-19 pandem- province, which was located in Victoria but has since been moved to Vancouver. At the centre, ic. meetings are held every day of the week focusing Troy Clifford, the provincial president of the on the strategic details of BC EHS’s plan to Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Discombat the virus, along with the operations of patchers of BC, said he’s proud of the way he paramedics across the province and logistics in and his co-workers have faced the many new dealing with supplies and personal protective challenges.

“Our biggest thing right now is just trying to equipment, and the most important meeting – manage all the fears and stresses not just from communication.

BC EHS has now implemented daily practice ourselves but also those of the general public,” he said. “Our own concerns and fears are updates in video format that get sent out to all being put secondary to our responsibilities to paramedics in a Facebook group. Of the 4,100 the public. Unless paramedics are safe to look paramedics in B.C., at least 3,300 of them are on after patients, we can’t do our jobs effectively. social media and receive updates that way.

Leading up to the declaration of the pandemic, And that’s what I’m most proud of – how 911 call takers would ask a series of questions to our paramedics are responding and just their determine the likelihood of the patient having resilience.”

Clifford said every call could potentially be ex- COVID-19. Now, everyone is treated as if they posing members to the coronavirus, but protocol have the virus.

This has led to a change in procedure for put in place over the years and some newer advice has calmed many of the nerves of workers. paramedics making house calls. Normally, a “Every call could be COVID-19 suspicious- or paramedic would walk right in, sit down next to you and start treating your illness; now, parainfectious-disease-related so that adds to the pressure of being prepared and using risk assess- medics call the patient to the door. Making sure to stand three metres away, and dressed in full ments at all times,” he said. “A lot of that goes personal protective equipment (PPE) – protecback to our training. We’ve always had rigid tive glasses, the best quality mask, a full apron or protocols in place during training and that had Ben LYPKA Abbotsford News

gown, a face shield and, of course, gloves – paramedics will assess the situation.

Paramedics might have to change in and out of all that gear anywhere from six to 10 times a day so as to not contaminate other areas they work in, such as the front of the ambulance.

Clifford praised the work of both the federal and provincial governments for making so much PPE available and also making sure it ends up in the hands of those who really need it.

He also acknowledged that regular calls overall are down, with many people seeking self care for minor issues and the prevailing fear that going to the hospital may put them at risk to COVID-19.

But he noted that the current climate shouldn’t discourage people with serious issues from calling 911.

“We do really want to make sure that people who may have medical emergencies unrelated to coronavirus are not holding back because of fear of exposure or that they may be a burden on the health system. Those are not reasons not to call 911 if you are hurt or very sick,” Clifford said.

He also specifically praised the work of Fraser Health paramedics, noting that the large region can make it challenging to serve, but that they have been more than up to the task in the COVID-19 battle. He added that the positivity from the public is extremely encouraging and urged locals to continue showing support.

“People have been dropping stuff off at our stations, writing nice messages in chalk on the sidewalk and also the 7 p.m. salute has all been so overwhelming for all of us,” he said.

“The public acknowledging the role we do and the sacrifices we make is just so encouraging for everyone. It’s really rewarding to see that so many people care when we’re all under so much stress.”

– With files from Kendra Crighton/Black Press