Role of Paramedics in the Pandemic and Beyond

1. Role of Paramedics in the Pandemic and Beyond iphi.edu.in/role-of-paramedics-pandemic-and-beyond Health / 26 August 2020 / 0 Comments With the ongoing war on the COVID-19 virus, the entire healthcare system of the world has been severely affected and stressed beyond measure. With no vaccine, no cure and an incomplete understanding on how things work,medical professionals have assumed the role of soldiers on the frontline in this war as the need for aid and assistance becomes arduous day after day; paramedics being the worst hit so far. What was already a strenuous and challenging job has become even more rigorous and risky. Alongside extra safety precautions devised by WHO and the government, several challenging health protocols have been included to ensure that the disease is controlled and treated to its maximum efficacy. This includes wearing PPE kits at all times in addition to practicing social distancing and washing their hands regularly. Also with protocols and policies being continually updated, there is increasing urgency for EMTs and paramedics to review training on respiratory infection transmission, patient assessment, first responder personnel protective equipment, and patient transport. Procedures regarding admissions to hospitals have been revised to ensure that no infected person goes undetected. This has greatly affected people with so called ‘normal’ health ailments coming to the hospitals for treatment or surgeries. Paramedics are now forced to give more time to the COVID-19 patients, often having less or sometimes no time to spare for the other patients, let alone their families back home. 1/2

2. Despite the negative implications of the pandemic, the field of paramedical science has surged in its importance as a green career path for people who want to be a part of the noble professions encompassing this area. Never before has the need for paramedics being more crucial than it is today, not even during the great wars. The future of paramedical science is bright and it paves way for many educational institutions to include more branches of this science into their curriculums. Paramedical science is not new to rigorous work life or swift decision making, but paramedics working on the frontline in this pandemic have been quick to point out that they’ve never seen or experienced anything like this before. An accident or a calamity lasts for a day or few weeks, but this just keeps going on without an end in sight. Nevertheless, despite the adversity and demand, paramedics have been working non-stop to keep the healthcare system from collapsing. The resolve that these professionals have is applaud-worthy and hero-esque. It is their dedication and fortitude in the face of this crisis that gives hope to not only the patients affected by the virus, but also the world. This pandemic has managed to uncover the state of fragility of our healthcare systems and has proven that without the doctors and paramedical professionals, we stand no chance in this fight. To expand on their role further, Impact Paramedical Health Institute (IPHI) is due to hold a free webinar on 28th August 2020, with Dr. Karan Thapar (VP Operations and Communications at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital) as the speaker. The webinar will be held between 10:30 AM and 12:30 AM. 2/2