What It’s Like to be an Essential Employee during a Pandemic
How COVID-19 is changing the lives of people working
None of us have ever seen a pandemic like this in our lifetime. It truly is an unprecedented time. School has been canceled, sports seasons are called off, and 42 states governors have issued stay-at-home orders. What about the people who don’t get to stay at home? The people who have to continue working to keep our world moving. What do they do?
Darcy Ebert is a paramedic with Allina, she has been in this line of work for over 20 years. We asked her a couple of questions about how COVID-19 has affected her workday.
Q: What changes have been made to your procedures?
A: “We wear a mask and eye protection on every call. If the patient is suspected of having coronavirus we ask the patient to walk to the rig and we don’t enter the house.
Q: What is the PPE you wear for a COVID-19 patient?
A: “We wear a surgical cap, a N-95 mask, a face shield, and a gown.”
Q: What is noticeably different about the ER’s compared to before COVID-19?
A: “ERs are at a heightened sense of anxiety. ER garages are closed and we are entering through triage or front doors. You have no idea who anyone is, you can only see their eyes.”
It’s important to stay safe during this crazy time, thanks to all of our essential workers who are putting other people’s lives before their own.
