VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – First responders are pleased that in just a month, they’ll have more peace of mind about being exposed to open wounds and needles on the job.
In the past victim’s haven’t had to give a blood sample, but now paramedics and firefighters can get a court order. Before this, first responders would often go months wondering if they had contracted a disease like HIV or Hepatitis.
Paramedic Randy Reinholdt who works in the downtown eastside is often dealing with bad situations.
“Just walking down there you see all the needles so we don’t necessarily even have to be with a patient. They’re on the ground, they’re there when we walk through the door, so the risks are like ten fold for us,” Reinholdt explains.
He has two little girls and when he thought he contracted a disease he had to protect them too. “I go home and the first thing I do is hug and kiss my kids, I didn’t for a week. For me, I understand the risks. For them, they are like why aren’t you hugging us.”
The Emergency Intervention Disclosure Act was passed on May 31, 2012 and will come into play March 2, 2013.
The new regulation sets out the legal and procedural details that support the act, including adding victims of crime to those who can apply for a testing order.
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Jack ,I hope you never get a needle stick or are exposed to any type of blood born pathegens..I KNOW hugging can’t hurt my wife and kids..But for one moment put yourself in my place when I come home and tell them that I just got a needle stick from some Junkie in the DTES…Comments like yours are just cold…Think..The second I was stuck I thought of my family and how I would interact with them..I choose to be a Paramedic (Greatest job in the world) and the dangers that go with it..my family doesn’t..my family just want their father and husband home unharmed..
Randy
Does he really think that HIV and Hepatitis can be transmitted by hugging? Wow.
Just so you know person who thinks that paramedics do mouth to mouth – guess again!
That’s why the above legislation has now come into play. It’s called chest compressions until my airway kit arrives open on scene and then I’ll have a really big bag that only my hand touches to give you any type of respirations.
You’d be lucky to get CPR from anyone if you were dead on the ground, be thankful they are there to help you when you need it the most, and not so concerned with who’s the hotter one saving your sorry ass.