Essential workers: A Paladin of Paramedicine

Words by Liam Stretch. Art by Talisker Scott Hunter.

With the recent announcement by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that we would be heading into another few days of Level Four lockdown, this series seemed all the more pertinent. Our next profession is one that requires selfless people; they are the very people that can save your life, and, like the others featured in our series, have been deemed absolutely essential.

So, without further ado – this is the point where the readers rise to their feet and give a standing ovation – let me present another stalwart of a functioning society: the paramedic. Now, we will be referring to this particular talent as Tiffany. Why Tiffany? One) they did not wish to be named, and two) I've been listening to the one-hit-wonder, Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something. 90s soft rock helps me focus.

So, before all of this began, Tiffany was working her full-time job as a paramedic in Te Wai Pounamu and helping people went with her job description.

"I work as a paramedic in the South Island. A normal day consisted of attending callouts to those people that have called 111 or pushed their medical alarm. On average we would do anywhere from two to 10 jobs in a 12-hour shift per ambulance."

A lot has changed since the tourist from hell, COVID-19, arrived on our shores. Surprisingly, the workload has decreased. Despite this decrease, there have been changes to process which has altered the way paramedics carry out their work. "The time it takes to complete a job has increased due to strict PPE and cleaning procedures," Tiffany says.

We briefly touched on PPE in the last article in this series, but Tiffany – as a medical professional – has given us a fantastic explanation of what this means in practice. Brace yourself for medical jargon. "PPE stands for personal protective equipment. In the health setting currently, it is not uncommon for health professionals to don (put on) a surgical mask for patient contacts and this would be upgraded to an N95 mask and protective gown when treating a patient with suspected or confirmed with COVID-19. Additionally, there is [now] a strict protocol to doff (take off) the PPE to ensure that no areas of the PPE that have been exposed to the patient and the environment touch the person wearing them. This avoids cross-contamination and therefore, ensures our safety," she says.

For those of us not in the medical field or in the manufacture of face masks, N95 facemasks can filter 95 per cent of airborne particles. Meaning, a coronavirus would have a hard time getting in.

This added safety protocol has made Tiffany feel safer on the job, but it takes effort to be implemented into the overall practice. As aforementioned, it adds to the total duration of a particular job. With lockdown being in action, there has been a significant decrease in the number of motor vehicles on the country's roads. So, as a worker who spends a lot of time on said streets, crescents, and avenues, it's definitely been a strange experience for Tiffany. Though I am sure she appreciates the quieter horizontal infrastructure, there are some things she misses about the times pre-lockdown.

"It is a very eerie feeling, the biggest thing I have faced is not being able to go to Subway for lunch, and there's no real alternative, so I've had to start making my own!"

For the most part, Tiffany has been really pleased with how the public has acted and the swift response by the majority of New Zealanders to flatten the curve, which has made her feel reassured that she will continue to be safe in her profession over this period. There is, unfortunately, a certain number of the human population who cannot get their heads around being decent.

"I only feel scared working with the small population of the public that does not abide by our procedures and put us at unnecessary risk, e.g. spitting on healthcare workers, refusing to wear a mask when asked, or not staying at home with influenza-like symptoms."

With these unfortunate examples being seemingly obvious things to not do, Tiffany does have a message for the public – directed at those of us that can follow advice. "Please stay at home; maintain two metres distance from those not in your bubble at all times. Measure it out, it's longer than you think.

She also implores Kiwis only to read information about COVID-19 from credible sources, as there is a need to spread accurate information that saves lives rather than incite fear.  With these occasional stresses and the day-to-day (and night-to-night) intensity of her job, we can be reassured that Tiffany is taking time for self-love.

"I work a rotating roster, so I have four days off at a time – I sleep the first one as I am post-night shift. I am using this time to do as many home DIYs as possible! I also do online workouts through DediKate, and I go for the occasional run with my dogs," she says.

For Tiffany, it's back to work as usual. Still, this experience has altered her perception on things and is curious to see what the broader effects of not only New Zealand's lockdown but the world's reduction in activity could have on the state of the Earth. She plans to stop and think a bit more, slow down and take in what we have. She hopes others do too. "I am very excited to see the impact this lockdown has had on our environment and pollution levels. I am hoping that there will be worldwide improvements that will cause a change to our daily post-lockdown behaviours," she says.

"I think this lockdown has been an eye-opener for many people as it reminds us of what really matters and what we need to live safely and happily. I have had to find alternatives to retail therapy in lockdown; I am hoping that I can continue these practices after lockdown for the sake of my recovering bank account."

All I can say is thanks, Tiffany – even though that is not your real name. We really do appreciate your efforts and as the title of this article suggests, you are a paladin. Paladins were the knights of the French king Charlemagne's court and were highly regarded for their heroism. In short, we think you're a hero.