something to consider...high risk exposure is reached in a situation where you are
1 within 3 feet of an infected person
2 not wearing a mask
3 for 10 minutes or more
how helpful that is, I dont know, but I thought I'd throw it out there
Our procedures are to conduct as much of our initial assessment questioning while ~6 feet away from the patient. If we suspect the patient has the potential to be infected, the first thing we’re supposed to do is put a surgical mask on the patient, even before we put one on that we’ve be trained to use and fitted for. Minimizing time of exposure is definitely helpful, but not exactly useful if you’re the medic in the back of the ambulance. Nothing you can do about that.
Our dispatchers are pre-screening everyone and will alert us before we make contact if certain criteria are met so we can mask and gown up with eye protection. But with community spread it doesn’t catch very many people.
So, for the general public you shouldn’t be counting on a mask helping you. Don’t buy them, leave them for the medical professionals and practice social distancing. That’s far more effective. And if you do get sick and need to call 911 for life threatening symptoms, please be candid with the dispatcher so we can be properly prepared.
