By Cecilia Nasmith

A new kind of PPE is receiving rave reviews by Northumberland Paramedics, Chief Susan Brown told Monday's Northumberland County Community Health Committee meeting.

The 3M Powered Air Purified Respirator, Brown said, “is probably the gold standard in PPE.”

Enough good-quality personal protective equipment on a consistent and reliable basis has been challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for paramedics who are exposed to extra risk during procedures such as intubations that cause patients to spray air-borne emissions.

Brown described the PAPR as a fan on the belt that pushes air through a HEPA filter into a breathing tube that goes into a mask.

“It's 100% sealed,” she said.

More good news – they are reusable.

“They can be provided to a paramedic, and clean and reused by the paramedic.

“The filter has a six-month life, approximately.

“The biggest advantage is consistency. We know we have a stock for the paramedics,” Brown added.

“That closed-circuit breathing is the highest protection for our paramedics.”

They had the opportunity to try out the equipment, she added, and the response was enthusiastic enough to justify an order for 150 units – which fortunately will be financed by Safe Restart Funding.
Brown's report noted that the county received a $2,472,900 Safe Restart Phase 1 allocation in August, followed by $495,000 more in December.

The order has come in at $221,210.47, including non-recoverable HST, and the quantity will allow some of the units to go to the Golden Plough Lodge.