COVID CP 100.1: Attending Community Events During COVID-19 Pandemic

Updated:
Reviewed: 

Applicability

A. Rationale

Community paramedics may take part in community outreach programs and health promotion opportunities whenever an appropriate request is received, and the activities requested are within the CP’s scope of practice and permitted activities. Safety precautions for participants during the COVID-19 pandemic are also included.

B. Scope

This procedure applies to all paramedics when fulfilling the role of a community paramedic who are arranging attendance at a community event, outreach program or health promotion during Phase 3 of BC’s Restart Plan.

Purpose

A.  Standard Operating Procedure

To provide a standard operating procedure that all community paramedics must follow for community events.

B. COVID-19 Precautions

To provide extra guidance on COVID-19 precautions and considerations required for community events.

Procedure

The Request

Confirm the Request for Outreach Service is completed including:

1. Signature(s)
2. Anticipated location
3. Safety Precaution (as detailed below)

Safety Protocols

Review the safety protocols in place for the location of the event, which may include, but not limited to:

1. Physical distancing measures
2. Hand hygiene policies
3. Cleaning and disinfecting products – see Resource 5.vi below
4. Regular cleaning and capacity limits in washrooms, community/event rooms, kitchens, etc.

COVID-19 Precautions

Confirm the following COVID-related conditions are in place:

1. Limit the number of participants to small groups of 2 – 6 people
2. Maintain 2 meters of physical distance when possible
3. Increase protective measures for vulnerable populations
4. Ensure that layouts are rearranged to support safe distancing including markers on the floor/ ground to designate areas and directions to move through spaces.  Increase environmental cleaning (common spaces, high- touch surfaces, shared equipment).  Tissues/waste baskets are required. 
5. Follow hand hygiene practices prior to and upon conclusion of the event:
   1. Provision of access to hand hygiene products, i.e. soap and water and paper towels or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 70% alcohol).
6. Increase ventilation (e.g. outside spaces preferred, open windows/doors in rooms, etc.)
7. Screening/assessment will be in place for monitoring participant’s symptoms of COVID-19 upon day of the event.  Coordinating/hosting facility/group is responsible for this screening, unless event is organized by the CP in which case the CP is responsible for the screening.  REFERENCE: Point-of-care Risk Assessment (PCRA) for COVID-19
8. PPE:
   1. Appropriate PPE is required for community events with NO contact with attendees (procedural masks).
   2. Events WITH attendee contact, a risk assessment must be conducted, if a paramedic determines there is no apparent risk of COVID-19 or influenza-like illness (ILI), they can revert to standard PPE as per the BCEHS Exposure Control Plan
9. Discourage participants from gathering prior to or after the event.
10. The following individuals should not participate in organized events:
    1. Any person who receives a diagnosis of COVID-19. Individuals must comply with the current mandated self-isolation policy as per the BC Ministry of Health (www.gov.bc.ca).
    2. If any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, or shortness of breath) are present, the individual cannot participate.
    3. Any person who lives in a home with or has been in close contact with someone with symptoms of COVID-19.
    4. Any person who has arrived in British Columbia from outside of Canada within the last 14 days as they are mandated to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days upon their arrival. 
       
       

Approval and Scheduling

1. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all requests must be sent to CommunityParamedicine@bcehs.ca for approval prior to scheduling
2. Once approved, schedule the event in iScheduler (via CP Coordinators) and proceed with next steps
   
   

Event Preparation

1. Ensure to document the request and approval (printed copy of email) in the community event file
2. Research the topic and/or look in the CP Team Site (SharePoint) Shared Content Library for existing resources
3. Gather equipment required and/or develop presentation
4. Practice presentation delivery
5. Prepare a Community Event Attendance Record

Event Promotion

Information shared should include:

• Event date, time, location
• Intent of event and target audience/participants
• Health & safety precautions in place for COVID-19
  • Encourage use of non-medical mask by participants (will not be supplied by BCEHS) – see below.
  • If any attendee(s) are feeling sick, they must stay home. No exceptions.
  • A reminder that International travelers returning to C. must have completed a period of self-isolation for 14 days and complete a self-isolation plan as required by law prior to attending the event.
  • Contact and/or sign-up information. 
  • Further information/details about the event, as required. 
    
    

Event Setup

1. Arrive at the venue wearing an official BCEHS uniform, an employer supplied procedural mask and official BCEHS identification.
2. Greet any co-facilitators and discuss the session's plan.
3. Ensure safety precautions are in place, as outlined in your event planning and in collaboration with any event partners. If precautions are not adhered to, CPs will be unable to attend.
4. Setup any tables, seating, equipment and/or materials required. 

During the Event

1. Greet attendees
2. Ensure each attendee is screened (see prior to entering the room/site
3. Have each attendee perform hand hygiene upon entry
4. Have each attendee sign the Community Event Attendance Record and assess for any COVID-19 related health concerns
5. Share safety information about the session including COVID-19 precautions (i.e. hand hygiene practices, physical distancing, etc.)
6. Acknowledge the ancestral lands where the event is taking place
7. Provide services as agreed upon
   
   

Closing the Event

1. Thank attendees and remind them to clean their hands upon exiting the session
2. Clean and disinfect all equipment, tables, chairs, ensure wet contact time of the product is achieved prior to packing away
   
   

Document the Event

1. Update Community Event paper file with any additional information
2. Place the Community Event Attendance Record into the paper file
3. Close out the event in iScheduler
   
   

Documentation

Document on appropriate records:

1. Community Event Attendance Record
2. CP Community Event File
   
   

Resources

1. BCCDC. COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Community- Based Allied Health Care Providers in Clinic Settings. [Link]
2. BCCDC. Environmental Cleaning. [Link]
3. BCCDC. Masks. [Link]
4. BC Ministry of Health. COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus). 2020. [Link]
5. BC Ministry of Health. Order of the Provincial Health Officer: Mass Gatherings Order. May 22
6. BC Ministry of Health. Order of the Provincial Health Officer: Workplace COVID-19 Safety Plans. May 14
7. Community Paramedicine Policy ## Community Paramedics Attending Community Events during COVID-19. July 2020.
8. Community Paramedicine Policy 3.3 Community Paramedicine Service Delivery. Nov 2016.
9. COVID-19: Information for BCEHS Staff. 2020. [Link]
10. Exposure Control Plan (Part 2) - Infection Prevention and Control (EPC-IPAC). 2016. [Link]
11. Government of Canada. Risk Mitigation Tool. 2020. [Link]
12. Public Health Agency of (2020). Coronavirus Disease. [Link]