NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 air ambulance service is scrounging for much-needed protective gear in a global shortage.

Advanced Medical Solutions - which provides air and ground ambulance services for small communities and industry - is in dire need of gear like surgical masks and gloves as it responds to the pandemic, according to president and CEO Sean Ivens.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e quickly coming to the end of our supply,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚n working with our suppliers, weSA国际影视传媒檝e had a very limited response. Now weSA国际影视传媒檙e looking at alternatives on how to acquire more.SA国际影视传媒�

Ivens recently took to social media to plea for support from NWT businesses. He called on supplies from workplaces like dentist offices, physiotherapy clinics, and beauty salons that have temporarily shuttered.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e at a fairly critical stage, where weSA国际影视传媒檙e low on (protective gear),SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Ivens told SA国际影视传媒 that the company was busy searching for stray boxes of masks and gloves throughout the companySA国际影视传媒檚 operations, comparing it to finding spare pens in an office.

That solution, however, is far from long term. 

HeSA国际影视传媒檚 also appealed for help from the Territories Health and Social Services Authority, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 facing the same crunch. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a global spike in demand and suppliers are struggling to keep pace.

On top of that, all of his air ambulance staff are from out of territory. As emergency services, theySA国际影视传媒檙e permitted to work but still must self-isolate for 14 days, meaning they have to don surgical masks. 

While those staff members hurried to help as the crisis hit, the company is now faced with an SA国际影视传媒渆xponentialSA国际影视传媒� drain on its resources as a result, Ivens said. 

Similarly, the demand from community health centres has spiked, busying the operation with resupply that also strains its supplies. 

That service, nonetheless, is key for small communities with packed housing and few health-care resources, which public health officials have identified as a key vulnerability.

To limit the risk, itSA国际影视传媒檚 critical for individuals to socially distance to protect their households and families, Ivens said. 

The crunch comes as the service has been in emergency management meetings for the past three weeks. Those meetings discuss planning, while another working group tackles cleaning of facilities and equipment amid the crisis. Another working group handles personal protective equipment.

SA国际影视传媒淭he whole business is put on hold while we manage our emergency preparedness,SA国际影视传媒� Ivens said. 

Call volumes and normal operations havenSA国际影视传媒檛 changed for the company yet, but the future holds plenty of unknowns.

Ivens anticipates that there will be need for the gear for months, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 unclear when resupply will come. For potential alternative supply sources, time is of the essence.

SA国际影视传媒淭he sooner, the better,SA国际影视传媒� Ivens said. 

One Yellowknife store, Creative Basics, recently stocked-up on protective gear. All such shipments make the hospital their first priority, its co-owner Amanda Avery said.

However, the store was SA国际影视传媒渆xperiencing shortages and delays in delivery similar to all providers across Canada,SA国际影视传媒� she continued. Despite that, the store is offering free delivery in Yellowknife, and continues to ship to other communities.

Not a systematic problem, union says

Todd Parsons, president of Union Northern Workers, said two of his unionSA国际影视传媒檚 members have raised concerns, but described those issues as limited.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have not been able to confirm that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 been a shortage of personal protective equipment at this moment of time,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 appear to be a systematic problem,SA国际影视传媒� Parsons continued.

Concerns one member raised weeks ago over whether protective equipment was available, and whether appropriate training was in place. That was addressed and resolved, he said.

Another individual at Stanton Territorial Hospital contacted the union on Wednesday, and said healthcare workers didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have enough protective gear. 

But Parsons said it hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been raised as a systematic problem, though that may change. Should that come to pass, he said healthcare workers have the right to refuse unsafe work.

SA国际影视传媒淚f an employee doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have access to personal protective equipment to do their work, they have a legal right to refuse to work,SA国际影视传媒� he said.