St. John Ambulance volunteers at COVID-19 vaccination site. (Submitted photo/St. John Ambulance)

By Pete McIntyre

First aid and after care

St. John Ambulance volunteers ensuring safety at B.C. vaccine sites

May 4, 2021 | 1:29 PM

A group of volunteers is providing an important service at COVID-19 vaccination sites in the B.C. Interior.

St. John Ambulance Medical First Responder (MFR) volunteers are supplying first aid and monitoring support at clinics in Vernon, Kelowna, Kamloops, Merritt, Chase and Ashcroft.

Up to 16 volunteers on any given day are on-site at the clinics, with plans to cover more communities as more volunteers sign up and the vaccination program expands.

Each day they put in numerous hours to provide aftercare to those getting the vaccine. This includes monitoring patients for 15 minutes and providing first aid if needed for allergic reactions, injuries, or in case any medical emergencies occur.

St. John Ambulance volunteers. (Submitted photo/St. John Ambulance)

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John Broughton, a 25-year volunteer for the Kelowna division of St. John Ambulance, is one of the MFRs donating his time at the Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna. With volunteering on hold the past year, Broughton was eager to return giving back to the community.

“So far, the experience has been great, and I’d say 99.9 per cent of the people who come in to get immunized have a wonderful attitude,” Broughton said. “I am also impressed with the setup and speed of the nurses and staff. There are seats set up two metres a part for people to sit for 15 minutes after their injection and the church staff has been running Mr. Bean videos to give them something to do while waiting.”

So far, fortunately, Broughton hasn’t witnessed any serious reactions or first aid emergencies.

“I have only had one person who fainted, in which I put my first aid skills to use with a primary and secondary assessment. Many people think that they are going to go into anaphylaxis, but they’re really just anxious, so sitting and talking with them calms them down,” said Broughton.

St. John Ambulance volunteers. (Submitted photo/St. John Ambulance)

Crystal Wilson, a Kamloops-based volunteer for St. John Ambulance, has also been providing first aid support at the clinics in Chase, Merritt, and Ashcroft.

Similar to the Kelowna clinic, volunteers at the remaining B.C. Interior clinics mainly witness nerves and possible fainting spells from those receiving the vaccine, with no treatment of emergency first aid incidents or serious reactions reported.

“It has been a beautiful experience and a privilege to be able to witness so many people coming together for the health and safety of not only themselves, but also their families, friends and communities at risk,” said Wilson.

As more vaccines become available and more clinics are opened, St. John Ambulance remains committed to providing support to B.C. Interior communities and beyond until the whole vaccination process and phases are complete.

Find out more about the St. John Ambulance program at supportsja.ca/medicalfirstresponders.