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Now recruiting emergency workers (paramedics and firefighters) – please email rachel.tyli@ontariohealth.ca if interested!

STUDY UPDATES

Calling all paramedics and firefighters!

If you are an interested firefighter (volunteer or professional) or paramedic, please email rachel.tyli@ontariohealth.ca

We are recruiting emergency workers (paramedics and firefighters) for fit testing at Centennial College (Morningside Campus) and University of Toronto (St. George Campus).

We are also looking to travel to paramedic and firefighter services in Ontario willing to host our research team for testing. If you are a service interested in hosting our fit testing study, or a paramedic/firefighter interested in fit testing at one of the above locations, please reach out to rachel.tyli@ontariohealth.ca.

We may be travelling to a service near you! Stay tuned for upcoming travel dates to your region.

Thank you to the paramedic services who have hosted our study:

Cochrane District Emergency Medical Services
Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services
Frontenac Paramedic Services
Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services
Halton Paramedic Services
Lennox and Addington County Paramedic Services
Ottawa Paramedic Services
Simcoe County Paramedic Services
Timiskaming Shores Emergency Medical Services

Thank you to the fire services who have hosted our study:

Borden Fire Department
Brantford Fire Services
Cobourg Fire Department
Duoro Dummer Fire Services
Greater Sudbury Fire Services
Guelph-Eramosa Fire Services
Ottawa Fire Services
Timmins – Northern College

On this page:

WHY JOIN?

Emergency workers (paramedics and firefighters) are at risk of exposure to bioaerosols. Respirators are often the only protection available against bioaerosols for workers providing emergency care. However, little is known about how well respirators fit during patient-handling and life support tasks and the exercises used in the standard respirator fit testing protocol may not reflect the movements performed by workers in their job.

WHAT WILL I HAVE TO DO?

We aim to recruit 200 Ontario paramedics or firefighters to determine how well respirators fit during patient handling and life support tasks that may break the seal between the respirator and face. Information from this study can help to ensure paramedics and firefighters are provided with adequate respiratory protection.

  1. Watch a 12 minute video on respiratory fit testing before your fit test appointment
  2. Travel to the testing site for 2-3 hours at an agreeable time
  3. Complete a short questionnaire about you and your respirator experience
  4. Have body and physiological measurements taken (e.g. height, heart rate)
  5. Complete standard and modified fit testing for three different respirators

Study FAQ

HOW DO I ENROLL?
  1. Make sure you are eligible
    • You are a paramedic or firefighter working in Ontario
    • You perform life-support and patient handling tasks in your current job
    • You are medically fit and comfortable wearing a respirator
    • You are willing to travel to the testing site
    • On the day of testing you agree to:
  2. Contact the study coordinator (Rachel Tyli, rachel.tyli@ontariohealth.ca) to schedule a fit test appointment.
WANT MORE INFORMATION?

Contact the study coordinator, Rachel Tyli (rachel.tyli@ontariohealth.ca), or principal investigator, Tracy Kirkham (tracy.kirkham@ontariohealth.ca).

Project Summary Page   Study FAQ

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