Ebola protection suits to be purchased for Calgary first responders
Emergency management agency says risk is low but it wants to make sure responders are prepared
The City of Calgary wants to make sure first responders are prepared for Ebola, despite the low risk of infection.
The head of Calgary's emergency management agency says it will be buying thousands of protective suits for responders. Each suit costs $6 and can be destroyed if it comes into contact with an infectious disease.
"We plan on distributing the suits so you have the gear right there," said Tom Samson. "You don't have to sort of shut down a scene and say, 'We can't go in until we can appropriately don our personal protective gear.' We want to make sure that we've got it, everybody understands how it works and that we're working in conjunction with each other."
Samson says the suits will be on all fire trucks, ambulances and at the airport.
The safety gear, including gloves and face shields, will cost about $30,000.