Summary

In this period of public health crisis, first responders are finding themselves in situations of increased vulnerability, at the same time as their actions become more diverse and increasingly complex. The sudden advent of the COVID-19 pandemic added a degree of uncertainty, aggravated by the frequent updates of guidelines, procedures and protocols in a context of action that was already critical, where decision and reaction times are limited. These workers, who are on the front lines of this public health crisis, are therefore most likely to feel its effects.

This research project made it possible to analyze the work of first responders, namely police officers, paramedics and correctional officers, during a pandemic. More specifically, the objectives were to identify risks and good practices, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the training tools in place and their sustainability.

This report presents the results of this analysis and recommendations intended to maximize these workers’ health, safety and resilience in any subsequent crisis.