101: Eric Cichowicz

Paramedic

As it was for many paramedics, days were longer for Eric Cichowicz. As a Western Berks Ambulance paramedic, Eric said that protocols for sanitizing were extensive. Typical cleaning protocols took over an hour between patients. Still, it was challenging to convince patients it was safe to use the ambulance services. 

As part of the protocol, he and his team ask patients if they are vaccinated. If they are not, he encourages them to do so. 

Eric works in tandem with another paramedic or EMT. Having two people helps a lot. As a team, they can decide what the best thing to do is.

This past year has made him even more careful around others. He finds he doesn’t take anything for granted anymore. His wish for the future is that we adopt the best of what we have learned in the past year and keep it in our daily practice.