Young Covid-related cardiac arrests "concerningly common" says Essex & Herts Air Ambulance
The charity says incidents like those are expected during "most shifts"
Last updated 5th Mar 2021
Essex and Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) says young coronavirus-related cardiac arrests have become a regular occurrence.
We've gone Behind The Mask of Critical Care Paramedic and Patient Liaison Manager, Adam Carr, to find out how the pandemic has impacted his role.
While specific figures were not available, he told us incidents involving young people with Covid-19 having cardiac arrests had become expected.
He said: "It's almost become normal now for us and expected that we will go to a Covid-related young cardiac arrest during most shifts.
"It's quite concerning really that it's become the norm."
According to Adam, incidents have included "fit and healthy" people between their 30s and 50s.
He continued: "I've been to a number of cases where the husband for example, in their mid-40s, has not let their partner call for help because 'I am going to get better and I don't want to go to hospital' and then it's become too late, and unfortunately they have passed away.
"The partner has then got that hanging over their head, thinking what if they had called."
EHAAT thinks the increase in young Covid-related cardiac arrests is due to "healthier" people leaving it too late to call for help.
Throughout the pandemic, the charity has continued to provide live-saving assistance to patients, while adapting to changes in PPE, intense cleaning and restrictions.
Adam noticed at the end of last year the pressure of coronavirus was beginning to take its toll and impact his mental health.
He explained: "I was slightly shorter-tempered, things that didn't really concern me before were now causing me issues. As part of my role as Patient Liaison Manager, I have a lot of very difficult conversions with families of patients post-incident.
"I was thinking about those conversations a lot more frequently when I wasn't at work."
Like all charities, it has been severely impacted by the pandemic, with fundraisers including its North Weald and Harwich motorcycle runs cancelled.
To find out how to support EHAAT, visit the charity's website.