Volunteers invaluable during peak COVID in January

Zhu Weidi, a physical education teacher at Shanghai Experimental School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, did something a bit different in January by becoming a volunteer first aider.

With an increasing demand for medical services due to a surge of COVID-19 infections from December to mid-January, the city put a call out for volunteers to help dispatch ambulances in Jiading district.

From Dec 31 to Jan 29, Zhu volunteered three days a week.

"After receiving an emergency call, we first ask about the patient's specific situation. Depending on the answers, we will suggest they go to the hospital by themselves or we will arrange transport for them," Zhu said.

"With the increasing number of people seeking medical help in those days, as an operator I heard anxieties, complaints and questions from patients, but I also heard much encouragement. All those voices inspired us to complete the work in an efficient and responsible manner," Zhu added.

The city had about 120,000 volunteers on duty every day as of the end of January, with more than 300,000 backups. Their positions shifted from nucleic acid sampling assistance, temperature measurement and health code inspection to outpatient guidance, first aid hotline operation, driving and other assistance services, according to sources with Shanghai's civic affairs office.

Jin Qikai, a student at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, joined the volunteer team for Shanghai medical institutions at the end of last year as an outpatient medical guide.

According to Jin, he guided patients to corresponding departments and helped them use the self-service machines, wheelchairs and other services.

"My first day on duty was on Jan 2 in Songjiang district's central hospital," said Jin, who recovered from COVID-19 in December. Though not majoring in medicine, the student found emotional support was also needed for patients.

"I remember a patient who came to me with a faint voice and holding his stomach, hoping that I could accompany him through the diagnosis and treatment process. After being accompanied, the patient's condition improved. I suddenly realized that many patients not only need medical treatment, but also emotional comfort, which we can do as volunteers at this special moment," Jin said.

According to Wang Junfeng, an official at the volunteer service department of the civic affairs office, the volunteers are mainly assigned to three categories after necessary training.

The first is to organize young medical students, taxi drivers and other volunteers with professional skills to participate in emergency support, including ambulance driving, dispatching and stretcher lifting.

Taking Songjiang district as an example, the average response time of emergency centers has been shortened by seven minutes with the help of volunteers, according to Wang.

It is also one of the important tasks for volunteers in the hospital to carry out medical treatment and assistance work. According to a survey of 13 medical institutions in the city, five hospitals had social volunteer services, with three to 11 volunteers every day.

"For those hospitals without social volunteers, the main reason is that the majority of elderly social volunteers are still at risk of infection," Wang said.

Moreover, volunteers were widely organized in all districts to carry out psychological counseling, emotional care, medicine dispensing and other services to help residents access medical services without leaving home.