Team News

The Spectrum Office will be closed Monday May 24th for Victoria Day.

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COVID-19 Updates – May 4, 2021 – Register at Get Vaccinated BC

Register at Get Vaccinated BC

No matter where you got your first shot – as a healthcare worker, at a pharmacy or at home with a nurse – everyone should register at Get Vaccinated BC so that you can be notified when you are able to get your second vaccine shot.

In the Monday, May 3^rd Update, Dr. Henry provided an update on the vaccination program. In the months of May and June there are large deliveries of vaccine coming and every adult who wants a vaccine should have their first shot by the middle of June.

“The focus of the COVID-19 vaccine program is to protect as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, addressing hot spots and reducing overall transmission. Everyone in B.C. who is 18 years or older should register on the Get Vaccinated website or by calling 1 833 838-2323. Registration is required only once.

“Once you are registered, your dose will be reserved for you, and you will be notified when to book.

“We have reached a new, encouraging point in our pandemic response. Starting today, the available vaccine will be significantly increasing, and this is good news for all of us.

“Over the coming month, more than one million vaccine doses will be delivered to our province, with more anticipated for June, giving the vast majority of eligible people access to a vaccine before Canada Day.”

Register for your vaccine now: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register
Or call 1 833 838-2323.

To register online, you must provide:

• First and last name
• Date of birth
• Postal code
• Personal Health Number
• An email address that gets checked regularly or a phone number that can receive text messages

Let us know if you have any questions or need any assistance.

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Remember Our layers of Protection

With high community spread (600 – 800 new cases per day), it is more important than ever to follow the safety practices that will keep you, the people you support and your families safe and healthy.

• Stay home if you feel sick – Call 811 for further directions and testing
• If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, Call 811 for further directions and testing
• Wash your hands regularly
• Keep your distance – at least two metres or six feet from people outside your bubble 
• Wear a mask on transit, in stores, in all indoor public spaces.
• Get outside, but continue to keep your distance.  
• Keep your social bubble small – But stay connected with friends and family. Phone, video chat, go for a walk outside – it is so important to keep in touch. 
• Continue with these safety practices even after vaccination.  The vaccines help prevent serious illness three weeks after your shot, but they do not eliminate the possibility of catching COVID-19 or spreading the infection to other people. 

The three priorities of the public health measures from the beginning of the pandemic have been:

1. Protecting the most vulnerable from getting COVID-19.
2. Protecting our health care system from being overwhelmed so that people who get sick or injured are able to get treatment when they need it.
3. Protect and support people who are impacted by the public health measures.

Over the past year we have seen people we support, our employees and their family members need to go to hospital for non-Covid related health concerns and we are grateful that the healthcare system was able to provide them with the care they needed.

Ernie Baatz

Executive Director

Spectrum Society for Community Living

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RISE Community Groups and Workshops

For info or to register:

• Email info@cnh.bc.ca
• Call Collingwood Neighbourhood House at 604-435-0323
• Or ask a RISE Staff member

Spots are limited.  Registration required.

Please click these links below for further details:

Rise Groups

RISE Spring 2021 Workshops Info

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It is a great time to review the contents of emergency medical and earthquake kits in your home. 

Are your water and food rations currently dated? Other items like glow sticks and batteries have expiry dates. It’s a good time to make sure everything is up to date.

Did you use some of the medical supplies during the year?  Now is a great time to order replacement items.  Please note that WCB First Aid Kits are required in all of the homes that are staffed.

Have there been changes in the number of people residing in your home?  Do you need more or less supplies?

Have any of the people you live with changed their diets over the past year? Do you need to change the dietary foods in their earthquake kits?

If you need help with restocking your emergency medical and earthquake supplies please feel free to contact Judy Smith at judy@spectrumsociety.org for assistance.

It is a good time to review all safety procedures in the home; making sure that exit routes are clear of debris, including accessing risk factors (for example, moving items on shelves that could fall and moving heavy items to bottom shelves instead of top shelves). Are all staff are familiar with where emergency care items are stored?  Please review the following information from our policy manual with the staff and individuals you support. Include staff to join on skype or zoom if you cannot meet in person so everyone is familiar with this process.

(https://sscl.sharevision.ca/public/PolicyDirectory/General%20Policies/34.0.EmergencyPreparedness.pdf)

When you have completed your Earthquake Drill please record this information on Sharevision.

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How to Register for First Aid:

We recommend obtaining and/or renewing your First Aid through St. John’s Ambulance with the Emergency First Aid Community Care course. If there is another course offered by a different provider, please contact Human Resources prior to enrolling to determine if it is equivalent and meets the basic requirements.

To obtain/renew through St John’s Ambulance, please call (604) 321-7242

• They above number is their main line, but they have a number of locations across the lower mainland if you would like to call a location directly: http://www.sja.ca/English/About-Us/Pages/Locations.aspx
• Register yourself for Emergency First Aid Community Care.

If an employee does not have a valid first aid certificate upon hire, the fee to obtain or renew certification is the responsibility of the employee. Future renewal fees for active employees are covered by Spectrum.

• If you are renewing your first aid, ask St. John Ambulance to invoice Spectrum Society
• Let them know Spectrum Society will be paying for your course fee.

*St. John Ambulance may request authorization from Spectrum. Email hr@spectrumsociety.org with the date/location you want to complete the course and we will call them to confirm your registration.

First Aid is a requirement for employment as indicated in ‘Policy 4: Requirements for Employment. Below is a link to Spectrum’s First Aid policy:

https://sscl.sharevision.ca/public/PolicyDirectory/Personnel%20Policies/P04.0.Requirements.for.Employment.pdf

For employees renewing their first aid, please ensure St. John’s Ambulance (SJA) includes the CPR pocket mask with your first aid registration. If the CPR pocket mask is not included with your registration fee, SJA requires attendees pay for this on the day of course completion; you can save your receipt and submit it to Human Resources for reimbursement.  

Please email your certificate of course completion to hr@spectrumsociety.org to have your file updated.

Please let Judy know if you have any questions or issues registering, by emailing judy@spectrumsociety.org