Victorian paramedics are concerned about the risk of contracting Ebola from a patient because their safety kits do not contain eye goggles, the ambulance union says.
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Protective suits and masks are part of standard kits supplied in ambulances, along with plastic safety glasses.
But Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Danny Hill said the glasses were insufficient to guard against the risk of Ebola infection, because they did not fully enclose the eyes and there was a chance fluid could get in behind them.
He said paramedics would be at risk without protective goggles, for example, if they gave a patient a Ventolin inhaler to treat spasms around the bronchial tubes.
"That would create a mist, which would have Ebola droplets in it," he said. "They could get into your eyes, which are a portal to your bloodstream."
Mr Hill said a number of union members had expressed concern about not having goggles, which were required under guidelines for healthcare workers treating Ebola patients.
An Ambulance Victoria Ebola action plan dated October 1 says staff in close contact with a suspected or confirmed case should wear appropriate protective gear, which includes gloves, an impermeable gown, a face mask and goggles or face shield.
Mr Hill said face shields were normally used in hospitals, for example, when surgeons were standing over a patient in theatre, but "with paramedics, goggles are better because you can be at any angle".
He said a number of members had raised concerns about the gear after two nurses became infected with Ebola in the US while taking care of a patient.
Ambulance Victoria state health commander Justin Dunlop said the service was continuing to seek Department of Health advice to ensure it met required standards for protective equipment regarding the Ebola virus.
"Personal protective equipment such as eye protection, gloves, masks and other equipment is already available to our paramedics for use in a range of situations, including a suspected Ebola patient," he said.
"The Health Department has advised Ambulance Victoria that the AV-issued equipment is adequate, provided it fits the individual paramedic appropriately."
Mr Hill said paramedics were also concerned that callers to 000 were not being asked Ebola-specific questions, including whether they had recently travelled to Africa.
Mr Dunlop said the ambulance service was working with the Emergency Service Telecommunications Authority, which dispatched crews to cases, "on enhancements to call-taking processes in relation to potential Ebola cases".
