Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 30/9/2014 (2182 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg plumber with military experience is on the front lines fighting the Ebola virus -- a deadly enemy armed with weapons that include feces and vomit.

"I've been in four wars, so I'm pretty calm, cool and collected," said Garth Tohms by phone from Sierra Leone at the Red Cross Ebola treatment centre in Kenema.

The temporary hospital opened two weeks ago in a district hard-hit by the Ebola outbreak. "Our first priority was to get the hospital to a point where we could admit patients and patients could be seen safely," said Tohms, who is in charge of the plumbing and electrical as well as security and setting up the kitchen. His international deployments typically last one to three months, he said. His most recent trips were to the Philippines and South Sudan last year. More recently, he helped with the flood fight in Manitoba.

Before the mission to Sierra Leone, the tradesman with a military background said he received intensive training in Geneva. Rather than making a hefty salary year-round in the private sector, Tohms says he chose to work with the Red Cross in international disaster zones because he wants to help humanity. In Sierra Leone, his big payday came Saturday when an Ebola patient who recovered was released.

"The high point was when we let the first patient in -- an 11-year-old girl -- and she was the first patient we discharged," said Tohms, who took a picture of the beaming child holding a certificate of good health.

'The high point was when we let the first patient in ‐ an 11-year-old girl ‐ and she was the first patient we discharged' ‐ Winnipeg plumber Garth Tohms

"The community was happy about that," said Tohms. "It gives them confidence -- they're surviving."

There have been reports of frightened and uninformed villagers hiding infected community members from health care outreach workers in remote corners of the Ebola zone.

That hasn't been the case in Kenema, said Tohm.

"This community is very supportive of us," said Tohms, who's met with the region's village chiefs. "They're happy to have us... They know if they take proper precautions and get to the hospital as soon as possible, it's not a death sentence."

His No. 1 priority is making sure they can disinfect people and objects that come into contact with infected patients.

"The supply of chlorinated water is paramount. I have to make sure it's working at all times," said Tohms. There are separate latrines in the low-risk and high-risk areas of the hospital, he said. The run-off water goes into a big sump pit that's treated with chlorine daily.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Garth Tohms (seen above and below) has to suit up in protective gear to work at an Ebola treatment centre in the city of Kenema.

"Whenever there's a spill inside the hospital, we treat it with chlorine. From there, it goes into the pit."

Every day, he enters the hospital's high-risk zone that requires him to wear the "space man" suit -- being covered in protective gear from head to toe, with goggles covering the eyes.

On Tuesday, he suited up to replace a broken water supply valve -- a common occurrence. "The chlorine is eating them."

In a steamy climate, the protective gear is sweltering, said Tohms, who's blogged about seeing people dump rubber boots full of sweat.

"We go in for very short periods of time," said Tohms.

"I drink a lot of water, and we go in pairs."

When he's not maintaining the chlorinated water supply, he said he's trying to expand a break area for hospital staff to relax and recover from the hard work and the heat.

"After they take off their scrubs and are sprayed down with chlorine, they can relax, have a meal, take time out and have a drink of water."

Tohms, the father of two teens, said he's tentatively scheduled to return to Winnipeg Oct. 15.

After he leaves the Ebola zone, he'll be on the lookout for the first telltale sign of infection: fever.

"I've been given instructions to monitor my temperature daily."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca