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Archive for category Coronavirus

Fire service news – Coronavirus COVID-19

Mar 18

Posted by Admin in Coronavirus, CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) | Comments off

Excerpts from cbs46.com:

Amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, Old Fourth Distillery in Atlanta has been distributing make-shift bottles of hand sanitizer.Starting today they are shifting their efforts and giving back to those on the front lines.

Co-Owner of Old Fourth Distillery Jeff Moore has been making hand sanitizer with their own in-house alcohol. At first he was handing the hand sanitizer out to everyone, but as the crisis worsens, he’s now only giving it to first responders emergency personnel.

“It was really something that helped us not feel so helpless. We were able to play a small role in comforting people in this time of need,” said Moore. 

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Fire service news – coronavirus

Mar 18

Posted by Admin in Coronavirus, CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19), Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from Chicago.cbslocal.com:

At least one Chicago firefighter is refusing to go on call Wednesday morning amid growing concerns about the coronavirus. This comes as a paramedic tested positive for COVID-19. The firefighters’ union wants the entire fire house where the infected paramedic worked to be shut down. The city isn’t revealing which firehouse was impacted.

The infected paramedic is now in quarantine along with his partner, and the firehouse has been deep cleaned. The city doesn’t believe the paramedic who tested positive contracted the virus while responding to a call. He worked his shift Saturday, starting feeling sick Sunday, and got a positive test Monday.

A source within the fire department said that firefighters are not getting the results of COVID-19 tests from people they come into contact with on the job, who are showing symptoms. This is leaving them unsure of whether or not to quarantine.

While the department has given firefighters and paramedics protective gear and masks, a source within the department says those masks haven’t been spray tested, which ensures a proper fit.

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Highland Park Fire Department news

Mar 17

Posted by Admin in Coronavirus, CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19), Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the DAILYHERALD.COM:

On March 16, three Highland Park firefighters responded to a call where they cared for a patient who may have been exposed to COVID-19 due to recent international travel. The paramedics sought medical guidance from Highland Park Hospital and immediately, after returning to the fire station, they were quarantined. They did not respond on any calls or interact with other personnel, and they will remain quarantined pending results from the patient’s COVID-19 test. The ambulance they were operating has been disinfected and undergone a deep anti-viral cleaning.

People who suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms such as high fever, cough, and shortness of breath, should contact their medical provider. All questions regarding health and wellness related to COVID-19 should continue to be directed to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s hotline at 800.889.3931 or dph.sick@illinois.gov. 

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Fire service news – coronavirus

Mar 16

Posted by Admin in Coronavirus, CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) | Comments off

From iafc.org:

The IAFC is continuing to monitor the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) inside the United States. As your agency likely is preparing to care for potential patients and protect firefighters and EMS personnel from exposures, please know that the IAFC stands with you and is ready to help.

In addition to continuously updating the Coronavirus resources page, the IAFC Coronavirus Task Force held their first meeting last week. Over the next few months, the Task Force will be monitoring COVID-19 and developing recommendations for ways that fire departments can protect their members while continuing to serve their communities. 

This Task Force is pleased to release a e-guidebook (PDF)] to assist fire chiefs in planning for and responding to COVID-19 issues. The guidance document contains specific recommendations related to developing dispatch protocols, selecting and using appropriate personal protective equipment, implementing decontamination procedures, and creating pre-plans for quarantining and isolating first responders. In the coming weeks, the Task Force also plans to continue updating these recommendations as well as analyze issues related to medical surge capacity, medical supply chain, drug shortages, and other issues.

In addition to reviewing the Task Force’s summaries, the IAFC strongly encourages all chiefs to closely follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance for EMS system and public safety answering points and other resources posted on the IAFC Coronavirus resources page. 

As always, please remind your personnel to stay safe and err on the side of caution when caring for known or suspected COVID-19 patients.

Here is a link to the map of Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) which is updated throughout the day.

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