Virus response

The nature of the occupation often puts them in harm’s way.

Fire department first responders can be among those who run into a burning building to save occupants.

Emergency medical technicians and paramedics face a different type of danger in dealing with patients or the medically ill.

They’re all facing a new sort of hazard as the coronavirus pandemic continues to alter day-to-day life for all Americans.

And each are handling this risk in their own way.

“Not doing a lot. It’s business as usual with a few tweaks,” said John McFarland, one of three supervisors for Jay Emergency Medical Service.

For example, JEMS is now the sole entity to respond to basic life support (BLS) calls to limit the number of personnel on hand in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Generally, Portland Fire Department would also respond to those medic runs. Portland Fire Chief Mike Weitzel said the department only responds to advanced life support (ALS) runs or if a paramedic requests its assistance on those BLS calls.

“Instead of sending the fire department and first responders on a call, I asked (dispatchers) to not do that unless it’s a life-threatening call,” McFarland said. “If we do (need support), we’re asking them to send one guy. If we do infect someone it’s the smallest number of people possible.”

Jay County dispatch is also doing its part to help JEMS and PFD to better prepare for the situation before arriving on scene.

Under the direction of the state department of health and the state 911 board, dispatch has further inquired about each call it receives to give responders the most information possible so they know what to expect. Dispatchers are looking for indicators as to whether or not a patient may be COVID-19 positive, such as asking if the individual has been out of the country recently or has a fever.

“All of our 911 calls we have a series of questions we ask,” dispatcher Bill Baldwin said. “We were just doing that on medical calls. I think we’re doing that on everything now.”

In order to do their job and treat patients efficiently, first responders have to disregard the recommended social distancing guidelines of remaining 6 feet apart. For that reason, both JEMS and the fire department have taken extra precautions to protect themselves from one another but also those who they are treating.

“We’ve changed our protocols quite a bit as far as medical protocols,” Weitzel said. Even for something like an automobile accident, the department is having its responders wear eye protection and N95 masks.

They’re also wearing face shields, which were donated from Jay County High School — firefighter Kyle Love helped create them — and John Jay Center for Learning.

“If it’s a known case (of COVID-19) we’re also wearing a gown,” Weitzel said. “We’re taking precautions.”

JEMS is also being sure to sanitize its ambulances thoroughly, using a machine that can spray down the entire inside of the vehicle. While Jay County Jail has been closed to the public, Baldwin said dispatchers are still being extra cautious and wiping down their workstations between shifts.

“Dispatch, we’ve always been clean freaks,” he said.

One big impact both JEMS and PFD are experiencing since the pandemic began is a decrease in the amount of workload.

“Our call volume has decreased,” McFarland said. “Most people are staying at home and not doing silly stuff. People are sick and haven’t needed to go to the hospital.

“People are staying at home like they’re supposed to.

“People are choosing not to use the ambulance to go to the emergency room.”

The fire department has also seen a drastic decrease in how many calls it has responded to. Weitzel said from March 13 to April 9 it only responded to a dozen runs whereas it would average about 90 during the same four-week span.

“That has definitely changed,” he said. “It’s definitely different and it’s a lot quieter. Makes the day a lot different than it has been prior.”

Portland Fire Department has nine, including Weitzel, on staff full-time. As of April 9, one of those had 34 hours remaining before his retirement. One firefighter, who Weitzel said is of high-risk for COVID-19, had been off and another was for all intents and purposes retired, leaving seven remaining to pick up the remaining shifts.

“As far as runs go, no, there’s not a lot to pick up, but we still have to be covered out here,” Weitzel said, noting he’s required to have two on shift at all times. “Take out three of the guys out of rotation it affects us. Guys are getting extra shifts and everyone is filling in.”

McFarland said most of the EMTs and paramedics at JEMS are not so much concerned about themselves but rather continuing to be more cautious for the public.

“It’s really a whole lot of common sense,” he said. “I guess in our world, we train for this stuff. There are so many other things that will kill ya that we are prepared for.

“(Coronavirus) seems new so it’s odd but it’s just a virus. We just protect ourselves a little bit more now.”

Despite the extra precautions, everyone is doing their best to stay positive.

“We’re like everybody else; we’re ready for things to go back to normal,” Baldwin said. “We’ll get there.”