First Responders Taking Precautions Against COVID-19
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MARTINS FERRY -- Local first responders say they are following public health guidelines to keep themselves and their patients healthy during the coronavirus outbreak.
Cody Goff, Martins Ferry EMS supervisor, said his department is following recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding how to best handle patients showing flu-like, or possible coronavirus, symptoms.
"If we have any patients meeting those requirements we put a facial mask on them to prevent the spread. It's spread through respiratory droplets, like sneezing or coughing. Our providers also put a mask on and eye protection. We do have gowns if our providers wish to use them, but they're not required," Goff said Monday.
Goff said, if possible, they also try to only use one medic to help a patient. They also try determine whether a patient can go without a nebulizer treatment. Using a nebulizer turns a person's exhaled breathing into a vapor, making the virus airborn, he added.
Goff said none of his EMS personnel have had to be tested for the virus so far.
"Right now the virus is more severe toward the elderly and the young population, like infants and newborns. … It's kind of making it bad right now. There are people carrying it and they don't know it, and they visit the elderly and the young and it's being spread that way," Goff noted.
"That's why our governor is making the calls he is, closing down restaurants and large gatherings."
Goff said his EMS department is continuing to take all calls.
Goff noted the EMS's neighboring property, the former C&L Window Tinting building on Zane Highway, is one of the sites for free school lunch distributions from 11 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday by the Martins Ferry City School District.
Other lunch distribution sites include the Alerts Volunteer Fire Department station on Zane Highway, St. Myers Terrace Community Room, and Dollar General in Colerain.
Cumberland Trail Fire District Chief Tim Hall said his department also is following CDC, Ohio Department of Health and Belmont County Health Department guidelines regarding the virus.
The department's first responders can use masks and personal protective equipment as needed.
To help limit the virus' spread, the department on March 14 stopped receiving all visitors, including family and the public.
It also has stopped its public relations campaigns regarding other fire-safety related programs.
Inside the departments' two fire houses, personnel are keeping their distance while eating and living in the stations.
Hall noted none of his firefighters have had to be tested for the virus, to date.
"As of now we're all healthy and well. We encourage the general public to follow guidelines … by Gov. DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health regarding social distancing," he said. "Hopefully at the end of this, we will have taken too many steps. I'd rather we do that than the other course of action."