EMSSki said:
ntxVOL said:
Rapier108 said:
VaultingChemist said:
The cruise ship seems like it was a safer place than that nursing home.
Thankfully all of the first responders who might have been exposed have been isolated for a while.
It is crazy to me how this thing just pops up in seemingly random places. Next thing you know, we will have 700 cases tied to this one place.
I have been an Industrial Safety Manager in the metals industry for over 20 years.
I am also a volunteer EMT in my hometown. My son is currently enrolled in an EMT class and was just recently released to start his hands-on ride along training with other EMTs.
It was out of concern for his safety as well as mine that I originally started searching for information related to this disease and how it spreads.
When I first saw the news report photo's yesterday of EMS providers responding to the Kirkland nursing home I told a coworker... "they are going to get sick... they are not wearing the correct PPE and not following proper disease prevent protocols... I did not think that I would see affirmation of what I said this quickly.
Two take away's and a question regarding this post...
1) As to the seriousness of this situation... elsewhere I read that 2 of the people that have been admitted into the hospital in Washington state are both 20 year old patients and were admitted in serious condition. A lot of our first responders fall into the 20-30 year old demographic....
I know that due to their age and the statistics of this disease that people in this age group will likely be able to fight off the disease... but seriously... 20 years old and admitted in serious condition... let that sink in...
2) My original impressions stand... when you see China locking down cities with millions of people in them, when you see Chinese health care providers working in Level A or Level C hazmat gear... you better make sure you understand exactly what you are dealing with before you go in to the situation....
My question concerning this article... it stated that one fire fighter had already been released from quarantine already... how long have they known that this was going on in the nursing home... i was under the impression it was just discovered yesterday or the day before?
For my son and myself ... I have decided that I will not be putting ourselves in danger until we are provided with the proper PPE required to deal with a situation of this magnitude.
I echo your concerns. I'm volunteer fire/ems and we had had no instruction whatsoever Or change in protocol regarding medical calls for potential COVID-19 patients. Even when asking the officers about the virus I get a shrug. Our department is well connected and have people who work in paid departments in the major cities nearby, and several healthcare workers so it's not as if we are oblivious to what's going on...
I'm not saying I think I'm surround by infected patients, but in the coming weeks it wouldn't surprise me to see some in my area. It would be nice to have a game plan ahead of time.