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THURSDAY, APR IL 30, 2020 • KOKOMO TR IBUNE / PHAROS-TR IBUNE
Cass
County
Sheriff’s
Deputies
Johnathan
Ousley,
left, and
Branton
McDonald
wear N95
masks to
protect
themselves
and others
while
practicing
social
distancing.
TYRA BAHNEY
PHAROS-TRIBUNE
F
irst Responders in Cass County
— including paramedics, police
officers and firefighters — are
taking extra precautions to protect
themselves from COVID-19.
EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES
Emergency Medical Technicians
and paramedics at Phoenix Paramedic
Solutions, the ambulance service in
Cass County, started taking precau-
tions several months ago, according to
Phoenix CEO and EMT Provider Nate
Metz.
Normally, people may be used to call-
ing 911 and the EMS providers would
show up along with a firefighter or a
police officer. That isn’t the case right
now.
Phoenix has tried to limit the num-
ber of providers on a call at one time
as best as they can, and they’re wear-
ing personal protective equipment. 911
dispatchers have been asking callers
COVID-19 pre-screening questions as
well.
“The pre-screening questions are
nice, but one of the dangerous things
with the virus is that there are a lot
of carriers who aren’t exhibiting any
signs or symptoms,” Metz said. “It’s one
thing to know if someone has signs or
symptoms going into the call but really,
the real danger for our crews are the
individuals who are exhibiting no signs
or symptoms and are still carriers. So
it’s important for our guys to stay on
guard — to treat everybody as if they
potentially have it, as crazy as that may
sound.”
Right now, EMS may have one
responder go into the house to assess
the situation and to make sure there
isn’t any potential exposure.
“We’re still doing lift assists …We’re
still trying to assess individuals,” said
Metz. “A lot of people are scared and
just want to be looked at or helped up
— and we’re still here for that. We’re
still here for those kinds of calls. Just,
if they see someone come up with a
big mask on their face and goggles and
they’re behind a gown, just know that
they’re still happy to see you behind all
that stuff. You just might not be able to
see their smiling faces underneath of it
all. Just because they look big and scary
— like they’re dressed up like Darth
Vader — doesn’t mean that they are.”
EMS is trying to limit the number
of transports to the hospital and keep
as many people on site and at home if
possible, reserving hospital space for
COVID-19 patients and “for the sus-
pected surge we’ve all been waiting for,”
according to Metz. “I’ve been working
really closely with the community to
make sure our responders have access
to [personal protective equipment]; to
make sure that we don’t run out,” said
Metz.
The state has a website up called
EMResource which is utilized to moni-
tor and notify changes in resources
statuses, such as personal protective
equipment (PPE).
“If we get critical on any PPE, then
the state will release PPE supplies to
us. But it has to be significantly criti-
cal, meaning you guys don’t have any
left. But so far, in Cass County, we have
been fairly lucky with the PPE. But we
haven’t really seen a huge surge yet. …
If we experience a huge rush of patients
all at one time, it could be a different
story.”
Metz said that Phoenix has instituted
aggressive “wash-in, wash-out” policies
at each of its locations. Wash basins
have been installed within the exteri-
ors at crew quarters where employees
“almost do a surgical scrub before they
head into their crew quarters and when
they walk in and out,” said Metz. Each
employee is also being screened before
they come in and out of the building.
They also have been asked to keep all of
their work clothes on site so that they
are not going home with them. The
clothes are then washed every night.
Phoenix has been utilizing what’s
called a microchip fogger as well,
which sprays a pH-neutral cleaning
substance that will kill just about any
PROTECT AND SERVE
First responders gear up to safeguard against COVID-19
Photos by Tony Walters
