WhidbeyHealth EMT Ren Waldron demonstrates full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) wear during COVID-19 defense. The PPE he wears was preserved for his use after this photo was taken.
EMS - We Stay Protected To Protect Our Community
Our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team plays a vital role to all Whidbey Island residents every day when responding to emergency requests for assistance, triaging patients and providing emergency medical treatment and transport for sick or injured patients.
But now, because of the current COVID-19 outbreak, EMS has become even more challenged. The defense of the Coronavirus for both patients and EMS staff must be careful, thorough and consistent. The WhidbeyHealth EMS team is rising to that challenge with a routine system of high level protection.
The care and transport by EMS with the potential presence of Coronavirus presents unique challenges because of the enclosed space in an ambulance during transport. Each time an ambulance responds to a call, the EMT or paramedic will wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
“We completely protect ourselves and the patient,” said WhidbeyHealth EMS manager Roger Meyers.
“Every time we go on a call, we put on a mask, gloves and goggles. We send a single scout in to screen for COVID-19 symptoms from 6 feet away, and if they do have symptoms all crew members will don gowns. After a run involving a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient, we take off the PPE, and our uniform. We then take a shower; put on a clean uniform carried in an outside compartment on the ambulance; and then wash our contaminated uniform. We also clean our shoes after each and every run.”
The ambulances are also completely disinfected after each transport. Following these strict guidelines for PPE and cleaning procedures assures protection for both EMS staff and our patients.
Recently, Meyers has partnered with North Whidbey Fire & Rescue for separate quarters for his EMT’s and paramedics in order to follow social distancing guidelines and prevent potential infection among his crew.
“Thanks to North Whidbey Fire & Rescue’s gracious offer, most of the EMS crews are now spread out and housed individually not only at our EMS quarters in Oak Harbor, but at two unmanned fire stations that contain sleeping quarters, including at North Whidbey Fire & Rescue’s station #2-1 and station #2-5,” Meyers said.
Meyers said he is identifying other stations on the island where EMS staff can be housed in isolation.
Reports of our community being very conservative about calling an ambulance are reassuring to Meyers.
“It seems like the community is taking Governor Inslee’s message of ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ to heart,” Meyers added.
“Thank you for not calling 911 unless absolutely necessary. It keeps us all safer in the end.”
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