WALTON - Volunteer ambulance crew members are taking additional precautionary steps when responding to 911 calls where there may be a possibility of a Covid-19 infection, by donning layered PPE - personal protective equipment - to keep themselves and those in need of emergency medical attention safe.
Walton Emergency Medical Services Squad Captain Jessica Gilmore, following a 911 response to a “difficulty breathing” call on Thursday, April 2, said the department is well-equipped to handle calls where Covid-19 exposure or infection is possible - or any other type of call for that matter.
The 30-member EMS squad was stocked with volunteer protective gear prior to the county and state declaration of a state of emergency in mid-March. However, the department quickly found itself competing with neighboring EMS departments, the county, the state and the federal government to secure PPE, including surgical masks, gowns, gloves, disinfectant wipes, eye protection, etc.
That’s when local Walton businesses and community members stepped in. The outpouring of generosity from Walton businesses has been remarkable, Gilmore and Walton Fire Chief Frank Wood said.
Businesses, like INKdicted, a tattoo and piercing shop located on West Street in Walton which is prohibited from operating as it is not considered an essential business, have donated supplies to the department to keep emergency responders safe. INKdicted owner Jamie Thomson, who is also a volunteer for the EMS squad, donated germicide and gowns to the department - while her own business is shut down and she is sheltering at home with her four children.
She donated the items, she said, because the EMS squad is like family to her. “I want them to be safe on every call they go on and I want the community to be safe,” Thomson said. “I wish I could give more.”
Her business is closed for the foreseeable future and though she is concerned about the economy and her own livelihood, she is doing what she can to help others. She’s scared, Thomson said. “I don’t know what to do so I’m just going to help others. That’s what I did while my business was operating. I have to hold onto hope that everything works out.”
Other local businesses like Dollar General, NAPA, Courtney Funeral Home and Kraft have also donated personal protection equipment - such as face masks, gowns, Clorox wipes and gloves, to the volunteer squad. Individuals, like Cindy Donofrio - who, with husband Mike, own and operate Appliance Plus/Radio Shack in Walton, have donated handcrafted face masks to the department. Volunteer firefighter and squad member Lou Jones has also donated PPE to the department.
There are protocols in place for an ambulance response to a 911 call where Covid-19 may be present. Dispatchers now screen callers to assess the level of preparation for EMS responders, according to Wood.
If there is potential exposure, first responders are advised and take extra precautionary measures, such as donning two pair of gloves, a gown and a face shield or mask, prior to exiting the ambulance. Drivers for potential exposure calls are separated from volunteer first responders in the back of the ambulance to minimize exposure.
Since the outbreak and subsequent pandemic, volunteer emergency squads have had some difficulty assembling crews to respond to calls, according to Gilmore. Many volunteers are now at home and unwilling to leave to respond to calls. Many of the volunteers are also over the age of 70. The virus, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is especially dangerous for people over the age of 65. Volunteers who do not find themselves in the at-risk age range, Gilmore said, are employed in “essential service” professions and mandated to work.
Volunteer-operated organizations such as rural ambulance squads and fire departments have seen a reduction in the number of members and responders over the past 10 years, Wood said. The reasons are many and include the time commitment needed for education and training of volunteers. Long gone are the days when employers permitted staff to leave the job to respond to a call, Wood said.
Walton Volunteer Firefighter and Emergency Service are continuously seeking volunteers. Volunteers are needed in every facet of the department, from traffic control to firefighters, emergency medical technicians, ladies auxiliary, and administrative support.
To volunteer for the Walton Fire Department and Emergency Services call 607.865.4958, stop by the department on West Street in Walton or contact any member of the department, for more information and an application.
* Please visit The Reporter’s Facebook page to view an instructional video detailing the steps that squad members take to prepare for calls where Covid-19 exposure is possible.
