With the constant media blitz in reference to the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa and the fact that it has arrived here in the states, the Wantagh Fire Department in full cooperation with the board of fire commissioners of the fire district has instituted an Ebola protocol.
The membership of the department as well as department employees and dispatchers all were instructed in the new guidelines in a special meeting held Monday, Oct. 27.
The initial information in reference to a possible Ebola patient will be obtained by the dispatcher. If a patient complains of flu like systems, the dispatcher will be required to ask specific questions in reference to travel. This information will be transmitted during the initiation of the alarm.
In the past if an incident occurred between a firefighter’s home and the firehouse the responder was permitted to go directly to the scene. This is no longer the case. During a possible alarm in which symptoms appear all personal will respond to the firehouse.
Discussed during the meeting were new rolling procedures whereby one rescue and two haz-mat engines will respond, hot and cold zones at the scene, what will take place upon arrival at N.U.M.C., decontamination of fire-medics, firefighters and equipment including the rescue truck in which the patient was transported and the donning of a Tychem protective suit.
Although as first responders we sympathize with patients and family members our utmost concern is the safety of our own personal as well as containment of the disease. Fire-Medics and firefighter’s will be monitored for 21 days after response to such an incident.
Before entry into a home whereby Ebola might be suspected, all personal operating within the “hot zone” will be suited up in a Tychem suit which is an approved approach garment as used in Hazardous Material incidents. The suit utilized by the Wantagh Fire Department is a step above what the CDC recommends.
As information and procedures are changing on a daily basis the Wantagh Fire Department will also upgrade as conditions warrant. Presently the fire department is a step above what has been recommended and will continue to operate in that mode until the crisis subsides.
