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On Monday Local 2180 board members were updated by Dr Margarin from John Hopkins University, Dennis Lawson from Washington State Firefighters (where the first cases of firefighters becoming infected with COVID-19 occurred), and a representative from the CDC. The biggest things to note were the following:
1. This pandemic is just starting, and more than likely we, and\or a neighboring agency will eventually be directly effected with members being infected.
2. Being proactive in our use of PPE, and decon, as we are already doing with patients with flu like symptoms, is the best practice. Keep in mind the Washington State firefighters became infected on a elderly fall call for service.
3. Get in writing, protections for our members so when they become infected, protocols are in place to quarantine and/or isolate them. At this writing, quarantine from home is best practice keeping 6 feet of distance from others, as long as no one else resides in the house who is at high risk.
4. Get in writing, procedures to cover our members with either workers comp protections if they become infected, or Dept Admin Leave when a member is confirmed infected.
5. Design a procedure for emergency staffing. Washington State said this was a significant issue when 20% of their members were quarantined.
6. Lastly, if you are sick, stay home. Even though most of our members will most likely have nothing more than a bad cold, or flu-like symptoms if they become infected, we must consider our patients who make up a large portion of high-risk individuals.
Attached are the documents from SDFD regarding their protocols. They are very good and worth reading. We are working to try and address these concerns with our city and management.
Thank you and see the Union Message board for the most up-to-date info from IAFF, it is updated daily.
Other important links and documents you should read:
www.iaff.org/coronavirus
Fire & EMS Podcast from CPF: March 10, 2020
COVID-19 Information Assignment on Target Solutions
Download:
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