We just got kicked out of a fire station we are based at. They saw us as a risk to their health.
We haven't been kicked out, but some of the fire departments have hand sanitizer wipes and spray by the entrance, a sign in sheet, and we are suppose to utilize those as we walk in.
Oddly enough, I ran an airport call today, and the firefighter told me the stupidest plan ever to minimize contact. First, they asked if they could use our gear instead. Okay? They didn't want to bring in their own equipment. Walking to the gate, he was saying "here is how it is going to be... to minimize contact" speech. His plan was that he'd go on the plane to extricate the patient and move the patient to our gurney to minimize exposure/contact, and then I'll take over/transport from there. To me, I just didn't get it... My equipment. So you are going to contaminate my equipment. On top of that, if the patient is going to be transported, no matter what, I'll be exposed to him. Why don't I make patient contact and you just wait outside? All he was doing was risking exposure to one more person, himself. LOL. I don't know how he thought that through. I just told him OK because I am super passive, but when we showed up, the patient was already off the plane, and I made first contact anyways and cancelled them.
I've been hearing places of firefighters not responding to calls or waiting outside while EMS goes inside. I think that's how it should be. Non transport firefighters going inside is just adding more potential for exposure for a call that is unlikely to be super critical requiring their help. Even on critical calls, at least in my area, I feel like they are more of a burden than helpful (eg them wanting to put a traction splint on a traumatic arrest is my most famous example of being a burden rather than helpful on a critical call...), and I rather cancel them anyways even if I do need an extra hand.
www.ems1.com
thehill.com
