Antrim emergency responders are implementing additional precautions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fire Chief Marshal Gale said the Antrim Ambulance is following state and federal recommendations to minimize the risk of spreading infection on any medical call that involves flulike symptoms or a suspected exposure to the virus.
When responding to those cases, Gale said that emergency personnel are instructed to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including a N95 respirator, eye protection, exam gowns, and gloves to minimize exposure. Gale said he’s also trying to make sure only two or three personnel respond to each medical call in an additional effort to minimize exposure.
“If we do have a confirmed case, I don’t need eight of my EMT’s exposed and then I lose them for 14 days,” he said. The Ambulance is also following a procedure for notifying Monadnock Community Hospital when responding to suspected flu cases, Gale said.
Gale said his department hadn’t encountered residents experiencing problems related to self-isolation measures, and as of Monday afternoon, they had only received one call that could have been related to COVID-19. However, the circumstances are changing hourly at this point, he said.
— By ABBE HAMILTON