Alabama first responders taking precautions to transport COVID-19 patients By CBS 42

GO-AHEAD TO RETURN TO THE OFFICE. SOME OF OUR AREA FIRST RESPONDERS ARE ALREADY TRANSPORTING COVID-19 PATIENTS TO NEARBY HOSPITALS FOR CARE. CBS 42 NEWS REPORTER MICHAEL CLARK TALKED TO PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES ABOUT HOW THEY'RE HANDLING THE CALLS - AND HOW YOU CAN HELP. (nats) IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AMBULANCES AND PARAMEDICS STAND READY TO HELP CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS They're going in with an N95 mask on, a gown, and eye protection and that gives them the best layer of protection. " IN PLEASANT GROVE FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE ALREADY TRANSPORTED AT LEAST ONE POSITIVE PATIENT - AS DISPATCHERS SCREEN CALLERS AND FAMILY'S FOR OTHERS. "They're asking them a serious of questions that will tell us when they dispatch us if there is any type of symptoms that allows us to make sure we have the correct protective equipment on.

" AT REGIONAL PARAMEDICAL SERVICES - CREWS HELP PATIENTS IN 9 COUNTIES - AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE PROTECTIVE GEAR TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE PEAK IN CASES - THAT MAY BE WEEKS AWAY. "We've been very fortunate, the office of EMS and EMA has been working very hard trying to get us equipment and supplies so to say we are OK right now, is just a little unknown, so we are trying to get some calculations to see where we are at and how long our supplies will last. " THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALERTS FIRST RESPONDERS IF A TRANSPORTED PATIENT TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. CREWS ARE ASKING NEIGHBORS NOT TO CALL 911 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT CORONAVIRUS, TESTING, OR IF YOU HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS - TO ALLOW PARAMEDICS TO FOCUS ON MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. "If you're having chest pains, if you're having stroke symptoms, anything of that nature that is a true medical emergency, please call us.

" IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WITH CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS AND THAT PERSON IS TRANSPORTED, FIRST RESPONDERS ARE ASKING THAT YOU WRITE DOWN ANY NEEDED MEDICATIONS, MEDICAL HISTORY, AND CONTACT INFORMATION SO EMT'S CAN GIVE THAT TO HOSPITAL STAFF. IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, MICHAEL CLARK, CBS 42 NEWS, LOCAL COVERAGE YOU CAN COUNT ON. IN TONIGHT'S UAB MEDICAL MESSAGING-- THE HOSPITAL'S CHIEF NURSING OFFICER PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH.

Source : CBS 42