The answer is themselves — through training and equipment.
“Every time we’ve trained, it’s been for potential bloodborne and airborne pathogens — now we’re working and living the potential,” said Madeira Paraskos, a paramedic and operations manager with Conneaut Lake Area Ambulance Service.
For weeks, emergency medical services personnel have been taking extra precautions to protect themselves, health care workers and the public from the potential spread of COVID-19.
For ambulance services like Conneaut Lake and Meadville, it’s meant a new way of doing things and even using dedicated equipment with COVID-19 a possibility.
Since the pandemic outbreak, ambulance stations have been closed to the public.
With the COVID-19 situation, personnel are wearing at least a surgical mask in addition to gloves when answering a call, according to Parskos and Eric Danielson, a paramedic and supervisor with Meadville Area Ambulance Service.
On arrival, a quick verbal remote assessment is done with the patient by the crew from 6 to 7 feet away before approaching the patient, Danielson said.
But, if the patient exhibits any signs of COVID-19 or it’s known by dispatch prior to arrival on scene, personnel wear a full N95 surgical mask, protective face shield, gown and gloves.
“We’ve always been cautious to begin with, but now it’s a deliberate process,” Danielson said of the changes due to COVID-19. “We want to protect not only the patient, but ourselves and our partners.”
Disposable supplies of personal protective equipment have been distributed well around the county to the various ambulance services and first responders, Paraskos said.
“A lot of thanks has to go to Crawford County’s Office of Emergency Services and the county commissioners in getting supplies on hand sent out,” Paraskos said.
As an added precaution, Meadville Area Ambulance Service even has designated one of its ambulances for transport of a COVID-19-positive patient if necessary. The ambulance is equipped with protective sheeting in its interior.
With COVID-19 a possibility, both Conneaut Lake and Meadville services now do extensive decontamination procedures of the ambulance and equipment following each call.
“We always cleaned the stretchers and equipment before, but now we’re decontaminating everything,” Danielson said. “It’s hard to know who is positive and who isn’t.”
Both Conneaut Lake and Meadville have seen significant drops in ambulance call volumes since the pandemic started.
Paraskos said Conneaut Lake’s call volume is off by as much as 75 percent while Danielson said Meadville’s is down 30 percent or more.
“People aren’t out doing things,” Danielson said. “People generally don’t want to go to the hospital now. They’re worried about getting sick (in the hospital).”
Both Danielson and Paraskos said one big concern remains among emergency medical personnel — a relaxation too soon of stay-at-home orders to control the spread of COVID-19. That could lead to people being complacent and ignoring social distancing and other precautions.
“Everybody has the same concern — a rebound wave (of the virus),” Paraskos said.
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune. com.
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