Westmoreland County first responders safeguard against coronavirus

The coronavirus may be relatively new, but Penn Township Ambulance’s director of operations believes anyone calling for help will notice very little, if any, change in response from emergency workers.

“The term coronavirus is certainly new, but we’ve responded to contagious diseases before … hepatitis, tuberculosis cases to name a few. The initial response will be no different, but there could be a slight modification on the response once a patient is treated,” Edgar C. Grant said.

Grant said if an ambulance crew is responding to a call, 911 dispatchers will attempt to learn the patient symptoms in advance of the ambulance arrival.

“If any of the CDC warning signs for (covid-19) are there — for example, if it’s an elderly person who is having difficulty breathing or experiencing shortness of breath, has persistent pain or pressure in the chest — then once we go in you could see a crew wearing personal protection equipment such as a gown, gloves and breathing apparatus,” Grant said.

Darrick Gerano, administrative director of Murrysville Medic One, concurred.

“All ambulance agencies have infectious disease plans in place and have responded appropriately before. Maybe the public has not seen too many cases occur, but all of us have responded to them before,” Gerano said.

Gerano noted Westmoreland County EMS Council and 911 officials are continuing planning sessions and had a conference call Monday on the coronavirus situation. Weekly conference calls are planned “to keep everyone up to date,” he said.

After an initial patient assessment is obtained, Gerano said potential exposure risks may be limited by sending just two EMT responders in with protective gear.

“But we have responded to these type of cases before,”Gerano said.

Jeannette Fire Chief William Frye said the department is continuing to respond to calls seeking assistance on medical calls. Instead of four or five firefighters responding, a shift supervisor will initially be dispatched “to make an assessment” on whether additional personnel will be needed.

“It’s to limit potential exposure, but we’re still responding to medical calls for assistance,” he said.

Some area police departments have announced changes in routine day-to-day activities.

Murrysville police on Monday announced some “precautionary” steps.

“Our hope is to safeguard our staff and the public in the most prudent manner,” police Chief Tom Seefeld said in a Facebook post.

Public fingerprinting has been temporarily suspended at the police department along with officer-provided public training sessions and county sheriff gun permit events, the chief said.

Also, Seefeld said when an officer receives a non-emergency call for service for theft or property damage, an officer “will use their discretion whether to respond in person or handle by phone” to limit potential exposure.

Greensburg police also published on its Facebook page changes in response to some non-emergency calls.

“Effective immediately, for some non-emergency calls, officers will be taking those reports via telephone. This would only include incidents that would not require an immediate police response or any safety concern whatsoever that may need dealt with,” the notice states. “The level of concern and investigation into your complaint or issue will not be hindered in the least. We will simply be taking the information over the phone instead of in person.”

Additionally, the department said it is suspending responses to unlock vehicles. Also suspended are public training talks and shooter safety training.

The notice warned the public not to be offended if an officer does not offer to shake hands.

While officers “love interacting with our community” the notice said public health officials have determined that shaking hands and person-to-person contact are one of the primary vehicles for transmission of covid-19.”

The city police notice emphasized that the moves are, hopefully, temporary.

“We are all in this together and will get through it,” the notice concludes.