VIDEO: Operators at 911 centers across southern Arizona are screening calls for possible cases of coronavirus.
The Arizona Department of Health Services confirmed the state’s first case of the illness on Sunday, Jan. 26. The following day, experts offered resources and guidelines from NHTSA Office of EMS for first responders to limit their exposure to coronavirus.
Before those emergency crews respond to a situation, 911 operators will ask some additional questions to people who mention respiratory issues.
“There’s already been one case here in Arizona and we’re doing this for our providers safety as well,” said Mike Thompson, Communications Center Manager for American Medical Response in southern Arizona.
He said AMR teams across the country rolled out the safety measure Friday following a recommendation from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch and local medical directors.