When Chase Sherrard completed field training ride-alongs for the Frederick County fire academy in February, the novel coronavirus was far from the major global threat it has become when his class graduated last week.
“Things are a lot different now than when we were doing ride-alongs, especially on [medical/sick person] calls,” the probationary firefighter said. “Before we even go in to the residence, we’re at the door asking, ‘Do you have a fever? Do you have a cough?’ — That sort of thing. So it’s definitely a different procedure than most other calls we run.”
As a newly-graduated probationary firefighter, Sherrard is currently relegated to an observational role on what the fire division refers to as “person under investigation” or PUI calls involving individuals suspected of having COVID-19.