The Anchorage Fire Department might be the first in the country to use a new combination of personal protective equipment while responding to medical calls with a confirmed or potential risk of COVID-19 exposure.
When the coronavirus was first detected in Alaska in March, AFD firefighters donned a protective outfit mostly consisting of one-time use disposable personal protective equipment, including N-95 masks, while responding to medical calls for COVID-19 positive or high risk patients.
The initial suits got hot quickly, making the duties of the job more difficult.
"The gear has some pretty significant limitations," said Jason Jeffers, who has helped treat and transport several COVID-19 patients. "It would really quickly become fogged and make visually based procedures very challenging, like intubation or starting an IV."