VIDEO: The Green Valley Fire District has been doing a little online shopping as they plan to buy a new piece of safety gear for first responders.
The Power Air-Purifying Respirators, otherwise known as PAPRs, are designed to protect first responders in a pandemic like COVID-19.
Instead of having to wear a mask as they work, emergency crews can wear these respirators.
The way a PAPR works is you put the hood on, then a hose runs down to a belt, where it filters the air. As long as the battery is charged, there's an unlimited supply of clean, fresh air.
Filtering the air is very important if you’re transporting someone with COVID-19 symptoms because when crews treat patients with respiratory issues, whatever they’re exhaling becomes airborne. Those particles can last in a confined space, like an ambulance, for three hours.