All was quiet at West Metro Fire Rescue’s Station 1 on July 23. That is, until a recording of a woman’s voice rang through the bay, announcing an emergent medical alert.
Within seconds, the station’s firefighters, paramedics and the on-duty officer burst through a set of swinging doors.
“We’ve got a woman in labor,” announced Lt. Brian Worth as he charged toward the ambulance.
In less than a minute, the ambulance has pulled out of the large garage and headed in the direction of the emergency. The protocol for these emergency workers once they hear an alert is the same as always: change shoes, grab any needed equipment, hop in the ambulance or fire truck.
Only now, they’re also pulling on personal protective equipment such as masks, eyewear and gowns and preparing for the chance that the person in need of their help could also infect them with COVID-19, the potentially deadly virus sweeping the globe.