While many of us have been working from home, others have no option but to keep going out, and save lives during the pandemic.
Medic EMS Community Relations Manager Jeremy Pessman says there have been four times as many COVID-19 transports this month than last. “For us, several months ago we might’ve had 200 patients that were positive. Now we’re seeing 200-300 in Scott County that are positive a day. The numbers are increasing drastically,” says Pessman. In October, they were averaging 5 COVID-19 transports per day. In November, they’re already averaging over 20 per day.
First responders are not only going to more calls, but it takes longer to get to them too. Pessman explains they spend additional time before going to a call to put on a face shield and gown in addition to their face mask. Once they’ve finished treating their patient, employees take off their PPE and decontaminate the ambulance before their next call.