ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- Arnold Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services maintains a continual state of readiness to respond to situations on base and, when needed, provide mutual aid to departments off base.
In order to prevent, to the best of their ability, giving or getting the coronavirus to or from the co-workers they live with for 24 hours at a time or a patient in their care, FES team members are taking extra steps to stay ready to answer the call.
“We have taken all the recommended actions, such as social distancing, not shaking hands, etc.,” said FES Deputy Chief Daryl VanCise. “We have also implemented touch-point cleaning of all surfaces and items at least twice per day.”
He added that all firefighters are having their temperature taken every 12 hours to check for a fever.
Measures have also been implemented to aid the firefighters in reducing risk when responding to calls.
Dispatchers at the Emergency Communications Center, or ECC, ask callers a set of specific 911-call screening questions. They can then inform the responding firefighters to the potential of a COVID-19 situation. In such a case, VanCise explained, the crew uses “very specific response protocols aimed at minimizing crew exposure, while ensuring appropriate patient care is administered.”
The Tennessee Department of Health has oversight over the Arnold AFB FES ambulance service. The Department’s EMS Director has provided guidance concerning response, personal protective equipment and decontamination procedures.
As the count of confirmed cases continues to grow and safety measures change, VanCise praised the entire FES team for their handling of the situation.
“All Arnold FES personnel, to include ECC dispatchers, firefighters, fire prevention specialists and management staff, have done an outstanding job implementing these new protocols and safety measures,” VanCise said. “Our goal is to provide appropriate emergency medical care while keeping our FES personnel healthy and able to work.”
AEDC personnel are to call their doctor for guidance if they feel sick. In the case of serious illness, they should call 911 and FES will respond. VanCise asks that individuals that are sick not be brought to the fire station, though, as it places the entire FES workforce at risk of infection.