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First responders take swine flu precautions
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - October 14, 2009)
First responders take swine flu precautions
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
As first responders to emergencies, fire and police departments are preparing for the possibility of coming in contact with those with the H1N1 virus, or swine flu.
Some of the departments are taking precautionary measures to offset the risk of a reduced staff affected by the flu and being unable to respond to emergency calls. They will be some of the first to have access to the swine flu vaccine, which started arriving this week.
"If we don't take care of the first responders, they can't take of others," Herbert Shubeck, of the Geauga County Health District, said.
The first vaccine supplies coming in will be designated for those emergency and health-care responders.
Bainbridge Fire Chief Brian Phan said as first responders to emergency calls, the fire department will be the first to come in contact with those who are sick with the swine flu.
"I think it's important to use proper protection," he said. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics should be among those having access to the vaccine as soon as possible.
"We're taking all the precautions and following protocol, Mr. Phan said. "There are a lot of unknowns right now, and we are purchasing protective equipment, including gowns, goggles and masks.
"If we become affected, it would affect our ability to help others," he said.
Russell Fire Chief John Frazier said the Geauga County Health District will make the swine flu vaccine available to fire and police departments.
It will be up to the individual to accept the vaccine, but he said, "We're the front line in response, and we're more likely to be exposed to the disease.
"We're going to be helping people with the flu and it will be easy for us to get it."
He is meeting with some local fire departments in a cooperative plan for mutual aid if a department's staff is affected by the flu, he said. If one department's work force is reduced because of the flu, another department could supply personnel, Mr. Frazier said.
"We are discussing it in case it takes out a lot of people," he said. "We want to respond to that.
"We've had flu go through the department, but swine flu is more unpredictable," Mr. Frazier said.
"It's hitting younger people in the 20-year-old to 30-year-old range," he said.
Jay Becker, disease surveillance specialist with the Geauga County Health District, said there are still some unknowns on whether there will be enough vaccine for all emergency medical service personnel.
"They are telling us we should be getting more," Mr. Becker said. "Health-care workers and emergency medical service staff are most at risk. They do direct patient care."
After they are vaccinated, the health district will target the schools, and the most at-risk school students and teachers, including those with asthma.
After that group, in-school vaccines will be given to healthy students in the school population, he said.
The health district is working with school superintendents and vaccines will be given only with consent forms by parents, Mr. Becker said.
After the schools, the vaccine will be given to the general public through distribution centers in the county.
The flu vaccine is safe and the benefits far outweigh any risks, he said.
"We had two confirmed cases in June in Geauga County," Mr. Becker said. "We know it's here." However, a lot of people are getting it and recovering and didn't even know they had it, he said. "We don't recommend going to the emergency room."
"It's definitely early for flu," Mr. Becker said. "Swine flu kept going all summer."
Munson Fire Chief Bernerd Harchar said first responders are not mandated to take the vaccination. However, the concern is if the department were hit, "how would we function. Our chances of exposure are greater than the average person."
The fire departments are looking at ways to help each other if one department is hit by illness, he said.
"If we're not there to help people, it makes things worse," he said. "We have to take care of the forces so they can do their jobs."
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