Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) are taking extra precautions internally and externally during the current coronavirus event.
When residents call 911, the LAFD dispatchers have been instructed to screen those callers who complain about flu-like symptoms and they ask callers about their recent travel locations. If a caller reaches the criteria, “suspected coronavirus patient, don PPEs” (Personal Protective Gear) is relayed to the ambulance personnel.
Detailed protocols have been given to ambulance drivers, so that after picking up a suspected coronavirus patient, they remove and dispose of their PPE in hazardous waste red bags and perform hand hygiene to avoid the spread of germs before they enter the ambulance compartments. Decontamination of ambulances are performed regularly to insure the safety of the public.
Updated, online content about the coronavirus can be found at www.Lafd.org by clicking on the news button. The department continues to share informative messages from the Emergency Management Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the LA County Health Department in multiple languages.
