Hide Transcript Show Transcript

THEY DON’T DO IT EVERY DAY, A DRILL IS NECESSARY. >> COVID-19 PRE-ALERT. REPORTER: THE CALL FOR THIS TRAINING DRILL CAME IN AT 9:15 PROMPTING EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO PREPARE TO TRANSPORT A PATIENT EXPERIENCING POTENTIAL COVID-19 SYMPTOMS. >> WHEN THEY GET THAT MESSAGE, WE PUT ON EXTRA PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT BEFORE THEY ENCOUNTER THE PATIENT. REPORTER: THAT INCLUDES A JUMPSUIT AND A RESPIRATOR. EMT’S WILL THEN ASK THE PATIENT A SERIES OF QUESTIONS. >> IF THEY ARE SICK ENOUGH TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, WE TREAT THEM LIKE ANY OTHER PATIENT. REPORTER: ONCE INSIDE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, THE PATIENT WOULD BE BROUGHT TO A NEGATIVE PRESSURE ROOM WITH STAFF COVERED FROM HEAD TO TOE. >> WHEN THE PATIENT ARRIVED, THEY WOULD GO OUT INTO A ROOM. MAKING SURE ALL OF OUR STAFF WAS PREPARED AND PROTECTED. REPORTER: THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TREATMENT FOR COVID 19 BUT DOCTORS AND NURSES CAN HELP TREAT SYMPTOMS. >> WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS SINCE IT WAS FIRST AN ISSUE IN JANUARY. WE ARE MEETING TWO TIMES A DAY. >> EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL CALM AND COMFORTABLE THAT THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS WORKING. OUR HOSPITALS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, EMS PROVIDERS ARE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THIS. REPORTER: THE FIRE CHIEF SAYS THEY WILL MAKE TWEAKS TO THE DRILLS AND PRACTIC

Advertisement Drill held to prepare first responders for dealing with COVID-19 patients EMTs wear special equipment to avoid infection Share Shares Copy Link Copy

First responders in Conway are preparing for potential patients who have the coronavirus.>> Download the FREE WMUR appFirefighters and paramedics ran a drill Thursday with Memorial Hospital to make sure they are ready to handle a patient with COVID-19. They said it's not something they do every day, so drilling on procedures is necessary.>> COVID-19 in New Hampshire: What you need to knowThe call for the training drill came in at 9:15 a.m., prompting emergency responders to prepare to transport a patient experiencing potential COVID-19 symptoms."When they get that message, they would put on extra protective equipment before they encounter the patient," said Fire Chief Stephen Solomon.The equipment includes a jumpsuit and a respirator. Emergency medical technicians then ask the patient a series of questions."If they are sick enough to go to the hospital, we treat them like any other patient," Solomon said.Once inside Memorial Hospital, the patient would be brought to a negative pressure room with staff covered from head to toe."When the patient arrived, they were brought into a room that is designated for this type of exposure, making sure all of our staff was prepared and protected, which is part of taking care of our team," said Dr. Matthew Dunn, chief medical officer.There is no specific treatment for COVID-19, but doctors and nurses can help treat symptoms."We have been looking at this since this was an issue back in January, and now we are meeting two times a day," Dunn said."Everyone should feel calm and comfortable that the health care system is working," Solomon said. "Our hospitals, our fire departments and EMS providers are prepared to deal with this."Solomon said officials will make tweaks to the drill and will practice those portions again.