AUSTIN, Texas – According to the Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts (SAFE-D), two thirds of emergency services district first responders surveyed said that since the onset of the virus, they have been unable to procure a sufficient amount of the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to safely respond to an elevated number of calls resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
SAFE-D, the association supporting Texas emergency services districts (ESDs) and their first responders, distributed the online survey to its 251 ESD members to gauge challenges facing those dedicated to protecting and saving lives in their local communities. While nearly 70% of ESDs said they were initially prepared for the pandemic’s arrival, the prolonged demands of the crisis are reducing supplies to critical levels.
“Our priority is the health and safety of first responders across Texas,” Cliff Avery, executive director for SAFE-D, said. “It is clear after the early weeks of combatting COVID-19 that first responders from many agencies, including ESDs, may lack the protective equipment they need if this crisis persists. We must ensure the dedicated men and women charged with responding to all calls for emergency services––not just COVID-19 related calls––are protected from infection.”
Emergency services districts, which are political subdivisions of the state of Texas similar to a school or hospital district, are joining the chorus of health care workers across the country concerned about the lack of goggles, masks, gowns and gloves needed to safely interact with patients. SAFE-D member districts serve an estimated eight million Texans through emergency services.
“If we cannot properly protect our first responders and give them the tools they need to stay healthy on the job, we risk overwhelming our health care system and facing a shortage of first responders,” continued Avery. “We must act now and do everything we can to protect the people who protect us. We can accomplish this by staying home and social distancing to help flatten the curve and by donating any protective gear individuals or businesses may have to first responders or local hospitals and health care providers.”
SAFE-D asks that Texans be proactive in letting 9-1-1 operators know if the call is potentially related to COVID-19. This is in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on how emergency services should screen for potential COVID-19 related cases. Doing so will help protect first responders and stop any potential transmissions or spread of the disease.
