By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Great Bend Fire Chief Luke McCormick says one of the biggest changes the Fire Department has undergone since the COVID-19 pandemic began is the need for extra precautions. While it can be wearing on staff, when the department responds to a patient that is positive for the virus, crew members must clean and disinfect the ambulance, shower and change clothes. Unfortunately, fire and EMS staff might have to do this procedure three or four times a day.
Regardless of
the extra precautions, the show must go on for the Fire Department.
"Just because COVID is here, it is just another disease or drill that we have to take care of," said McCormick. "You have to be prepared for it as you would a tornado or fire call."
McCormick noted when the pandemic first struck in the area, their call load
actually decreased and then eventually returned to normal. While the call load
has stabilized to normal levels over the past couple of weeks, McCormick added
their busiest time was between October and December. Staff was getting mentally
fatigued while trying to care for patients when hospitals were filling up.
"It was frustrating for the hospitals, frustrating for the patients and frustrating for our staff," said McCormick. "When you have a sick individual that you are trying to care for, the frustration and anxiety wears on the staff. Our job has always been to help. That's what we're used to being able to do."
To destress the work environment, the Fire Department has relaxed some of the
rules to give workers more down time to rest.
"We have had to be more patient," said McCormick. "It did work out."