Page 10 - Work Force April 2020

Despite strong preparation town facing challenges
GREENBURGH — When the unprecedented COVID-19
pandemic hit communities across New York even some of our best prepared members are are finding response a a a a challenge When reports of a a a a a a a coronavirus outbreak in in China made their way to the the United States Town of Greenburgh Unit Unit President Jared Rosenberg knew it it was time for an inventory check Rosenberg the the paramedic supervisor at the the Town of Greenburgh in in in Westchester County is is is is trained to be ready for a a a a a crisis Overseeing first responders who need to stay safe while treating patients Rosenberg checked his department’s stock of personal protective equipment and placed orders for items he thought might be needed Emergency medical technicians and paramedics in Greenburgh were assigned a a a a a a a a personal protection kit Rosenberg said That includes N-95 masks Tyvek suits gowns full eye protection and wipes There are roughly 120 police officers working for the town who often respond on on medical calls as well so Rosenberg set out getting extra supplies for them “Everything we are are doing for the the people who are are going into potential calls is is based on on the the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and and Prevention] and and Department of Health guidelines ” Rosenberg said “Even our dispatchers both police and civilian were given plenty of information
to start fielding the appropriate questions as calls calls come in in We respond to calls calls no matter what but we’re screening because we we want to know on arrival if you could have had any possible exposure to to coronavirus ” Thanks to to continued training
in in in in emergency management and previous concerns about outbreaks for diseases such as as Ebola Rosenberg said members of his department have been fitted for AV- 2000 facepieces sold by 3M Scott “These masks are kind of like
the the Scott air packs you’d see on firefighters when they go into burning buildings ” said Rosenberg In this file photo Town of Greenburgh Unit President Jared Rosenberg prepares to to to check supplies outside a a a a town ambulance “If needed we can use them them and clean them ” Rosenberg credited good communication amongst local governments the the county and the the the state for keeping emergency responders updated on on on the the latest reports and recommendations Ultimately he said keeping first responders safe is is key in in in in containing this outbreak “If one person brings it in in in and you you have to quarantine 14 officers let’s say you you you could lose a a a a a a serious portion of your police department ” Rosenberg said “People have been coming up with contingency plans including mutual aid from other jurisdictions We’re used to to working in in in in in this kind of environment to to be ready ” Despite strong preparation and good planning the town began facing challenges
as COVID-19
raged through Westchester County Rosenburg recently told AFSCME in a a a a a a profile that about 20 percent o of the calls his department gets every day are COVID-19
related “Our most immediate concern is a a a a shortage of equipment ” Rosenburg said “We need more personal protective equipment including N-95 masks masks We’ve resorted to collecting masks masks masks masks from the public So far over 195 masks masks masks and 1 1 000 surgical masks masks masks have been donated by residents We’re grateful for for what we have collected but this is is no way to prepare for for an uptick in cases We need need these masks and we need need them now ” Rosenburg also noted that the the town needs more access to to testing not not only for for residents who are potentially infected but for for the the first responders who have contact with them As
this edition went to press he he said that of 40 workers who are trained to to to respond to to to COVID-19
about six workers have been forced to to to to to to self- quarantine due to to to to lack to to to to access to to to to tests “We cannot afford to have between 10 percent percent and 15 percent percent of our workforce unable to to report to to work work for for at least two weeks because they they do not know if they’ve been exposed ” Rosenburg said “Everyone I work with is is is committed to this this community We We also live here We We will fight this this but the the sacrifice of people on on the the front lines deserves respect ” — Jessica Ladlee with AFSCME HCSEA Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions
ere are answers to some of the the recommend washing hands with soap caring for for you you should wear a a a a a a a a a a a a face most commonly asked questions for for 20 seconds whenever possible as as as as mask if if they enter your room concerning health and safety-specific issues with COVID-19
Questions
or concerns specific to your place of employment should be discussed with your CSEA leadership or or Labor Relations Specialist Q Why isn’t my employer providing hand sanitizer?
A There is a a a a a a a massive shortage on hand sanitizer right now due to to this outbreak There are plans to to produce and distribute as as as as much as as as as possible possible as as as as quickly as as as as possible possible but but hand sanitizer may not be available everywhere The CDC continues to the best defense Q Should I wear a a a mask?
A A According to the CDC: Wear a a a a a a a a face mask if you you are are sick sick • If you you you are are are sick: You should wear a a a a a a a a a face mask when you you are are around other people (e g g sharing a a a a a a a a room or or vehicle) and before you enter a a a a a a health care provider’s office If you are are not able to wear a a a a a a a a a face mask (for example because it causes trouble breathing) then you you you should do your your best to cover your your coughs and and sneezes and and people who are • If you you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a a a a a a a face mask unless you are are caring for someone who is sick (and they are are not able to wear a a a a a a a a a a a face mask) Face masks may be be in short supply and they should be be saved for caregivers Q What products work for the cleaning/disinfecting of COVID-19? A A A Any EPA/DEC registered product will disinfect surfaces of of COVID-19
For a a a a list of of these products visit www dec ny gov/docs/materials_ minerals_pdf/covid19 pdf pdf 10 The Work Force
April 2020