Much has been said and written regarding the global pandemic known as COVID-19 which started in China in December 2019. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the virus outbreak to be a public health emergency of international concern, followed by declaring it a pandemic on March 11. Two days later, on March 13, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency. As of April 27, more than 200,000 deaths have been reported in 185 countries and territories with nearly two million active cases reported.
The effects of COVID-19 go beyond major issues of human safety to effect significant socioeconomic disruption. That includes the cancellation of cultural, sporting, entertainment, religious and political events, closure of schools, retrenchment of retail businesses, and huge world-wide financial impacts.
In the face of this global pandemic, there are heroes!
Who Are the Heroes?
Heroes are normal individuals who have shown courage and self-sacrifice for others. They haven’t stopped helping others even in the face of great concerns about personal safety. They are the healthcare workers, firefighters, police, ambulance drivers, EMT’s, and medical transport personnel who take care of people in need and protect the rest of us.
Our heroes also include others who are putting their lives on the line to keep society functioning. They include grocery and convenience store employees, truck and delivery drivers, food service workers, transportation personnel, news reporters, teachers, and many more. As Christopher Reeve said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
We salute and thank you, our heroes, for your work and dedication in this severe time of crisis!
How is COVID-19 Transmitted?
COVID-19 is spread from person-to-person in close contact, mainly through respiratory droplets such as when a person coughs or sneezes and then those droplets reach a person’s face or hands or are inhaled into the lungs. It can also be spread by touching surfaces or objects contaminated with the virus, then touching their face, mouth, nose or possibly their eyes.
Who Are Those at Risk?
Those among the general public who face a safety risk with COVID-19 include adults over the age of 65, individuals who have serious medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, or people who have immunosuppressive conditions like cancer or are taking immunosuppressive medications.
For those providing services, the individuals at the highest risk include doctors, nurses, dentists, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians working directly with patients. Also, laboratory personnel who collect or handle specimens.
Control and Prevention for Workers
Safety protocols for workers have been well-established and include face shields, frequent hand washing and sanitizing, gloves, gowns or protective coverings, minimizing contact time, and rigorous surface cleaning.
How to be a Hero—Become an Emergency Services (EMS) Worker
EMS workers include being an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), responder, Paramedic, or an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. To become an EMT, for example, requires:
- Earning a Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers Card.
- Completing an EMT-Basic Training Program.
- Earning a license.
Choose a Trusted Leader in the Medical Transport Industry
For services or a career in the medical transport industry contact a trusted safety leader, MedTrust. MedTrust is a South Carolina based mobile healthcare provider with a business model focused on serving hospital-systems throughout the southeast. We operate 24/7 365 for ambulance services driven to become the ‘provider of choice’ in each area we serve.