Deaf First Responders’ Experience with COVID-19
Deaf First Responders’ Experience with COVID-19
Firefighter/EMT Chad Grabousky:
During the coronavirus, my fire chief set in place a new protocol that we have to follow. When we respond to the call, we can’t just go into the building. We have to stand outside and wait. My fire chief and duty officer will check in with the owner or staff and ask questions to make sure they’re not exposed to the coronavirus. Then they’ll find where specifically the fire is or where the fire alarm went off, and then they will send in the crew with masks or a SCBA mask on to go into the building to find the issue.
After the call is done and we go back, we have to clean all the firetrucks and disinfect it with a special kind of spray that kills all the germs and virus particles.
Any guests who might want to stop by and see the firehouse for their kids or anything, like buying a t-shirt, is not allowed.
With everyone wearing masks, I have limited access for me to lip read. It’s almost like going in a structure fire. Everyone’s using masks and it’s hard to see with the smoke. So, I get used to it. I know what they want and what they’re asking for. Sometimes they use body gestures, because they’ve been doing it for so long and repeatedly, so I get used to knowing what they want.
Police Officer Erica Trevino:
It’s a lot of ruined plans. A lot of people were upset at first, freaking out about what to do. So they call us a lot, because they worry, but we explain to them that if everyone stays home and stays positive, this will be over eventually. At first, it was a bit difficult. Why? When officers make contact with people, we have to wear gloves. That’s kind of normal, but now due to extra precautions we have to wear face masks. To be honest with you, I wish my department had clear masks so you can see the mouth, but it’s all right. I have two cochlear implants. I use that. I have to focus a little bit harder to understand people, but for the most part, it hasn't been that difficult. My other partners tend to use masks and when I get called to the scene, they’ll remove their mask to explain the situation to me and then we go in with our masks on to perform our duties. And if they need to speak to me through the mask, we just go to a quiet area so that they can talk to me and then I’ll figure out what to say and I just keep my work going. And for communicating with the public, it’s fine. I still keep myself at a distance but speak. I can hear and I can see to figure it out, so it’s fine.
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Deputy Scott Daily:
At the first response to a call, after we arrive, we must wear a mask. We must put gloves on. Does it impact our job? After many years of doing this job, I’m so… When I arrive on the scene, it depends on what’s happening and what the situation is. After we all arrive, we work well together and are close-knit. We know how to do it, what to do, and when to do it. So, does it affect that? No, but it affects our relationship with the community a little bit, because they can’t see our faces. Still, we’re there to take care of our community.
State Certified Volunteer Firefighter & Ambulance Driver Matt Gilmore:
I haven’t experienced transporting a patient from a 911 emergency who’s possibly COVID-19 positive. I haven’t. I transport any different kind of medical emergency. But I did transport several positive patients who were released from the hospital to bring them home or to a nursing home. I admit, I’m a little terrified. I’ve seen the hospital, and it looks like a war zone. Before, it was more routine. I’d pick people up from the hospital and it was fine. But now, there’s strict protocol. There are many tents set up, and some of them have a refrigerated trailer for bodies as an overflow morgue since the morgue is at capacity. There’s too many. What has been a challenge is communication through N95 masks. I’ll show you what it looks like. I can’t lipread. It’s hard to understand. I don’t hear well. Some are willing to remove their mask while they speak, and some are willing to write back and forth. Some of them are willing to interact with me with body gestures. Like, for example… (shows gestures)
Bring them to the house. It’s common for two EMTs to go in the house, but now it’s one EMT who goes in the house while the other waits outside until it’s deemed okay to transport them. It’s a challenging experience.
(Some advice for the Deaf community)
Wash your hands frequently. Stay home. Stay healthy. Follow the government’s orders.
(many THANKS to the First Responders)
(Edited by MJ Kielbus)
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