Coronavirus Heroes 2020 • 1
Coronavirus
Heroes A salute to people on the front lines of Tillamook County’s battle with COVID-19
© ADOBE STOCK
2 • Coronavirus Heroes 2020
L
CORONAVIRUS HEROES | POLICE WORK
Law Enforcement Officers
aw enforcement workers have some of the toughest jobs in Tillamook County, but the difficulties and potential dangers of police work have only gotten more complex in the current pandemic.
largely don’t have many extra precautions they can take to protect themselves from catching a virus. In fact, the only defense they have is washing their hands, avoiding touching their face, and keeping a distance of six feet from other people, just like the rest of the population is Tillamook County has a advised to do. And due steady patrol of State Police, Sheriff and most towns to the nature of their job, sometimes they have to be have their own police much closer to people than departments. Authorities have taken on a major role they would like. This cannot be said in controlling the spread of COVID-19. Police officers enough: police officers are on the front lines, risking have been under pressure their lives, to protect other to make sure shelter-inUnited States citizens. They place laws are being folare at risk of getting sick, lowed while still maintaining good relations with the just like everyone else, but they put others before community. This means most officers themselves in order to stop the spread of the coronaviare going to be face-torus and keep their commuface with multiple people in one day who may or may nities safe. The coronavirus is new not be carriers of the virus. territory for everyone, but Despite the importance of a police officer’s job, they at least doctors and nurses
are well-informed on the behavior of the virus. Police officers and other law enforcement workers aren’t typically medical experts. Most of them are having to take this situation one step at a time, and they don’t have the luxury of staying home and avoiding contact with others.
ROLE CHANGING
Much like every other profession in America has adapted, law enforcement has changed its operations to better suit these trying times. Some departments are focusing on breaking up small gatherings that pose health risks. Others are changing the way they respond to typical service calls to minimize the risk of getting or spreading infections. According to a CNN report, many police departments are closing their
front desks to avoid spreading germs in public places. Some, such as the Syracuse Police Department in New York, have said they will not respond in person to non-urgent calls. Others are encouraging people to report criminal incidents via online portals. The Arlington County Police Department
in Virginia, for example, is encouraging citizens to use its online reporting system for non-violent incidents such as theft, credit card fraud, vandalism or vehicle tampering, according to the CNN report.
STILL SERVING
Even in a pandemic, though, police officers are
responding in a way that keeps communities safe and orderly. If a crime requires an immediate response, or citizens are in danger of imminent harm, it’s Tillamook’s brave and often under-appreciated police or sheriff officers who will show up, ready to help, as always.
Thank you to the all frontline the frontline workers! Thank you to all workers!
Josh Brown-Candidate for Josh Brown-Candidate for Tillamook County Sheriff
Tillamook County is an is amazing community filled with filled amazing Tillamook County an amazing community with amazing individuals and organizations. For those that are working to provide individuals and organizations. For those that are working to provide important services and products for all those who need who it, I thank important services and products for all those need it, I thank you and the community thanks you! Everyone who has done you and the community thanks you! Everyone who has done something to benefit another during these difficult times shows us something to benefit another during these difficult times shows us exactly what it means to be a strong community. Stay Strong exactly what it means to be a strong community. Stay Strong Tillamook County, we will make it through.
Tillamook County, we will make it through. Paid for by the Committee to Elect Josh Brown
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Josh Brown
H48935
CORONAVIRUS HEROES | MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
E
ven in normal times, doctors and nurses play a heroic role in saving lives. Now, however, they are working tirelessly to protect citizens who are susceptible to the COVID-19 virus while working under, in some cases, unthinkable conditions.
WORKING CONDITIONS Doctors and nurses are working under extreme pressure and high risk to save the lives of citizens who are defenseless to the coronavirus. At the same time, many hospitals are short on personal protective equipment — including gloves, masks and gowns — due to high demand during the global outbreak. This means the staff who need to treat patients are more at risk of catching COVID-19 themselves. Luckily, some people who are sheltered at home and have plenty of time on their hands have found ways to be helpful. By doing a simple Google search, anyone can find the best methods and materials for making basic face masks that are almost as
Coronavirus Heroes 2020 • 3
Doctors and Nurses
efficient as the factory-made ones. Coffee or vacuum filters offer more protection than scarves, according to a New York Times article. If the fabric is dense enough to not let light pass through it easily, it is dense enough to help slow the transmission of viruses. People have begun to craft these masks, and many donate what they make to their local hospitals for the doctors and nurses to use while treating and testing patients with symptoms of the coronavirus. Others may donate the masks to people who need the extra protection, including elderly neighbors. If you’re interested in donating masks or supplies to your local hospital, make sure to check with the hospital and find out what they need first. ACCURATE INFORMATION Another role medical professionals are playing is delivering accurate health information at a time when it is in high demand. The spread of information online — not all of which is
Adventist Health doctors and nurses are here for us 24 hours per day seven days per week pandemic or no pandemic. We salute all of our hardworking medical professionals who keep us healthy and add a level of support to our community that no others can. accurate — has created a need for trained medical experts to help journalists and the general public separate fact
from fiction. Many doctors and nurses have stepped up to help individuals and public policy
makers decide on the best more deadly. course of action. Without their science-based input, the pandemic could have been much n See DOCTORS, Page 10
Thank You So Much!
Kilchis House & Nehalem Bay House would like to thank our Community, Family, & Friends for the generous outpouring of essential supplies, flowers and especially for the lovely cloth masks! Staff is wearing them, we have a policy in place, and everyone is doing well. Thank you for helping us to keep our Residents healthy and happy during this most stressful time.
H48929
4 • Coronavirus Heroes 2020
CORONAVIRUS HEROES | ON THE FRONT LINES
Sheldon Oil Co. would like to thank the frontline workers in our community for all they have done and continue to do during this extraordinary and critical time in our country. As owners of a business providing essential services throughout our county, we’d like to personally thank our frontline employees for their hard work and dedication to the communities they serve: Tillamook County is rich with dairy farms and during the pandemic, farmers still have to produce milk everyday. If you enjoy that slice of cheese or scoop of ice cream, thank our behind the scenes, original social distancing hard working citizens, our dairy farmers.
With the pandemic, many are ordering goods online, and these heroes Like Jason Woodworth Tillamook’s FedEx driver, deliver everyday around town.
Your perseverance and commitment to your jobs keeps our community safe, well-fed, and informed in a time when our world is upside down. With our thanks, The Sheldon Family H48923
The media is still working everyday to deliver you the news to help you navigate life in these ever changing times. At the Headlight Herald, we salute our delivery drivers, who are on the front line to ensure you get your paper each week. Thanks to Michael and Elaine Lube, Richard Davis and Robin Weber (not pictured).
CORONAVIRUS HEROES | ON THE FRONT LINES
W
Emergency Medical Technicians
hile people working inside hospitals are clearly playing a heroic role, the first interaction many people have with the health care system happens in their own homes and offices.
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are in the middle of it all, out in the community as a first line of defense against a potentially deadly virus. CHANGING JOB First responders in Tillamook County are playing different roles than their usual routine. Always a high-stress job with life-or-death consequences and tremendous time pressure, local EMTs took on the added task of screening who should and shouldn’t go to the hospital in the heat of the coronavirus pandemic. EMTs now have the uncomfortable role of telling some patients they shouldn’t go to the hospital. RISKY CONDITIONS
Coronavirus Heroes 2020 • 5
While hospitals are known for having sterile, somewhat controlled environments for treating medical conditions, EMTs have to work in the real world. That means they’re dealing with unknown variables. In addition to working through all kinds of weather and fighting traffic to quickly get to patients, they have to be prepared for the possibility that every person they interact with could potentially be carrying the COVID-19 virus. They are also dealing with the same supply shortages as hospitals. Personal protective equipment is in high demand all around the globe, and EMTs are forced to make the best of a less-than-ideal situation in many cases.
which covers the emergency medical industry, the idea HAZARD PAY? gets a mixed reaction among United States Treasury medical employees. Secretary Steven Mnuchin “Many say the pay isn’t has suggested that coronavinecessary, arguing, ‘we rus first-responders deserve knew what we signed up for hazard pay because of the when we climbed onto the extraordinary conditions they rig,’ while others note the are working through during extraordinary circumstances, the pandemic. contending, ‘while the job of According to EMS1.com, paramedics and first respond-
ers has its inherent risks, the COVID-19 pandemic is outside the scope of everyday risks,’” an editor’s note reads.
are no less impacted during the pandemic. Calls for emergency services are reaching record levels in many areas. The same calls for regular emergencies DISPATCHERS continue to come in from car While they are not wrecks, heart attacks and othphysically on the front lines er health problems, and the fighting the coronavirus, coronavirus only compounds the dispatchers who take emergency calls and commu- an already stressful job. The safety of first respondnicate with first responders
ers also rests on how well dispatchers communicate. They have to gauge whether a patient has coronavirus symptoms so EMTs can arrive with the right protective equipment. Not only that, but they have to relay accurate information about addresses and other details that can save lives when time is at a premium.
H48921
6 • Coronavirus Heroes 2020
A
CORONAVIRUS HEROES | KEEPING AMERICA STOCKED
Grocery and Delivery Workers
Many grocery retailers have decided to close earlier to help keep shelves stocked for the next day’s influx of purchasers. Checkers, stockers, custodians and managerial staff have to face a nervous clientele each and every day and still manage to do so with a positive attitude. GROCERS Grocery workers’ dedicaGrocery stores have seen tion to keeping their unprecedented floods of shelves stocked and cuspeople coming in to buy tomers safe makes them essential items to tide them heroes of the coronavirus over during mandatory pandemic. stay-at-home orders or true quarantine. DELIVERY PEOPLE They also deal with UberEats, DoorDash, attempted hoarders who Favor, and grocery-store try to buy more than their specific deliverers are just a fair share of items in high few examples of the workdemand. ers who are supplying mong those who are doing their part to keep the economy and Americans afloat are grocers, delivery people, pharmacists and long haul truck drivers. Not only do individuals need these people, but the economy does, too.
needed items to the homebound. Special care is being utilized by many of these services to keep goods contaminant-free. They’re also playing a key role in keeping small businesses afloat, including many restaurants that are only offering delivery and takeout services. Many people who can eat at home are ordering in to help keep their favorite restaurants in business during this extremely unusual time when dining rooms are closed and the option to eat out is impossible. Many of us have that favorite restaurant where the ambiance is perfect, the wait staff is wonderful, and
n See GROCERY, Page 7
Our local grocery stores, like Safeway, Fred Meyer, Center Market, Manzanita Fresh Foods and The Little Apple, are all working hard to accommodated our needs. Going to the store in these trying times means we have to shop differently. Our grocery store workers are keeping us in stock these days and deserve our thanks for being there for us. Photo by Lorie Lund/Headlight Herald
PRESTIGE SENIOR LIVING FIVE RIVERS In such an uncertain and overwhelming time, Prestige Senior Living Five Rivers wants to remind you that we are here to help. As your partner in active aging, we are here to help you achieve an optimal level of health and wellness—no matter your season of life.
We embrace the concept of wellness.
· Our wellness-focused lifestyle program, Celebrations, embraces a philosophy of healthy, fulfilled living to foster happiness and longevity among our residents · Compassionate and educated team members provide you the tools you need to explore new activities while maintaining independence · Make new friends, expand your mind, express yourself, make a difference, live better, and enjoy life when you participate in all six of our wellness categories
Call (503) 842-0918 to schedule a virtual tour today!
We’re Here to Help
Prestige Senior Living Five Rivers 3500 12th St. Tillamook, OR 97141
www.PrestigeCare.com
Coronavirus Heroes 2020 • 7
Made for more love
All Star Appliance in Tillamook is still open for business making deliveries, and their staff is practicing social distancing and COVID-19 sanitary practices. They are here to serve your needs during this pandemic.
n Grocery Continued from Page 6
we make some of our happiest memories. Delivery people allow consumers to help out in the only way they can to keep those businesses operational during this difficult time. TRUCK DRIVERS Toilet paper, medical supplies, groceries and pet supplies are just a few of the items that are brought to Americans by truck drivers. There are so many things long-haul and local
drivers deliver that are necessary during this pandemic. Truck drivers are making things happen, one drive at a time. People on social media are recognizing how vital this industry is. There’s even been a call for a national long-haul truck driver holiday on Oct. 4, which references the famous radio call “10-4, good buddy.” We owe much to these men and women who keep our grocery stores shelves stocked and our medical personnel supplied with their protective gear.
PHARMACISTS Where would we be if pharmacies shut down? Nowhere good. Maintaining the availability of necessary medicines Americans need is one of the most important jobs during a pandemic. Pharmacies and their staff are supplying people with their medications throughout this outbreak and deserve much praise. Pharmacists are also helping to advise those who are suffering with symptoms to know how best to stay safe at home and when to call their physician or go to the emergency department.
We were all made for more. More love. More hope. More connection. And now more than ever, it’s important for us to stay connected. In times of uncertainty we pull together as a community, and together we can overcome anything.
To learn more about staying healthy, active and connected, visit AdventistHealthTillamook.org
Fred Meyer has a service called ClickList where you order your groceries online and pick them up.
8 • Coronavirus Heroes 2020
CORONAVIRUS HEROES | MORE THAN DOCS
Hospital Support Staff
J
anitors, technicians and food service staff are just a few examples of the people working behind the scenes of the coronavirus pandemic. Hospitals around the nation are staying functional and open in part because of these frequently overlooked groups of people.
Hospital housekeepers risk infection every time they walk into a patient’s room, whether that patient shows symptoms of the virus or not. Keeping a hospital clean and functional is no easy task and these professionals are keeping up with admirable persistence.
tioning at their optimal levels and the hospital grounds up to a high standard.
TECHNICIANS AND THERAPISTS
While COVID-19 is showing up everywhere in America, there are patients who are in the hospital for other reaMAINTENANCE sons. Patients still need WORKERS physical therapy, dialysis The technicians who treatments, and other CLEANING STAFF keep respirators and life-saving procedures. Dusting, sweeping, other essential equipTechnicians and theramopping and changing ment functional are also pists continue to carry out bed sheets are all indispensable. out and perform invalunormal duties of hosMachines that provide able services for their pital janitorial personlife-giving air to those nel. However, with the suffering are in high de- patients while risking outbreak of COVID-19 in mand, so the technicians exposure to the disease. America, hospital main- who maintain them are While it’s true elective procedures are on hold tenance and cleaning of utmost importance. crews have had to step The workers who spe- at many hospitals, there are many patients who up their game. cialize in other systems benefit greatly from An important part of in hospitals are also their job is sanitizing doing their part to fight therapy services. The therapists and every surface in every this illness. They keep technicians who offer room the staff visits, and the lights on, the water these workers are rising running, the heaters and those treatments are still showing up every day to the occasion. air conditioners func-
We would also like to thank our own delivery crew and technicians for still going into our client’s homes to deliver and service appliances.
Eduardo • Jim • Alex • Aaron
and helping those who need it. Respiratory therapists are helping COVID patients with breathing problems, but they’re not the only ones. Therapists are also playing a key role in making patients strong and capable enough to safely leave the hospital, making more beds available when they might be needed the most.
Here’s a big shout out to Tillamook County’s First Responders and Healthcare Workers Thank you for all that you are doing to keep our community safe during this uncertain time
to eat, and someone has to prepare those meals. Food service in hospiMost hospitals across tals continues without a America have shut down hitch, delivering meals their public cafeterias. to patients throughout Preventing the spread the day. It’s a mark of of the coronavirus this kindness and bravery way is very important on the part of all those by keeping people from who continue to provide congregating in public nutritional meals and do eating areas. so with a smile. Keeping However, hospital the spirits up of those food services continue who fight off COVID-19 to feed and nourish pa- is a rare gift. tients under their care. Hospital patients need
FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES
Black Friday
We appreciate you so much. Thank you!!
allstarappliance.net 100% FAMILY OWNED CCB #202914
503-842-2211 2111 Third Street, Tillamook
We have been so lucky to be deemed an “essential” service through the COVID-19 pandemic and we thank the community for their continued support.
April 16 through May 6 featuring H48946
CORONAVIRUS HEROES | KEEPING YOU FED
Coronavirus Heroes 2020 • 9
The food carts on 1st Street in Tillamook are bustling with people ready to order food and the variety is really wide open, from Thai-fusion, to fish and chips, BBQ, brats, Hawaiian and much more, there is something for everyone. Many of Tillamook County’s restaurants have grab and go or takeout options and most have websites with their menus. Check online before heading out to see hours of operation and food offerings at our local restaurants. We salute these food business, restaurants and eateries for keeping their doors open for us. Photo Joe Warren/Headlight Herald
We’re All In This Together!
Nestucca Valley Sanitary Service and our family of local employees, would like you to know that we are with you and your family during this unprecedented time! We will not disrupt your service due to financial challenges you may be experiencing and encourage you to call us so that we may work with you individually should this occur.
Solid waste management, including garbage and recycling services, are essential to the protection of the health, safety and welfare of our communities, join us as we support one another during this challenging time! Paul and Sandy Carbaugh, Jennifer Carbaugh Smith, Kim Darby, Darrell Daggett, Ed Lamers, Phil Hurlimann, RJ Coleman, Kole Brunkow
10 • Coronavirus Heroes 2020
The military personnel are always there for us. They protect us, wether it’s the Coast Guard keeping our waters safe or the National Guard delivering Personal Protective Equipment to our county. We salute all military branches who keep us safe every day of the year.
n Doctors Continued from Page 3
THEY NEED SUPPORT During this time while health care needs in the midst of this pandemic are immense, doctors and nurses need help from the public. One, we should heed their advice. As more information about the reality of the coronavirus’s impact becomes available, Americans should trust doctors and follow their recommendations — whether that is things we can do as a society or what we should do as individuals who may be sick
and worried. Supporting medical professionals may be even more critical, though, in the aftermath of this pandemic. In many cases, they are dealing with a lack of proper equipment and an overwhelmed medical system, both of which could be improved with proper planning and quick response for future disease outbreaks. Right now, the best way people can help is by staying healthy. Making homemade masks is fine, but it is much better if those masks aren’t needed in the first place. Following the recommendations of public health
authorities — recommendations that are likely to change over time — is the best way to support the doctors and
nurses who are fighting on the front lines of a war on the coronavirus. The choice to order groceries instead of going out and buying them in person when you have a cough could help slow this pandemic and let our doctors and nurses breathe. And going forward, they deserve the public’s support to make the nation’s entire health care system better equipped and prepared.
Tillamook County Community Health Centers are here for you during these trying times. They offer a wide variety of specialized care to keep you healthy. We salute their dedicated Doctors, Nurses, PAs and support staff during the pandemic.
Nehalem Bay Ready Mix Mohler Sand & Gravel, LLC We salute First Responders and Medical Workers
20890 Foss Road, Nehalem
503-368-5157
• Hot Water • Prompt Delivery • Crushed Rock • Fill Material • Drain Rock • Rip Rap • Decorative Boulders • Bark Call in advance for Saturday delivery.
CCB #160326
H48949
CORONAVIRUS HEROES | ALL OF US
F
Coronavirus Heroes 2020 • 11
The Tillamook County Citizens
inally, while there SOCIAL DISTANCING are plenty of Daily life has changed in heroes who are communities nationwide helping in big ways with public events canceled — the pastors and large gatherings procomforting grieving hibited during the coronavifamilies and many rus outbreak. For those measures to people who work, everyone has to continue to work in do their part by allowing essential professions America’s medical system to being overloaded at —one hero is making avoid the peak of the infections. a major difference: The citizens of AVOID EXPOSURE According to the Centers Tillamook County.
Keeping your public outings to a minimum will help slow the virus’ circulation.
GUIDELINES
In addition to avoiding close contact with other people when unnecessary, the CDC also has these recommendations that can help us all fight the coronavirus pandemic: • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or Many of the well-known for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way to sneezing. • If soap and water are virus-fighting heroes don’t stop the coronavirus illness not readily available, use a have the option to stay is to avoid being exposed in hand sanitizer that contains home in a pandemic. the first place. at least 60% alcohol. Cover Doctors, nurses, hospital As the CDC states, workers and other medical because COVID-19 may be all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until professionals are working spreading by people who harder than ever. don’t show any symptoms they feel dry. • Avoid touching your By following the advice of illness, Americans may of public health experts, ev- unknowingly be spreading eyes, nose, and mouth with eryone else can help them the disease every time they unwashed hands. • Cover your mouth and do their jobs. go out in public.
nose with a cloth face cover when around others. • The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected. • Do not use a face mask meant for a healthcare worker. • Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and
others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing. STAYING INFORMED Finally, one of the best ways to help bring an end to the pandemic is by staying informed with accurate, trusted information. Look directly to public health officials — not your
friends, unknown news sources or social media posts — for up-to-date details about COVID-19 activity in your community. By paying attention to the public health experts and heeding their warnings and advice, everyday citizens can literally be life-saving heroes.
12 • Coronavirus Heroes 2020
Cerisa Albrectsen, RN, BSN Public Health Nurse
Christina Sheppard, RN, BSN Public Health Nurse
Melissa Paulissen, MD Public Health Officer
Patty Helsing, RN, BSN, MPH Public Health Nurse
Robin Watts, RN, BSN
Rockie Phillips, RN, BSN
Public Health Nurse Manager
Our public health heroes wear scrubs! Public health works to promote and protect the health of the communities in which we live, learn, work and play. We work to promote wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors, community health, infection control, disease prevention and maternal, infant and child health. Public health works to track disease outbreaks (like COVID-19), plan and implement disaster preparedness and provide leadership and guidance for our communities on public health related concerns. Spreading the word about ways to stay healthy by providing science-based solutions.
You might meet public health nurses at a community health screening event, in a school providing education on the risks of alcohol and tobacco use, at a community meeting providing public health updates or at a flu clinic. You might even see a public health nurse in your home through our maternal case management, Babies First! or CaCoon home visiting programs. Public health works to help our community thrive, promote better health throughout the life span and assure access to quality health care. Please join us in sharing appreciation for our public health team who is working to protect the health of our communities. We may be biased, but we think that public health rocks!
#publichealthheroes #ourheroeswearscrubs
COVID-19 Nurse Advice Line 503-842-3940
Se habla Español 801 Pacific Avenue • Tillamook 503-842-3900 • 800-528-2939 • TTY 800-735-2900
www.tillamookchc.org
Public Health Nurse