Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014 -- The Nozzle - Special Edition COVID-19

SPECIAL EDITION: COVID-19 Spring 2020 Photo by: LACOFD VPP Ken Morris

THE NOZZLE

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Brothers & Sisters, First, on behalf of the Local 1014 Executive Board, I would like to thank all our Firefighters, Paramedics, Pilots, FSA’s, Dispatchers, Fire Prevention, Forestry, and Health Hazmat Fire Personnel for your tireless efforts on the front lines. We have all been working hard, both on and off duty, to deal with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and its far-reaching impacts. We are proud and honored to represent you and your families.

We continue to diligently work on legislative issues at all levels of government to ensure our members have the protections and benefits they need to not only endure during this crisis but remain healthy. Your Union Executive Board regularly meets with the Fire Chief, the Board of Supervisors and the CEO to partner on state and federal issues that impact funds and support for LA County as a whole and our LA County Fire Department.

At the Union Hall, our Local 1014 staff continuing to adapt and make the migration to work at home with telework. We are committed to staying open for business processing claims and ensuring care for our members and their families continue during this time. The Local 1014 Health Plan recommends members use telehealth when possible to help prevent the spread of infection and improve access to care. LiveHealth Online is a safe and effective way for 1014 Health Plan members to receive medical guidance from their homes using a smartphone, tablet or computer with a webcam.

Dave Gillotte President Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014

To promote the use of telehealth services, we are waiving the member copay of $15 for LiveHealth Online visits for next 90 days. Visit our website www.local1014medical.org for more information.

We would like to assure our members and our fire families that their health and safety are our #1 priority. As we continue to navigate this complex and everchanging new environment and work diligently to provide emergency services to those in need throughout our communities, we want to ensure that at home our members are taking every precaution. As first responders, we face unique risks, this means that both at work and at home we need to maintain an extra level of precaution and sanitization.

In this special edition newsletter, you will find a guide created for our members to help protect and inform our fire family about steps they can take to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus at home and at work. Even if you do not feel sick, you could potentially infect a person who is vulnerable.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

The future of dealing with a new normal regarding COVID-19 and other novel virus pandemics will be dependent on new technologies, practices and procedures for our members. We will be shifting towards antibody testing to learn how we can fend off and react to such disease. We also will be working tirelessly with the County Board of Supervisors and CEO to ensure federal funding is secured and necessary actions are taken to shore up our LA County economy. We have a rough and uncertain road over the coming weeks and months and we will rise to meet every challenge as we always have done in the past through Solidarity and Strength. Local 1014 Strong! Union Strong!

LA County Fire and Local 1014 members have done a remarkable job to ensure our workforce is safe and protected as we serve on the front lines. Let us know if you have any needs or items you need help with during this time that we may not be aware of yet.

In Solidarity,

Dave Gillotte President LA County Firefighters Local 1014

First, on behalf of the Local 1014 Executive Board, I would like to thank all our Firefighters, Paramedics, Pilots, FSA’s, Dispatchers, Fire Prevention, Forestry, and Health Hazmat Fire Personnel for your tireless efforts on the front lines.”

Health & Safety at Work Please continue to make sure you have the proper PPE with gowns, masks, and goggles as well as cleaning supplies and follow the mandates and guides for dealing with COVID-19 suspected patients and in general while at work.

In addition, please remember that your conduct both on and off duty with regard to social distancing and cleaning makes a difference in not only your health but the health of those you work with and their families. Be responsible and let us all do our part.

In the Field • Place a Mask on the Patients and Consider and 95 masks on you.

• Limit the number of Crew who have direct contact with the patient • Wear your full PPE and ensure that you are complying with all Department PPE requirements each time you respond to a call • Notify your chain of command or 1014 if your station has difficulty keeping up on supplies like masks/gowns/goggles/gloves etc.

In the Station • Wash your hands regularly while on calls and at the station • Maintain Social Distancing while at work • Wash clothes and uniforms at work regularly and rotate clothes regularly • Surfaces (even paper) can hold the virus for days. Consider wearing gloves when handling things like paper plans that may be handled by many people but not cleaned.

Food Precautions • Grocery shopping may not be an option for folks looking to cook station meals.

Alternatives like Door Dash or other food delivery services should be considered.

• Do not leave or accept leftovers from shift to shift.

• For tasks such as grocery shopping or ordering takeout, wear department-provided surgical masks, limit to one crew member or remain 6 feet apart when inside establishments.

• Do not prepare meals together; use only one chef.

• Maintain social distancing while eating or eat in shifts if necessary.

• After each meal period, deep clean the kitchen area, including all dishes and kitchenware to be placed in a dishwasher and operated at the hottest setting. Thoroughly clean and disinfect all contact surfaces.

Additional COVID-19 Information WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

HOW DOES COVID-19 SPREAD? The virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an animal source, but is now spreading from person to person. The virus is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19?

Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of: • fever • cough • shortness of breath WHO DOES THIS VIRUS AFFECT? Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19. Based upon available information to date, those most at risk include • People 65 years and older • People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility • People of any age with the following underlying medical conditions, particularly those that are not well controlled • Chronic lung disease or asthma • Congestive heart failure or coronary artery disease • Diabetes • Neurologic conditions that weaken ability to cough • Weakened immune system • Chemotherapy or radiation for cancer (currently or in recent past) • Sickle cell anemia • Chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis • Cirrhosis of the liver • Lack of spleen or a spleen that doesn’t function correctly • Extreme obesity (body mass index [BMI] >40) • People who are pregnant WHAT ARE SEVERE COMPLICATIONS FROM THIS VIRUS? Some patients have pneumonia in both lungs, multi-organ failure and in some cases death. If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should • Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF • Clean your hands often • 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 sneezing.

• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Practice social distancing (5-10 ft apart from your co-workers) • Stay home if you are sick • Cover coughs and sneezes • Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

EXTRA PRECAUTIONS FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS Our members are on the front line of this crisis, because of that we need to take extra precautions both at work and at home to ensure our families are not affected. Members should begin making contingency plans in the event that the they are put on home quarantine. For example, family members stay with other friends or family if the member becomes ill.

PLAN NOW. This is especially important if the member has special circumstances at home (i.e, living with elderly, existing medical conditions, and infants under 3 months of age). Hotels are not recommended.

PROPERLY DISINFECTING SURFACES Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use disinfectants appropriate for the surface. Options include: • Diluting your household bleach. To make a bleach solution, mix: 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water OR 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

o Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its

expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will

be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

• Alcohol solutions. Ensure solution has at least 70% alcohol.

• Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants. Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens external icon claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s in structions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).

Visit https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2 to find the current list of products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19.

Additionally, please see the cleaning checklist from the IAFF for both apparatus and station on the next two pages. These checklists are meant as guide to ensure ALL surfaces are regularly cleaning for our members’ health and safety.

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Station Cleaning Checklist To help minimize the spread of COVID-19, clean all fire stations twice per shift wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) — including surgical mask, impervious gown, gloves and eye protection — with EPA-recommended disinfectants.1 Cleaning Checklist Instructions

0800

1900

Handles • Interior/exterior of all doors • Handrails • Common use windows

Light switches and bay door controls Office Spaces • Phone buttons and receiver • Desk • Keyboard and mouse • Chairs

Common areas • Television room • Chairs • Remote controls

Kitchen and dining area • Chairs • Refrigerator • Oven • Microwave

FEVER WITH OR WITHOUT CHILLS (99.9F/37.7C)

UNCONTROLLABLE SECRETIONS/EXCRETIONS RESULTING IN SNEEZING OR BLOWING NOSE DURING CARE OF PATIENT OR TALKING WITH A CO-WORKER

• Drawer handles • Coffee pots

Bathrooms • Faucets • Toilet levers • Showers

PROLONGED SORE THROAT PRODUCTIVE/UNCONTROLLED COUGH COUGH LASTING MORE THAN TWO WEEKS

Dorms • Station bedding (pillows, blankets, covers, mattress pads, etc.)

INFLUENZA OR COVID-19-LIKE • Side tables

ILLNESS FEVER AND COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH

• Lamp switches All floors swept and mopped or vacuumed if carpeted

DIARRHEA ASSOCIATED WITH AN ACUTE ILLNESS

Laundry machines and extractors (after each use)

Visit www.iaff.org/coronaviris for comprehensive information, resources, guidelines and response protocols for COVID-19.

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https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-03/documents/sars-cov-2-list_03-03-2020.pdf

Apparatus Cleaning After Exposure to PUI or COVID-19 Patient Proper decontamination of your ambulance/apparatus should be conducted after treatment of possible PUI or confirmed COVID-19 patient.

• Don appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including surgical mask1, eye protection, impervious gown and gloves.

• Keep apparatus doors open and ventilation system on the highest setting while cleaning.

• Remove gurney/stretcher to properly clean all stretcher surfaces.

• Use an approved EPA disinfectant to clean all visible interior surfaces.2

Cleaning Checklist Clean and disinfect all reusable patient-care equipment, including: • Blood pressure cuff (use disposable cuff covers if available) • Stethoscopes • O2 bottles • Monitors • Jump bag (Canvas bags should be properly laundered with an approved EPA disinfectant)

Clean and disinfect gurney/stretcher, stair chair, reeves and scoop stretcher Clean and disinfect the interior (fire fighter and patient compartments) • Control panel • Seatbelts • Grab rails

FEVER WITH OR WITHOUT CHILLS (99.9F/37.7C)

UNCONTROLLABLE SECRETIONS/EXCRETIONS RESULTING IN SNEEZING OR BLOWING NOSE DURING • Walls, ceilings and cabinets CARE OF PATIENT OR TALKING WITH A CO-WORKER Sweep vehicle floors to remove debris and designate a mop and bucket as the decon mop and bucket with disinfectant. Allow for the solution to dry before re-entering to continue the decontamination process.

• Drawer and door handles

PROLONGED SORE THROAT

Clean and disinfect surfaces on the interior of the driver’s compartment: • Radios

PRODUCTIVE/UNCONTROLLED COUGH COUGH LASTING MORE THAN TWO WEEKS • Steering wheel and vehicle controls • Control panel surfaces • Seatbelts • Interior door handles • Keyboards • Cell phones and tablets

INFLUENZA OR COVID-19-LIKE ILLNESS FEVER AND COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH

• Headsets Wipe down the exterior door handles and compartment handles and other potentially contaminated areas with disinfectant wipes.

DIARRHEA ASSOCIATED WITH AN ACUTE ILLNESS

Doff all PPE using department protocols. Wash hands thoroughly.

Visit www.iaff.org/coronaviris for comprehensive information, resources, guidelines and response protocols for COVID-19.

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Since there is no risk of aerosolized droplets, a surgical mask will be sufficient while wiping down surfaces. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-03/documents/sars-cov-2-list_03-03-2020.pdf

Peer Support Help and Behavioral Health Resources We would like to remind our members that health is not just physical it is also mental. We recognize that this is a trying time for many of our members and their families as they often risk exposure in order to protect our communities. Please remember to use the resources available through the Union from IAFF, and CPF including the Peer Support Program, which includes active, retiree and family resources, and the Healing Our Own website (www.healingourown.org) if you need help.

As always, please get your information from reliable and confirmed sources: Local 1014, Department EA’s, IAFF and CPF as well as FireSync App which all have COVID-19 information links with the COVID-19 reporting link as well.

ALL COVID-19 Resources are available on the Local 1014 homepage (www.local1014.org) and on the Department intranet site under COVID-19 Resources. Please refer to the latter for all Department EAs and the most up-to-date requirements and precautions.

REDUCING STRESS DURING THE QUARANTINE • Controlling your stress level- Limit watching and reading of the news. Informed but not obsessive. Over information can be harmful. Especially if you have children. Remember they hear even when they pretend they are not listening, and they watch you for cues on how they should be feeling.

• Add in stress reducing activities such as exercise, deep breathing and muscle relaxation practices, meditation, keep a gratitude journal, etc.

• Focus on the things you can control. Get the best sleep you can and fuel your body well. Maintain as much of routine and schedule to the day as you can. We thrive on consistency and boundaries just as much as the kids.

• Make the most of the present time. For many of us being told we can’t do something is a challenge to do exactly that. Take this ‘forced’ time to slow down, play cards, reconnect with family and friends and have a (phone/video) conversation. Do things that make this a blessing and not a punishment.

• Don’t make any significant or impulsive decisions. Everyone is under stress right now. Save the big decisions for when this subsides (and it will).

• This time is a gift to be with your family and spend quality time with your children. Make the most of this time by playing games, taking a walk, reading a book or just being together.

Scan here to contact a Peer Support member or use the FireWire app and click the blue icon in top right hand corner.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 1014 3460 FLETCHER AVE., EL MONTE, CA 91731 LOCAL1014.ORG