The Eagle

Public safety, first responders take extra health precautions 

Don Howard, Staff Writer

Area public safety departments are taking extra precautions to make sure police officers and firefighters are safe when responding to 911 calls during the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials said that with the onset of the pandemic their departments are fastidiously following the established guidelines from both the federal and state government with respect to limiting exposure to firefighters, and patients alike.

IN PLYMOUTH, NORTHVILLE AND CANTON
Both Plymouth and Northville Township police chiefs have redeployed detectives to road patrol duty to accommodate the need for a greater public presence and to make staff available to secure un-occupied and vacant business establishments.
On a national level, public safety call centers report they are experiencing unexpected 911 emergencies during the virus pandemic; keeping people who answer the phone healthy. Dispatchers, also known as Public Service Aids (PSAs) are highly trained in handling emergencies and typically can't work from home.

Plymouth Township Police Chief Tom Tiderington said his department is prepared in the event of a shortage of PSAs due to sickness with an in-place co-op system which can automatically transfer calls to a Northville Township or Canton Township dispatcher if needed. Other surrounding communities have the similar protections built-in, Tiderington said.

Canton Public Safety officers welcomed the donation of face shields
from Ford Motor Co. last week as well as pocket-size hand sanitizers
from the Kennedy Nemier Insurance Agency. 

Tiderington reported that township police, fire and dispatch are at or near full staffing levels which allows the department to provide patients with the needed critical life and safety support during the crisis. As of last week, Tiderington reported that one officer was symptomatic and later tested negative.
Plymouth Township Fire Chief Dan Phillips said while police department PSAs now question callers and alert his department of the need to wear PPE (protective equipment) at the scene, his firefighters take precautions when approaching a likely exposed individual.
“We're taking extra steps to screen callers to find out if anyone in the house is having flu-like symptoms, or a cough, a fever or shortness of breath before we arrive on scene,” said Phillips. “Then we don our PPE gear and approach with great caution.”
Department chiefs insist on temperature checks every 4 to 8 hours for firefighters and police officers alike to quickly identify anyone who might be sick.
Canton Fire Department Deputy Chief Chris Stoecklein said in the past month there's been an increase in emergency calls not just directly due to the COVID-19 virus but calls for slip and fall, kitchen fires and domestic problems. Stoecklein said strict practice dictates the use of 6 to 10 foot distancing and wearing full PPE equipment where COVID-19 patients are involved.
“That includes, gowns, face mask, face shields, and boots,” he added.
Stoecklein reported that currently they have a good stock of PPE supplies, but complained that a N95 facemask that formerly cost $1 is now $4.95. Phillips said they also have an ample 3-40 day PPE supply, but there are supply-chain issues with gloves, and masks.
Northville Township Fire Chief Brent Siegel said increased department protocols to protect patients and limit exposure to firefighters are like those in place in the other area departments, including decontamination of ambulance units, carts and equipment.
“We're doing the call screening with our dispatchers and using personal protective equipment before we arrive, but calls are taking longer.” Siegel said they “were doing tons of different things now to protect our personnel.
“Calls are now taking longer and we're spending more time at the hospitals, as they are much busier.”
Siegel said according to the protocols when they return from transporting a virus patient the firefighters in addition to the cleaning and decontamination process, firefighters must shower.
“We are handling between one and three COVID-19 patients a day, Siegel said.
In the City of Northville, reports and calls to the police and fire departments have dropped in recent weeks due to the “stay home” order (2020-21) issued by the governor, but both departments are fully prepared for a spike in emergency runs and calls for assistance due to an anticipated rise in COVID-19 cases, public safety officials said.
“Things are changing daily,” said Police Chief Allan Maciag.
Callers to 911 can expect to be asked screening questions for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. They are being asked about potential symptoms and any exposure to people who have the infectious disease that presents with a fever and respiratory problems such as shortness of breath and a cough, often with aches and pains. For non-emergency calls, Dispatch (248-349-1234) will take the person's name and phone number and have an officer call back. This is a new operating procedure that took effect after the police department. office closed to the public as part of the governor's order to stay at home.
Police continue to make their rounds of city streets, neighborhoods and businesses, Maciag said. Officers  are still responding to the scene of an accident or of a crime to investigate and write reports, but now they maintain a physical distance of 6 feet whenever possible. Maciag said people who need to drop off gun permits should do so by mail or use the drop box at the lower level of the building.
To ensure safety among the police force, officers take their temperature before and after their shift, wash their hands frequently, and work in offices and cars that have been cleaned and disinfected regularly. They have a good supply of personal protection equipment (PPE) ready and available for use, Maciag said.
Of the on-call firefighters, 95 percent are state licensed as emergency medical responders and follow the same procedures as police when reporting to the station for a call, said Fire Chief Steve Ott. They work together with personnel from Community EMS (CEMS) to stabilize and transport patients who need care, he said.
Patients exhibiting  symptoms of COVID-19 will be assessed by first responders wearing personal protective gear, such as mask, gowns and face shields, which protects them while treating or transporting the patient.
During runs, physical distancing of 6 feet is now standard operating procedure apart from hands-on patient care or transport.
“We're trying to limit the number of first responders who are exposed to COVID-19, while still providing prompt medical response to anyone who needs it,” noted Ott.

IN THE CITY OF ROMULUS
The Romulus Police Department has also made some slight changes to protect officers and comply with the governor's order.
“Please rest assured that the Romulus Police Department will continue to be out protecting our neighborhoods and businesses. We have made some slight changes to minimize potential exposures to you and our officers,” noted the police Facebook post.
“You can now file police reports on-line, through the Police Public Safety link at romulusgov.com. You can also call (734) 941-8400 to file a police report over the phone. As with any emergency; call 911 and we will respond as always.
“Should you need anything from our Records Bureau; give us a call or email. Please look out after each other, wave to us with all five fingers, maintain your social distance and stay safe,” the post continued.

IN SUMPTER TOWNSHIP
Sumpter Township, Director of Public Safety and Police Chief Eric Luke said that emergency services will respond as expected.
“Our Public Safety Department is prepared for emergency operations and has put procedures in place to help protect the health of our police officers, firefighters, and community members,” Luke said at a recent meeting of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees meeting.
“This means we've tweaked our response to lower priority, non-emergency calls for service, both police and fire/rescue, to minimize person-to-person contact. We will, without question, respond in our usual manner to all emergency calls though. Depending on the specific importance, information from the public safety department will be shared through the police department's Nixle account in addition to the Facebook pages of the police and fire departments,” he added.
“I want to remind everyone to dial 911 for emergencies only. For all other police, fire or medical issues call our dispatch at (734) 461-6898,” he advised.
“I know this trying time is full of many stressors. I assure you the response of Sumpter Township Public Safety when you need us should not be one of them,” he concluded.

Local public safety departments received a large donation
of disposable face shields from Ford Motor Co. Recently
which was proudly made by members of United Auto Workers.
Ford workers celebrated the completion and shipping of
1 million masks last week, vital to the safety of health workers. 

IN THE CITY OF WAYNE
Police and emergency services are operating as usual, according to the police Facebook page although some reports can now be filed online. Information is available on the department Facebook page.

IN THE CITY OF WESTLAND
Westland Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik also took to the department Facebook page to assure residents of the continuing police efforts in the community during the pandemic.
“At no time during this crisis will we risk the safety of our community. We have not, and will not reduce or eliminate police officer patrols. If anything, we will increase police patrols if necessary,” Jedrusik said.
“The current strategy of the Westland Police Department is to reduce direct police/citizen contacts. We are achieving this goal by implementing an online CLEMIS police reporting system, by reducing face-to-face police/citizen contacts and by temporarily suspending non-essential services.
“The officers of the Westland Police Department are also practicing social distancing amongst ourselves in order to reduce the risk of any potential virus spread,” he said. “Be confident knowing that the men and woman of the Westland Police Department have been, and will continue to work through this crisis in order to ensure that our community is safe and protected.”