We like to be prepared. Extra snacks in the car, charged cell phones and a pen for autographs are just a few things we like to have handy at all times.
So when we saw that the Concord Fire Department recently held an Ebola virus training exercise that included putting on those nifty looking hazmat suits, it was definitely something we wanted to be a part of. And since fire chief Dan Andrus is a big fan of the Insider, like autograph seeking kind of fan, he connected us with Manor Station for a little crash course in Ebola preparedness.
“The training we do gives us a good idea of what to do,” said firefighter Derek Martel. “It’s just another thing we have to be mindful of.”
Now we know what you must be thinking – Ebola’s never going to make it to Concord. That may be the case, but you just never know, and if it ever does, you sure are going to be glad we (and the fire department) learned how to put that suit on.
“We have a fairly large population on the Heights that are from that part of the world,” said Lieutenant Chris Andrews. “It’s more apt to come here than in Canterbury.”
We will be living in the suits 24 hours a day to ensure the Insider survives, but we could also help. The only thing is that getting the suit on is the extent of our training – we wouldn’t necessarily know what to do when treating someone with Ebola. But like most things, we’d figure it out after the second or third try.
If not, we could always call upon our new friends at the fire station, because they’ve gone through these exercises so many times they could probably do it in their sleep. They need to know what to do because one slip up could mean the difference between going home or spending the next three weeks in quarantine – and that’s the best case scenario.
“If you don’t pay attention, it can kill you,” Martel said.
First order of business is to assess the situation. If the person has traveled to West Africa, a required question now even for a hurt finger we found out, it might be a good idea to put on the suit.
“The symptoms are the same as the flu,” Andrews said.
We also learned that it’s much easier to do this sitting down, because those one size fits all suits are not the most forgiving in some areas.
Once the suit is on, putting on these paper booties will help protect those new kicks, and you against any splashes. Two layers of gloves, the second secured with duct tape, along with goggles, a hood and a breathable mask keeps your body as protected as Fort Knox.
But in terms of treating a patient with Ebola, you might want to leave that up to the professionals, because we did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. We’re just glad we got to put on that super comfy suit – and actually got it off.
