Marin First Responders Taking Extra Steps To Sanitize Vehicles

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The Marin County Fire Chiefs Association is taking extra steps to clean emergency vehicles during the new coronavirus pandemic.

The association has developed a systematic process for disinfecting ambulances after every patient is taken to the hospital.

There are now three disinfectant locations near the three Marin hospitals. Each site is staffed with trained contractors who clean vehicles that could have transported a COVID-19 patient.

"We recognized early on that protecting our first responders was critical to protecting our community," said Dr. Dustin Ballard, coordinator of Marin County Emergency Medical Services. "Early implementation of proactive and protective measures has, to date, been successful in mitigating on-the-job exposures among our EMS personnel in Marin."

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Since late March, personnel have cleaned patient and driver compartments with both chemical cleaners and medical-grade, heavy-duty ultraviolet light disinfection systems. Equipment used on emergency calls is also cleaned. It takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes to disinfect each vehicle.

Deputy Chief Mark Brown of the Marin County Fire Department said Marin was believed to be the first county in the state to take this approach amid the coronavirus public health crisis. In addition to ambulances and fire engines, all law enforcement vehicles have access to the service.

"We're doing it to ensure not only the first responders are working in a safe environment, but to ensure the safety of the patients whom they are treating," Brown said. "Somebody being transported by ambulance should not have to worry about being exposed to the virus in one of these vehicles before they reach the hospital. Their loved ones shouldn't have to worry, either."

In addition to the vehicle cleaning, firefighters remove contaminated clothing that cannot be reused and discard the items in a secure location. Every effort is also being made to preserve personal protective equipment, officials said.

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