Temporary Changes To Public Safety In Clayton

Press release from the City of Clayton:

Publish Date:04/17/2020 3:56 PM

The Clayton Fire Department (CFD), East Central Dispatch Center(ECDC) and the Clayton Police Department(CPD) have instituted several temporary changes in operations that affect the way we interact with the public. We want you to be sure that these adjustments were not decisions that we took lightly and were made in the overall best interest of the community. We are following all guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the State of Missouri, along with procedures set forth through coordination with other response entities within St. Louis County. The use of extra personal protection equipment and increased isolation procedures, although alarming, are necessary for protecting our rescuers, patients and the community.

Dispatch

When calling 911 the first difference you will notice is the line of questioning that you will be asked. Dispatchers are asking all callers qualifying questions to begin the risk management process. These questions will be asked to all callers despite the nature of the call. It is important to note that these questions will not affect whether we will respond to your emergency but allows rescuers to plan accordingly once on scene. Dispatchers may also ask the caller to meet the fire department outside if possible. Those questions are:

1. Does the patient or anyone in the home have a fever or had a fever in the last 14 days?

2. Does the patient or anyone in the household have, or had had in the past 14 days, a persistent cough or difficulty breathing?

Fire

The mission of the Clayton Fire Department continues to be devoted to preserving life and property through teamwork, exceptional performance, and professionalism. During our fire department responses to alarm sounding, carbon monoxide, odor investigation, and electrical or water emergency calls we will stage all, but the minimal number of members needed to clear the alarm (typically 1-2). These firefighters will be wearing standard firefighting personal protective equipment as well as N-95 masks, medical gloves, and goggles/glasses. If you see firefighters entering the building/residence with these precautions in place this does not mean that there is a known exposure at that location. This precaution will be in place for all responses to both commercial and residential occupancies.

EMS

For EMS calls we will follow a similar format by only sending the minimal number of people necessary to initiate patient care. This Paramedic will maintain safe (6 foot) distances from the patient during the initial interview, which will include the same questions asked during dispatch. After the initial interview the paramedic will determine the best course of action for the patient, depending on symptoms this may include treatment and transport to the hospital, or the patient staying home and opt for a telemedicine consultation or at home isolation. If this is the case CFD medical staff will check in with the patient again within 24 hours. When responding to EMS calls all members of the responding crew will be wearing N95 masks, gloves, and glasses or goggles. If there is suspicion of COVID exposure or the caller answers yes to either of the qualifying questions the medic conducting the interview will also be wearing a medical gown.

POLICE

The Police Department has also made several changes during the pandemic. Most notably they have relocated half of their patrol division to Wydown Middle School. It is important to note that prisoners will still be taken to Police headquarters at 10 S. Brentwood Blvd. and not taken to the school. This is a preventative measure that will reduce the risk of having to quarantine an entire squad in the case one of their officers becomes infected. They are also wearing PPE when necessary and appropriate and staging outside during fire and EMS calls. Finally, they are using discretion to handle some non-emergency complaints over the phone.

As stated earlier we are taking these steps to protect not only the public, but also our firefighters, paramedics and police officers to ensure the continuity of operations. We will never take steps to reduce our risk that would endanger the public or jeopardize our ability to fulfill our mission.

This press release was produced by the City of Clayton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.