Behind the Scenes: How Mecklenburg County’s emergency responders operate

This week, Mecklenburg Emergency Services Agency dispatchers have started asking callers a lot more questions because of the coronavirus. These are the questions MEDIC dispatchers are now asking on every 911 call after learning calls, such as traffic accidents, aren’t always what they seem.

In a mock call, a dispatcher asked about a fever, unusual sweating, breathing and about travel in and out of the country.

The change in its operations took effect this week not only to protect crews and patients.

Channel 9′s Gina Esposito asked MEDIC Operations Supervisor Don Shue, “Have you transported anybody with those high-risk symptoms?”

Shue responded: “We have used our screening tool on a number of patients. We have had suspicion. We have transported them to the appropriate facility, but to my knowledge, we haven’t had anyone who had a positive (COVID-19) test.”

This week, Channel 9 saw paramedics dress in protective gear on a sick call at an assisted living facility. Even though it turned out not to be a COVID-19 case, responding paramedics still followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Each ambulance now has the protective equipment stored on the outside of each ambulance.

On a call, paramedics wear a mask and gloves when interacting with a patient. They can put a mask on a patient if they suspect symptoms. Paramedics will then put on goggles and a gown to prevent droplets from getting on their uniforms before transporting a patient.

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