Recent Research
Patterson PD, Mcilvaine QS, Nong L, Liszka MK, Miller RS, Guyette FX, Martin-Gill C. Masking by health care and public safety workers in non-patient care areas to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open. 2022 Mar 26;3(2):e12699. doi:10.1002/emp2.12699. eCollection 2022 Apr. PMID-35356376.
Info-Graphics | One-Pagers
Info-graphics / one-pagers are a great tool for raising awareness. Administrators, Directors, Chiefs, and Agency/Station Managers consider downloading the info-graphics / one-pagers linked below and share with your first responder and clinician colleagues.
Info-graphic 1: "Get Vaccinated to lower your risk of illness and death from COVID-19"
Info-graphic 2: "Protect Yourself, Protect Your Family, Protect Your Patients and Community: Stay Up To Date on Vaccines"
Stay Up To Date on your vaccines
The importance of COVID-19 vaccination and boosters for EMS and fire first responders
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What about safety?
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What about the risks?
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Why get vaccinated / boosted?
Listen to frontline clinicians share key insights on COVID-19 vaccination for EMS and fire first responders.
Sample Workplace Polices for EMS & Fire to Mitigate Risks of COVID-19
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations for mitigating virus transmission have continually been modified due to new knowledge about virus transmission, changes in prevalence within communities, and the availability of vaccinations. EMS and fire personnel received many recommendations to mitigate the risks of COVID -19 exposure. These recommendations focus on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when in contact with individuals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
This website provides recommendations specifically for EMS and fire agencies to sustain risk mitigation practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, including educational materials and sample SOPs/SOGs. These recommendations follow CDC guidance but may be modified by EMS and fire agencies to best address risk mitigation needs at their workplaces, especially as recommendations change for staff that are fully vaccinated.
Note that while interim recommendations from the CDC have relaxed mitigation procedures (e.g., face coverings) by vaccinated people outside of healthcare settings, recommendations for EMS and fire personnel have not changed. This is especially important for agencies without all staff fully vaccinated. Maintenance of clear EMS and fire agency SOPs/SOGs is critical to responder safety and the sustained response of these personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Support for these documents comes from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Intergovernmental Personnel Act/Agreement (IPA) - Patterson PD, Martin-Gill C, Guyette FX, 20IPA2014138, 20IPA2014139, 20IPA2014141).
Documents last updated June 16, 2021
See below for links to documents and materials.
PDF of Full Guidebook with 5 SOPs / SOGs
Sample SOP/SOG #1 - Vaccination for all EMS and fire personnel
Sample SOP/SOG #2 - Screening for Symptoms of COVID-19
Sample SOP/SOG #3 - Face Coverings in Workplace
Sample SOP/SOG #4 - Physical Distancing and Disinfection in Workplace
Sample SOP/SOG #5 - Use of PPE in Healthcare and Congregate Settings
Webpage last updated December 9, 2021