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1 1 (April 15, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govcryq0001 and id is 1 raw text is: FF.ri E.$~ & April 15, 2020 Funding for Firefighters for COVID-19 Response COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by a novel coronavirus that originated in China in late 2019. It spread rapidly around the globe, and on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the situation a pandemic. In the United States, by the end of March 2020, the disease had spread to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories except American Samoa. Firefighter personnel providing emergency medical services (EMS) serve as first responders to calls for help from those who are infected. Challenges for firefighters, many of whom are volunteers, include a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and a high likelihood of exposure to the virus. This can lead to health impacts and staffing shortages due to long quarantine or recovery periods. Congress has provided emergency funding to assist firefighters responding to COVID-19 calls, and additional congressional action may be considered. ~rn .Pact C fC OV D- on Hel-.e, e Cr As the coronavirus spreads across the United States, people are turning to doctors, hospitals, and other health facilities for diagnosis and treatment. People displaying early or mild symptoms are often sent home to isolate, rest, and recover. Some people develop serious or life-threatening symptoms and call 9-1-1, where call takers may dispatch local fire departments to assist. Firefighter personnel, who include emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics, provide emergency medical services to people in their homes and may transport them to hospitals. Firefighter personnel can be exposed to and infected by the virus through these close interactions. As the number of U.S. COVID-19 cases has increased, the number of firefighters affected has as well. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) developed a dashboard to show the number of firefighter personnel exposed, quarantined, and diagnosed with COVID-19 in the United States. On March 13, 2020, when IAFC launched the dashboard, there were 44 fire departments reporting, 55 personnel exposed, 46 in quarantine, and 1 diagnosed with the coronavirus. On April 10, 2020, there were almost 2,200 fire departments reporting, over 10,500 personnel exposed, 4,852 in quarantine, and 575 firefighter personnel tested and diagnosed with the coronavirus (Figure 1). In March 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for COVID-19 in the United States, which provides recommendations for EMS workers responding to suspected COVID-19 calls. Figure I. IAFC COVID- 19 Dashboard U.S. firefighters affected by the coronavirus (ADril 10, 2020) Source: International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), COVID-19 Fire and Emergency Medical Services Personnel Impact Dashboard, accessed April 10, 2020, https://iafc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/ opsdashboard/index.html#/3813 d2f872224d8a93c52f05cd392b8c. Notes: This graphic shows data from 2,193 U.S. fire departments reporting COVID-19 data to the IAFC, as of April 10, 2020. Per the U.S. Fire Administration, there are about 27,000 fire departments in the United States. Most (71%) are all-volunteer and may have limited capacity to report data. Hence, data may not reflect all U.S. firefighter personnel affected. EMS= Emergency Medical Services, including Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and paramedics. The guidance recommended the use of PPE, procedures for treating and transporting patients, and decontamination procedures. However, as the virus spread globally and supply chains became strained, fire departments have had difficulty finding the recommended PPE and supplies. In a survey of 288 fire departments conducted by the IAFC, fire departments indicated their highest priority needs were N95 respirator masks, gowns, surgical masks, decontamination supplies, eye protection, and gloves, in that order (as of April 10), and 90% indicated that they had altered procedures as a result of shortages. Since firefighters can be exposed on the job, at home, and in the community, departments are monitoring personnel for signs of the virus to avoid transmission to others in the community and in firehouses. Some fire departments isolate staff who may have been exposed to the virus, which can lead to staffing shortages. While the CDC has issued guidance advising that essential workers may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID- 19 provided they are asymptomatic and are monitored, the IAFC is pressing for prioritization of testing for firefighters to determine if a firefighter has the coronavirus and needs to be isolated and treated or can return to work. On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136), which appropriates more than $2 gognpo 'popmm- , goo g , q 'S a X 11L1\L\N,\1kJ\W,

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