Ohio EMT Diagnosed With H1N1 Flu
As rescue workers begin getting inoculated against the H1N1 flu, it's not quite in time for one Warren County paramedic.
DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP --
As rescue workers begin getting inoculated against the H1N1 flu, it's not quite in time for one Warren County paramedic.
Deerfield Township Fire Chief Chris Eisele said one of his paramedics has been confirmed as having the H1N1 flu. Eisele said the person was immediately placed on medical leave.
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Eisele did not say when the paramedic came down with the illness.
"The health and welfare of our citizens is, and will always be, our top priority," Eisele said in a news release. "We will continue to implement the safety protocols already in place to ensure that every firefighter, EMT and paramedic who responds to a citizen is free of illness."
The announcement came as Hamilton County rescue workers began receiving the H1N1 nasal mist vaccine.
Battalion Chief Doug Koch said he's confident the infected firefighter did not pass it on to any body he treated on an emergency call.
Commanders said he didn't show symptoms until 24 to 36 hours after he left work Thursday morning. They think that means he was not contagious while on the job, although they aren't sure.
Firefighters and rescue workers News 5 talked to said they never know what they'll come across.
"We're exposed to everything, every different type of person, different areas," firefighter Dan Thatcher said.
The development that one of their own contracted the virus was a shock to a group used to worrying about other people's health, not their own.
"It's definitely a scary thing," Thatcher said.
Firefighters spent the day disinfecting doors, tables, equipment and even themselves.
"The smell of Lysol was pretty fierce in there," Thatcher said.
Koch said three other firefighters also called in sick over the weekend.
"We're recommending to the guys that if they do become symptomatic, that they follow up with a physician," Koch said.
Koch said he also wants everyone in the department to get the H1N1 vaccine now that the mist is being distributed to health care professionals.
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