Swine Flu Scare has EMS Officials Scrambling

The swine flu scare has EMS and health officials around the world scrambling.

Information about the outbreak -- not yet but close to being called a pandemic -- changes almost by the minute.

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Phase Four which means there has been human-to-human transmission, explained Dr. Myles Druckman, a pandemic expert.

He said it's the first time that the WHO has raised the alert above Phase Three. There are six phases.

Hospitals as well as health officials across the nation had already initiated their pandemic flu plans.

A national health emergency declared over this past weekend allowed the shipment of 12 million doses of medication to be moved from stockpiles to various regions across the country, he said.

The symptoms are similar to those of the regular flu -- sneezing, nausea, diarrhea, fever. It is spread through droplets via coughing, sneezing and saliva.

People who may be stricken with the usual seasonal flu are flooding the health care systems across the country. It's often difficult to differentiate the two in its early stages.

Although the virus is spreading rapidly, there have been no deaths in the United States, CDC officials said Tuesday morning.

Also, the CDC said down the road, communities may have to consider postponing large gatherings.

President Barack Obama also said there was cause for concern. But, urged people not to panic.

Druckman said while the elderly and children are the typical victims, the swine flu attacks people of all ages, especially young, healthy folks.

"Young, healthy people have strong immune systems that overreact when the virus hits," Druckman said, adding that the body is quickly overwhelmed by the fluid buildup.

The Spanish flu of 1918 also targeted the younger population.

EMS officials around the world have been put on alert as well as the population becomes more anxious.

The International Association of Emergency Medical Services Chiefs (IAEMSC) has been kept apprised of the ongoing issue.

During an IAEMSC conference call Sunday with EMS leadership from around the world, it was reported that Mexico EMS is being overwhelmed.

On a typical Friday night in Mexico City, crews respond to about 60 calls for sick people. This past week, they answered almost 300, officials said.

Regardless of their location, EAEMSC officials suggested EMS crews modify their responses and triage calls appropriately.

Other suggestions include:

Call Triage Modification Recommendations:

Agencies are encouraged to broaden their call interrogation procedures to include specific questions for all incidents to include a specific inquiry regarding the presence of fever, cough or new onset rash. If present, this information should be clearly communicated to responding resources as rapidly as possible to facilitate enhanced attention to PPE procedures.

PPE Guidance Modification Recommendations:

EMTs/Paramedics responding to incidents which or encountering patients who have known or suspected fever, cough and/or rash or to patients described generically as sick or with "flu like" symptoms should use a personal PPE package consisting of:

• Gloves
• Eye Protection
• Respiratory Protection (N95/N100/N100)

• Agencies should consider increasing the availability of N95/N100 masks, to include a supply accessible in both the vehicle cab and patient treatment compartment.
• Agencies with free air exchange between the cab and patient compartment should consider securing this opening when transporting high risk patients.
• Personnel should change their N95/N100 between patient contacts (the provider operating the vehicle should dispose of their N95/N100 in the patient compartment waste container prior to initiating transport and don a fresh N95/N100 prior to patient contact).

Patient Contact/Initial Incident Entry Modification Recommendations: