Levittown Coronavirus: Firefighters Taking Extra Precaution

LEVITTOWN, NY—As the number of coronavirus cases surge in New York, the Levittown Fire Department is taking extra steps to protect its first responders from being exposed to the virus. According Chief Alfred Williams, one of the ways his department is doing that is by operating with fewer people on alarms.

"We will be doing this to minimize the risk of exposure to our crews, and you the community," Williams said.

Running with fewer people on calls isn't the only safety precaution the department is taking. When first responders arrive to a call at someone's home, Chief Williams said many of his first responders will be wearing masks, gloves and even gowns to protect themselves and the person they are attempting to help.

In addition to the safety measures the department is taking to safeguard staff against COVD-19, now more than ever, the chief is also reminding the community to only call for help if it is a true emergency that requires an ambulance.

"If it is a true emergency, when you call please make sure to provide a clear description of the symptoms that you are experiencing to the dispatcher answering your call. If you have been diagnosed as being infected with the COVID-19 virus, please state that clearly to the dispatcher answering your call," Chief Williams stressed in a letter to residents. "We will respond to every call, but we can serve you better and protect you and our members if we are prepared."

Williams is also asking residents that if their medical situation is not an emergency, and they can get to the hospital safely on their own, or with the help of family or friends, to do so. Otherwise, he said they could potentially be preventing first responders from helping someone with a true emergency.

"Our members are no strangers to risk and are committed to serving Levittown wiih Fire and EMS protection even in these difficult times. For us to continue to do our job as the COVID-19 virus continues to spread and require us to respond to more and more alarms, we need your help," he stressed.

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