DTVAC Begins COVID-19 Response

 

DINGMANS FERRY, PA — On March 25, 2020, Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps (DTVAC) responded to the Lake Adventure community in Dingman Township. This incident became the first suspected COVID-19 death to occur in Pike County. As a result of this incident, DTVAC instituted provisions in the Incident Command System (ICS) protocol and named Kyle Wright as the Incident Commander. Wright is a Board-Certified National Disaster Health Care Professional and a Nationally Registered Paramedic through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Wright appointed Jessica Brumbaugh the Planning and Intelligence Section Chief. Since March 25th DTVAC has been able to keep its ambulances in service 24 hours a day 7 days a week, along with having a second crew available for at least 12 hours a day during peak hours. DTVAC is currently responding to more calls for help than any other EMS agency in Eastern Pike County. 

DTVAC, under Wright’s direction, has been instrumental in implementing county-wide Zoom meetings with all the EMS agencies that are responding to calls for help in Pike County. Through these Zoom meetings, he has been able to provide guidance to other emergency health care providers on how to properly deal with a patient that is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. DTVAC has also taken the lead in procuring needed supplies that may run out on local BLS ambulances. The Corps has been able to procure multiple CPAP/BIPAP filters that will be used to help patients who are in respiratory distress. Various CPAP/BiPAP filters were able to be delivered to local and federal agencies. “It is our goal to provide residents of Delaware Township the best care possible,” said Wright, “by assisting other local EMS agencies with obtaining supplies, we are able to keep our ambulance’s in our township more often without needing to cover other townships 911 calls.”

Brumbaugh comes to the Ambulance Corps with a degree in Biology Vertebrate Physiology and a minor in Global Health from Penn State University. Complementing her experiences at Penn State, she has participated in multiple research studies on infectious diseases and public health. Brumbaugh is a certified Remote EMT and certified as a Medical Care Person In Charge (MCPIC) through the National Guard. 

Since Brumbaugh’s appointment, DTVAC has implemented many new operational procedures that have the common goal of providing the highest standard of patient care and keeping healthcare providers safe. Currently, the Ambulance Corps has implemented a “One Patient, One Provider’ policy to reduce the amount of exposure the provider and patient get during a call for service. DTVAC has also implemented a requirement that all of its providers wear surgical masks at all times while on duty in public, and wear N95 masks and gloves when on a call for help. These two policy implementations have allowed ambulance crews to continue to serve the public without fear of being exposed to COVID-19. As a matter of precaution, DTVAC has taken EMS providers over the age of 65 and any who are immunosuppressed off of on-duty ambulances and reassigned them to logistical services for the Corps.

On medical emergency dispatches that involve symptoms of CVOID-19 (cough, fever, difficultly breathing, sore throat, nausea, and vomiting), DTVAC has implemented an enhanced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) protocol to keep providers safe. This PPE includes gloves, N95 mask or respirator, a full Tyvek suit or gown, hair coverings, and a face shield. The ambulance service has responded to over seventeen COVID-19 symptoms calls for help since needing enhanced PPE and is currently running dangerously close to running out of PPE and other supplies for its providers. The Corp is currently relying on donations from the public for the following supplies; hand sanitizer, bleach, bottled water, duct tape, contractor-style trash bags, ink pens, gloves, laundry detergent, soap, paper bags, batteries (C & AA), and saran wrap.

Since March 25, DTVAC has responded to multiple calls for mutual aid throughout the county. Because of the increased call volume, DTVAC has placed a bin outside of it building to place donations in. The building is also being manned 24 hours a day, unless there is an active call. Donations of any kind can be brought or mailed to 135 Park Road, Dingmans Ferry, PA. Donations of PPE or requests for PPE can be direct to the DTVAC COVID-19 Logistic Section Chief, Lieutenant Dillan Miller. Miller can be reached by dialing 570-828-2345. 

DTVAC EMT at Bon Secours Community Hospital. 

Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps is a non-profit organization that provides basic life support (BLS) service to Delaware Township. The Corps also provides Advanced Life Support (ALS) service to Delaware Township and surrounding areas. We are always looking for volunteers! If you are someone you know is interested in volunteering please call us at (570)-828-2345. Any press inquires should be directed to cwill@dtvac.org.