Firefighters’ New Normal Now Includes Greater Risks And PPE
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Everyone has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and that includes our local heroes firefighters too.
According to Bernama, firefighters must now adjust to a ‘new normal’ of working with a new kind of risk in their daily jobs.
The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director-general Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid has said that the department’s priorities will still be saving the lives of the people. Victims of road, domestic, and industrial accidents will remain the top concern for the firefighters.
However, they acknowledge that during times of emergencies, those that they are helping could be a Covid-19 positive or asymptomatic case. It’s a risk that firefighters can be infected with Covid-19 while doing their jobs.
Which is why the self-protection measures and the standard operating procedure must be complied by every JBPM member involved in COVID-19 operations as their job is not as ‘normal’ as before.
Mohammad Hamdan to Bernama
Hence, whenever firefighters get an emergency call, they must put on personal protective equipment (PPE) as well, even if it may seem to be a regular emergency case.
For example, in cases where the victims are trapped in a road accident or fire, firefighters must wear face shields, masks, and gloves.
Even when firefighters are preparing to go out for their operations, they have to conduct self-disinfecting processes. Additionally, the fire-fighting training sessions conducted within the premises of the fire station or online now require firefighters to observe social distancing as well.
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