Tommy Berges has seen firsthand how the coronavirus pandemic has caused delays in essential emergency services. The veteran paramedic and firefighter out of Washtenaw County, Michigan said the outbreak has extended emergency response times from the outset.
"COVID has really changed the entire fire and EMS services overall," Berges told Cheddar. "These time delays actually start when someone calls 9-1-1."
Emergency responders are screening callers to see if they have COVID-19, a necessary precaution that nonetheless adds crucial seconds to EMS response time.
"They're going to ask you questions. That takes additional time," Berges said. "If you do screen positive, it's very likely that information will get to us and that requires us to put on additional PPE, and that takes time. While it seems like seconds, in any emergency situation where time is of the essence, this all adds up."
Berges advises people to have a plan for emergency situations, given the delayed response time. For those who have dealt with opioid abuse in the past, in particular, he recommends keeping Naloxone, an anti-narcotic drug, on hand for emergencies.
He recounted one instance in which a man, who had been receiving medically-assisted doses of opioids, accidentally overdosed when he misunderstood the directions provided by his doctors. They had given him additional pills so that he could social distance.
"Have a plan. Stop and think about what you can do," he said.
In the latest Cheddar Feed, where we highlight some of the stories spotlighted on our social media, a 103-year-old Maine woman continues to lobster trap with family while an estimated 7.5 million Baby Shark products were recalled after several reports of injuries.
Taylor Swift performed her 'Dear John' song for the first time in years and pleaded to fans to stop cyberbullying as the song is long believed to be about her ex-beau, singer John Mayer.
Musical legend Elton John captivated audiences at the Glastonbury festival in what he said could be his last concert in England.
Mrs. Kasha Davis, star of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars," which recently kicked off its eighth season, spoke with Cheddar News about her time on the show, what she does outside of her program and how important it is for her to help children stay inclusive.
Legendary rapper Busta Rhymes was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and musical icon Patti LaBelle powered through a mishap while honoring the late Tina Turner.
Thousands gathered to attend New York City's annual Pride parade.
Hikers have found human remains in a Southern California mountain area where actor Julian Sands disappeared five months ago.
Thousands of effusive marchers danced to club music in New York City streets Sunday as bubbles and confetti rained down, and fellow revelers from Toronto to San Francisco cheered through Pride Month's grand crescendo.
The 2023 BET Awards celebrated 50 years of hip-hop with tributes to the genre’s earliest voices, late legends, and new talent during a show packed with spectacular performances that consistently felt like a party.
In the past, government agencies have typically taken on the cost of such searches, even when rich people pay thousands of dollars for questionable activities.
