Dennis Frisch, president of the Durant Volunteer Ambulance Service, says COVID-19 has affected the Durant Volunteer Ambulance Service by creating a greater personnel shortage then before it arrived. Emergency Medical Services (EMS), particularly those who volunteer, struggle to staff their shifts due to a lack of personnel.
During the past year, the Durant service had its ranks decreased by four individuals as one retired, two had changes in their job status, and one had a mishap requiring surgery and a lengthy recovery time but will return later this year.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, two additional individuals have voluntarily stopped going on calls as they are in the high-risk age category (65-plus). The positive side of this gloom and doom, according to Frisch, is that the other volunteers are stepping up to fill the gaps.
Although Mr. Frisch, a paramedic, and Ed Behnke, a driver, are not going on calls, they have found a way to continue helping the Durant service and other emergency medical services in Cedar County. There is a need for personal protective equipment (PPE) by all services and they have begun to make face shields.
With carpet padding, overhead projector overlays, elastic, staples and some ingenuity, Frisch and Behnke put together 50 face shields in only a couple of days. Mr. Frisch states the face shields may not be the “fancy industrial manufactured kind,” but they will work. With some tender love and care, EMS personnel should be able to use them several times.
The face shields not needed by the Durant service will be taken to the Cedar County EMA office for distribution to other Cedar County services and organizations that need them.