When we are alerted to protect ourselves from COVID-19 by wearing medical masks, washing hands, not going to crowded places, etc., how would the first responders who rescue us, protect themselves in the course of their works?

 SUPER ARMOR Firefighting Suits comply with EN469 standard and CE Certificate.  High Tear Strength and Tensile Strength outer shell protect the suits from being torn by sharp materials like cramp iron of collapsed building.  Wearing SUPER ARMOR Firefighting Suit, the firefighters will feel comfortable due to its light weight and low vapour resistance (breathable).  Moreover, SUPER ARMOR Turnout Gears provide firemen medical level protection against body fluid and blood-borne pathogens.  This extra performance is required by NFPA 1971.  This performance effectively blocks HIV, HBV, HCV virus which are transmitted via blood and other routes.  But, for COVID-19 conveyed via droplets, contact, animal contact, EN469 complied fireman suits are not enough to protect firemen.  

So, when there is any possibility of close contact with persons who are positive or possible COVID-19 infected, firefighters need particular PPE, including : 

• Disposable patient examination gloves
• Disposable isolation gown
• Respiratory protection (ex. N95 mask or higher-level respirator)
• Eye protection to fully cover the front and sides of the face
• Used PPE should be discarded according to standard procedures.

Firefighters are the first line to carry out the rescue of injured patients.  The risk of infection is greater than that of ordinary people.  Equipment inside fire trucks and ambulances that is frequently touched, for example the armrests of stretcher bed, seats, etc., should be regularly disinfected.  But, firefighters staying with injured patients inside the transport vehicles will remarkably increase their risk of infection. 

To cope with such risk, one of the Fire Bureaus in Taiwan designed a simple “isolation compartment” inside the ambulance.  Materials they use are plastic cloth, Velcro, tapes, ropes, etc.  The plastic cloth is usually rolled up during normal duties.  It can be quickly deployed to protect firefighters in the back seat and isolate patients who are positive or possible COVID-19 infected.  After each duty, the “isolation compartment” will be disassembled right away, cleaned and disinfected for next attendance.