Working with the Guam Memorial Hospital, the Guam Fire Department activated its Covid Transport Units at the Astumbo and Yona Fire Stations today.
These specialized units will be used to transport patients that are stable, but showing symptoms of COVID-19, thereby reducing personnel exposure and minimizing ambulance downtime.
According to GFD, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented global challenges, most notably for Emergency Medical Services. Guam is further constrained due to the tyranny of distance and isolation from neighboring islands and the
United States.
GFD said the safety of its personnel and the preservation of limited resources has created a need for alternate response methods.
Anticipating an increase in the number of COVID-19 patients, the GFD has developed a plan to commission the COVID Transport Unit (CTU) — two teams dedicated to transporting symptomatic, but otherwise stable, ambulatory patients.
“The intent of this program is to protect our personnel and extend the sustainability of our response efforts well into the coming months, as we battle the spread of this disease,” said Fire Chief Daniel Stone.
Battalion Chief Edward Chaco added: “By providing an alternate mode of care and transportation for these
patients, we decrease the risk of exposure to our personnel, minimize contamination of our emergency response vehicles and equipment, and ultimately reduce the crisis workload so our ambulances can be utilized for emergency calls.”
These specialized units, operating out of the Astumbo and Yona Fire Stations, will provide prompt care for patients experiencing non-life-threatening, COVID-19 related symptoms, effective Tuesday, April 21.
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