St. Louis County has nearly $175 million in federal grant money to spend in response to the coronavirus, but the county has been charging local first responders for masks. As some St. Louis County police departments and fire districts have found themselves shorthanded on masks and other personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 outbreak, the County Council approved $1.
- PUB DATE: 5/15/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Call Newspapers

The nationwide public safety wireless network that Congress created in 2012 because of failures seen during and after the 9/11 attacks is helping connect first-responders and public safety experts across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The law created an independent authority called FirstNet, provided $7 billion for it, and allocated 20 megahertz of bandwidth within the 700 MHz spectrum to create a nationwide interoperable broadband network.
- PUB DATE: 5/15/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Roll Call

Following House Democrats’ proposal of the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) on Tuesday, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) outlined possible impacts of the latest coronavirus aid package, and called upon fire and EMS professionals to contact their congressional representatives to support the legislation.
- PUB DATE: 5/15/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: EMS1

There might be no year where it is more vital to recognize the work of emergency medical services and paramedics, those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. National EMS Week is May 17-23. Whether they work at a hospital, with a fire department, for a private service or a med-flight operation, these brave men and women put their lives on the line with every call they respond to, never knowing if the person they help might be infected with a virus they might catch and take home to their own families.
- PUB DATE: 5/15/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Seacoast Online

Firefighters report no injures and that residents can return home after their multi-family house in Monroe, Wis. caught fire Thursday afternoon. The Monroe Fire Department says crews responded to a report of smoke in the attic of a multi-family residence in the 2000 block of 9th Street around 1:30 p.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2020 6:09:50 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

The drier soil conditions over the past few weeks have enabled farmers in most regions of the state to prepare their fields and plant crops on a more normal spring schedule, unlike last year when planting was delayed several weeks due to unusually wet field conditions. This spring, however, the drier conditions that have been more suitable for field work, also have increased the danger of wildfires.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2020 6:46:59 AM - SOURCE: Wisconsin State Farmer

A fire that broke out Wednesday caused significant damage to the old town hall in Eden, located in southern Fond du Lac County. Deputies from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's office were called out shortly before 12:30 p.m. for a structure fire reported at 119 Sheridan St. in the village. Construction was occurring on the historic building and it is believed a piece of equipment being used caused the blaze, said Sgt.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Reporter

When the first U.S. case of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, was confirmed on Jan. 21, it appeared to be contained — the patient was a man living near Seattle who had recently returned from Wuhan, China and immediately isolated himself, and the local health department had conducted contact tracing to make sure that anyone he had encountered was now quarantining at home.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: People

Police Chief Eric Clifford fears the city could again become addled by gangs, drugs and double-digit homicides if the department is forced to lay off about 40 cops because of a deepening fiscal crisis brought on by the coronavirus. “Quite frankly, we go to the bare bones minimum of what we do – protect life and property – and we have to start scaling back on what we do as a department,” he said.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Albany Times-Union - Metered Site

Minneapolis’ police officers and firefighters deserve a “significant portion” of emergency federal COVID-19 aid, union officials said, arguing that an infusion of potentially millions of dollars is needed to avoid cutbacks or layoffs. In a letter to lawmakers, the unions made their pitch for a bigger cut of funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act — with Minnesota receiving $2.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Star Tribune

The opioid epidemic is getting worse, and the COVID-19 pandemic could be to blame. For many folks who may be struggling, times of social isolation drive feelings of stress, anxiety and depression, and drug abusers use opioids to relieve this stress. Sara Goldsby, the director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, says they have seen about a 30% increase in EMS response to overdose in the last few months.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WRDW-TV CBS 12 Augusta

VIDEO: One artist is using his talent to create a reimagined version of iconic American images to honor essential workers amid the coronavirus pandemic. Scott LoBaido is popular for his murals of the American flag across the country. For more than 25 years, he's painted renditions of the flag on police stations, homes, cars, veterans buildings and more in all 50 states.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A 35-year-old man is in critical condition after being found unconscious in Beaver Lake on Wednesday morning. According to Jason Roberts, a safety specialist warden with the Department of Natural Resources, law enforcement was dispatched at 10:39 a.m. to the Beaver Lake Public Access. "He was in a kayak," Roberts said of the man.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2020 11:40:17 AM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

PHOTO: Retiring Chief Steven Schreiber was recognized by the State Assembly for his years of service in the Black River Falls community. Schreiber was presented the award by Represenative Treig Pronschinske on Tuesday. Schreiber will be retiring after 40-years of emergency service work in the area and has served as the Fire Chief in Black River Falls since 2003.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2020 8:29:02 AM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV NBC 13 Eau Claire

Using paint, an empty closet and the help of scientists from three Wisconsin universities, the leader of the Kenosha Fire Department’s emergency medical services created a decontamination system for coronavirus for protective masks. Jim Poltrock, KFD division chief of emergency medical services, has been working since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to try to keep first responders safe when they are handling medical calls, including making sure staff have N95 masks/respirators used by medical personnel for protection against the virus.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has signed an agreement with a New York-based testing company to provide large-scale antibody testing, the kind intended to determine whether a person has been infected with the novel coronavirus. The partnership between UNMC and COVAXX, a subsidiary of United Biomedical, launched with last week’s testing of Omaha firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Daily Nonpareil

What is red and white and shows up with flashing lights and sirens sounding in times of need? The answer is York Ambulance Association, celebrating its 48th year serving the communities of York, South Berwick and Rollinsford, New Hampshire. May 17-23 is national EMS Awareness Week, which, according to the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians’ website, “brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s ‘front line.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Sea Coast Online - Metered Site

The call comes over their radio — the patient is having trouble breathing, they need an ambulance. Then, “call the center for special patient information,” says a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The paramedics know it’s likely they’re heading toward the invisible threat that everyone else is trying to stay away from — the coronavirus.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Facing criticism from the Mansfield firefighters union, the city announced Tuesday that two fire stations will not be closed at the same time when not enough personnel are available to work. "Speaking to the mayor, he would prefer to have one maximum closed," said Safety-Service Director Lori Cope, referring to Mayor Tim Theaker.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mansfield News Journal

As one of the country's first cities impacted by COVID-19, Kirkland was initially given the undesirable distinction of being the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States. Yet, the way in which the city has handled the crisis has garnered positive press, launching Kirkland into the spotlight as a role model.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Seattle Refined