Baltimore County (MD) Using Fire Apparatus to Transport Low-Priority Patients

The COVID-19 situation is getting so bad in MD that it’s affecting first responders’ ability to do their jobs, reports wmar2news.com. To help ease the strain, as of New Year’s Day, Baltimore County is allowing non-life threatening patients to be transported via fire truck or other non-ambulance vehicle.

Cases in the state continue to rise, and, as of Monday, 2,746 people were hospitalized with it, the report says. Due to this, local fire officials say they’re receiving an increase in EMS calls from patients who believe they’re experiencing COVID symptoms.

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Because of the lack of available hospital beds, ambulances are sometimes forced to wait at the ER with a patient for hours, preventing them from responding to calls. Thus, the new rule was instituted.

Officials say the vehicles are equipped with a trained EMT and basic life support equipment.

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The three firefighters in the wreck were sent to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Two Spokane (WA) Fire Apparatus Slide Down Icy Hill; Crash Into House, Cars

A Spokane ladder truck and pumper slid down the same icy hill. The ladder truck hit a house and the pumper hit two parked cars.