Published: September 02, 2008 12:03 pm      

Pros fight germs

Firefighters take extra precautions on medical calls

DUNCAN — Germs are everywhere.

Bacteria is everywhere.

But not everyone who has bacteria or germs will contract a virus or disease, especially if good hygiene is practiced.

Firefighters who respond to medical calls, fires or other emergencies, must take precautions to ensure they do not contract any illnesses from bacteria or germs.

Duncan Fire Chief Larry Sullins said that protecting themselves from infections is an important part of the job when on a medical call.

“For example, if we know people have TB (tuberculosis), we will use extra caution and wear special equipment,” Sullins said. “The first part is the gear. We wear medical rubber gloves and masks. Our purpose is to protect ourselves and to prevent the spreading of germs, bacteria, etc. from one to another.”

Contamination can occur at any time and from any place, even on fire runs.

In fire runs, firefighters wear special clothing that is insulated on the inside to protect them from high temperatures or flying debris.

“At any time, the structure could fall or they could be struck by flying debris,” Sullins said.

Regardless of where it comes from, if someone feels they have been contaminated, there is a form they can fill out to get themselves the aid they need, Sullins said.

If firefighters are concerned at all about contamination, they will decontaminate everything, including all of the equipment, he said.

One nasty bacteria that can affect not just firefighters, but anyone else is MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureas or staph for short.

Sullins said he heard of one person about 10 years ago who had MRSA.

“He said it was very painful,” Sullins said.

MRSA is a specific strain of staphylococcus, which is a normal bacteria that just about everyone has, and is passed through both direct and indirect contact, Stephens County Health Department R.N. Lisa Caton said.

“Anyone can get it,” Caton said. “But most people won’t show any symptoms and don’t have to worry.”

MRSA originated in the 1960s and is resistant to many antibiotics. It is generally identified as a red area that resembles a spider bite, except that it keeps growing, Caton said.

One method of treating MRSA is through an incision and drainage procedure.

“They cut open the wound and let the bacteria bleed out,” she said.

After performing an incision and drainage procedure, medical personnel will practice strict wound management to keep any drainage contained, she said.

“MRSA is more common than people think, but if you practice good hygiene, it shouldn’t be a problem,” Caton said. “The number one thing is to wash your hands. A lot of people just don’t wash them.”

If people will just wash their hands, the likelihood of contracting MRSA or any other bacterial disease decreases greatly, she said.

Other than practicing good hygiene, Caton also had some practical advice.

“If you get a boil and it gets worse, see a doctor,” she said.