The City of Naperville and Naperville Fire Department would like to inform residents that there is no immediate known threat that the citizens, visitors, and/or healthcare workers in the City of Naperville are at risk of exposure to the Ebola virus. However, the Naperville Fire Department is being proactive by establishing protocols to ensure a safe environment for our residents, patients, firefighters and healthcare workers.
The Naperville Fire Department has developed tiered Ebola response protocols based on information received from Edward Hospital, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the DuPage and Will County Health Departments as to the location and severity of Ebola in the United States. The Fire Department is currently operating in the awareness level of these protocols and would like the public to be aware of some of the precautions currently being taken.
At this time, the Naperville Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) will be screening 9-1-1 callers based on their complaints, symptoms and travel history. Responding emergency medical personnel are made aware of the PSAP findings in a confidential manner and will take precautions to protect themselves and the patient accordingly. The Fire Department continues to outfit paramedics and firefighters with personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, eye protection and gowns. Residents should not be alarmed if they see paramedics wearing masks, gloves and eye protection as this is a normal practice during any flu season. The donning of personal protective equipment is for the department’s protection as well as for that of Naperville residents.
The Naperville Fire Department is continuously monitoring CDC advisories and is in regular contact with local and county health authorities. As new practices and information become available, they will be put into place accordingly.
For more information and resources you may visit any one of the following websites:
The Illinois Department of Public Health has also activated a 24 hours a day, seven days a week hotline at (800) 889-3931 to answer questions about Ebola. People can call at any time with questions such as how Ebola is spread, who is at risk of being infected, when someone should go to a doctor, what hospitals and local health departments are doing to identify and control possible Ebola infections and other frequently asked questions.