The Rhinelander Fire Department is doing what it can during EMS calls to get information to the public about coronavirus.
Recently the department put together a small packet of information from the Centers for Disease Control. Fire Chief Terry Williams says they leave the information with the person or family where they are called...
"One of the things we've seen, certainly, is loved ones at a call are concerned about their family. After we leave, we want that family, those loved ones, to have some information to better help them and to better help everybody stop the spread of the coronavirus. So we put together a little packet, three pages, that we're leaving with people..."
Chief Williams says they have telephone numbers for Ascension- St. Mary's Health, Aspirus Clinic, Oneida County Health so the public can first call to talk to someone before going to emergency or walk-in stations. Williams says the crews themselves are staying safe when called out...
"We need to keep being vigilant on this as long was we need to be. My crews have adapted very, very well. We spend a lot of time researching and developing new policies and procedures together so we can protect each other and make sure we're protected so we can protect our public..."
Chief Williams says he doesn't know how long they will keep handing out the information, at least through the end of April, and probably longer.
