In response to the Ebola situation, the Villages of Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, LaGrange and Western Springs have been working together, in cooperation with local area hospitals, to develop a uniform set of protocols, for patient care, employee safety and to safeguard public health.
Effective immediately, dispatchers will be asking 9-1-1 callers reporting an illness or similar medical condition, a series of questions to ascertain if the patient has any flu like symptoms, has traveled abroad etc. Our personnel will respond in their usual expedient manner but once on the scene they will take deliberate actions to evaluate the medical condition of the patient and will limit exposure to a minimum amount of emergency personnel. This means, for example, that emergency personnel may wear protective clothing. Similarly, patients may be placed into protective clothing. We ask that patients, family members and neighbors do not become alarmed with this response protocol.
While there is no local case of Ebola, we, along with our sister agencies and our hospital networks, are taking actions that are in an abundance of caution to assure the safety of both our residents and emergency response personnel. Towards that end, we continue to train personnel in the same protocols, share medical equipment and develop contingency plans to assist each participating village should resources be committed.
The Ebola situation is ever changing. We will continue to cooperate on an inter-governmental basis and coordinate with our resource hospital. We will also continue to keep you informed on this matter.