Concerns over safety of firefighters, EMTs
BY TODD MAISEL
As the number of people being diagnosed
with COVID-19 accelerates
in New York City, fi rst responders
are using even greater caution as they work
to help the sick while trying to protect
themselves from infection.
Union leaders representing emergency
medical personnel say not enough is being
done to protect their members.
The Fire Department nonetheless insisted
that it is following all procedures.
“The FDNY is following guidelines for
PPE set forth by CDC and NY State/City
health departments. The Department is
managing the supply of critical supplies,
including masks, but the entire healthcare
industry knows these items are in shorter
supply every day,” according to an FDNY
statement.
Emergency Medical Service techs and
paramedics are on the front lines of treating
and transporting sick people, especially
now those who have tested positive for the
coronavirus. Firefi ghters and police offi
cers have now been told that they should
not respond or remain outside as medical
personnel treat and then transport people
who complain of fever, breathing issues or
any other symptoms of the contagion.
Oren Barzilay, president of FDNY
EMS Local 2507, said gloves, masks and
protective gear are running in short supply
and he says offi cials are “rolling back
Paramedic helps an EMT adjust protective measures against coronavirus.
safety policies” and even being asked to use
“bandanas” to protect ourselves if masks
are not available.
“We have over 100 guys out sick, and
God knows how many others who don’t
even know if they have the coronavirus,”
Barzilay said. “I’ve talked to some of our
members and some have fever, a cough,
shortness of breath – just feeling like crap.
But now, there is frankly not enough protective
gear and not enough manpower.”
Barzilay said they currently have 4,000
EMS responders, but they currently are
unable to meet demand event to fi ll ambulances
that, he claimed, are left idle with
no personnel.
FILE PHOTO /TODD MAISEL
Barzilay said his union members were
“lied to” after the 9/11 attacks that the air
was safe after the collapse of the World
Trade Center. That has led to great skepticism
about the efforts to keep fi rst responders
safe now.
“We’ve gone from the N-95 mask to
surgical masks and now even a bandana is
good enough. Who are they trying to fool?”
Barzilay said. “They fooled us on Sept. 11,,
2001, when the EPA said it was safe to
breath. Now it’s happening with the virus.”
Mike Barasch, an attorney who represents
many victims who suffered illness
after 9/11, said he was concerned about
many fi rst responders. He’s now concerned
about the health of 9/11 survivors who have
suffered respiratory illnesses and other
health issues in the years since.
“It is important that both fi rst responders
and non-responders have the right
equipment to protect life, including proper
gloves and masks to protect us,” Barasch
said. “The problem is they are not only
risking themselves but subjecting family
members to the same germs and viruses.
We are very concerned about the 9-11 community
– people with respiratory illnesses,
asthmas or those with immune compromises
to make sure they stay healthy.”
Barzilay added that government should
have “planned ahead,” for this type of
outbreak. He also called on the public to
limit types of calls respond to reduce stress
on the system.
“If someone calls for an ambulance for
a scratch on face or broken pinky, fi nd
another way to the hospital, call a taxi.
We are dealing with very sick people now,”
Barzilay said.
To date, 46 FDNY members have tested
positive, and medical leave has increased,
fi re offi cials say.
A Fire Department statement noted that
the FDNY “has made changes to scheduled
and procedures to reduce exposure among
our ranks, keeping same groups working
together, practicing social distancing when
possible, and reducing the number of members
operating at specifi c medical calls to
conserve supplies and reduce exposure.”
Survey finds favor for rent moratorium programs
BY BETH DEDMAN
PropertyNest, a real estate listing site,
conducted a national survey to ask
Americans who they thought should
receive rent during the pandemic and found
that most people think everyone should
receive some kind of assistance.
With the federal government and many
local and state municipalities announcing
a moratorium on all mortgage payments
and foreclosure proceedings during the
coronavirus pandemic, some people are
asking for further protections for renters.
PropertyNest asked Americans, “If the
federal government announces suspension
of rent payments due to the coronavirus
pandemic, who do you think should receive
this benefi t?”
Of the 2,038 adult respondents, 24.5%
of participants thought “Everyone” should
receive rent, while 21.4% selected “only
those who have lost their jobs or hours.”
The third most popular answer was “No
one” with 15.8% responses.
More men thought no one should be
allowed to suspend rent payments than
women, with men making up 59.7% of
respondents who selected “No one.”
While younger people were more likely
to believe that everyone should be able to
PHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
stop paying rent, 25-34 year-olds generally
made up the largest age group that felt that
no one should stop paying rent, according
to the survey.
All age groups under the age of 54
selected “everyone” more frequently,
while respondents aged 55 and older were
more likely to believe that only people who
had lost wages or jobs should receive this
benefi t.
Only 8.1% of respondents thought the
benefi t should exclusively go to people who
lost their jobs.
“The results of the PropertyNest survey
show that the U.S. government and the local
governments’ measures may not necessarily
line up with the needs of the average
citizen,” said Ruth Shin, founder and CEO
of PropertyNest. “According to our survey,
84.2 % of all respondents, representing
all age groups and genders in all 50 states,
favor some rent moratorium for people who
might be adversely affected.”
Shin thinks there could be a rise in
evictions after the COVID-19 crisis is
over because people cannot afford rent on
a limited income. Having an eviction on
record will make it even harder for people
who remain jobless to fi nd a home.
The full survey is available on the PropertyNest
website.
4 March 26, 2020 Schneps Media