Fire Department Activates Mobile Assessment Team
The Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) has implemented a newly created Mobile Assessment Team (MAT) specifically assigned to transport individuals with confirmed positive results or positive screenings of COVID-19, in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 to other patients, hospital staff and first responders. The team will be staffed 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
“This new mobile team will ensure that we are containing the spread of COVID-19 as best as possible and I’m grateful to our Fire Department for creating this new unit,” said Mayor Robert Garcia.
The MAT, which consists of two LBFD paramedics and one ambulance, responds from central locations within the city to facilitate a rapid response. The team also provides patient assessments, treatment and transportation to local area hospitals as needed, in accordance with Los Angeles County emergency medical services protocols.
“The Mobile Assessment Team is a proactive effort to manage the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The creation of this unit enhances our capabilities and provides an additional resource during this public health crisis,” said Fire Chief Xavier Espino.
A positive screening is based on a list of questions about symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, coughing or flu-like symptoms. Dispatch provides this information to the MAT, who will then don the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and use caution while treating and transporting patients. After each patient transport, the team will replace used PPE and conduct necessary sanitizing procedures for both staff and equipment. This sanitation process will be completed at a predesignated location to mitigate any potential spread to other facilities, equipment and materials.
The Mobile Assessment Team will remain in effect until further notice.
For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit: longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
- ENGLISH: Due to the level of urgency and frequently updated information, the City of Long Beach is using Google Translate to share COVID-19 information in multiple languages.
- SPANISH: Debido al nivel de urgencia y la constante actualización de información, la Ciudad de Long Beach está utilizando Google Translate para compartir información de COVID-19 en varios idiomas.
- KHMER: ដោយសារកម្រិតនៃភាពអាសន្ន និងការវិវត្តន៍ពត៌មានទាន់ហេតុការណ៏ ទីក្រុងឡុងប៊ិចកំពុងប្រើប្រាស់ កម្មវិធីបកប្រែហ្គូហ្គល ដើម្បីចែករំលែកព័ត៌មានស្តីពីវីរុស COVID-19 ជាច្រើនភាសា។
Photo Credit : Long Beach Fire Department