Harvest Volunteer Fire needs protective equipment

Harvest Volunteer Fire needs protective equipment

Know personal protective equipment is scarce across the nation.

That's no different in north alabama.

It could start to effect the way volunteer fire departments respond to calls.

Waay 31's sophia borrelli found out why p-p-e donations are desperately needed to keep the community safe.

Ric wilkinson, ems captain for harvest volunteer fire/rescue ems: "we want to be able to protect ourselves and we want to be able to serve the public in a capacity as volunteer responders, but we have to be able to protect ourselves and to also protect our families."

Here at harvest fire rescue ems - they say because of the coronavirus pandemic - it's changed the way their responders go to calls.

Ric wilkinson, ems captain for harvest volunteer fire/rescue ems: "if you ran a respiratory call, most providers unless they had an underlying medical condition, wouldn't wear any respiratory protection.

They would run the call with gloves of course and other than that it would be very limited of and additional ppe would be used.

Now just obviously in the last from 30 days ago till now, our department is wearing masks on every call."

Because of recent donations - like these materials here - they are able to still respond to every single call.

But that supplies is running out - and fast.

And no equipment could possibly mean not being able to respond to calls.

Tim westwick, chief harvest volunteer fire/rescue ems: "if we don't have the supplies in the next few weeks, more of the suits and just trying to sterile with the gloves and the masks, we're probably going to have to stage and wait till hemsi gets there."

That's why they are asking for the public's help - and asking for donations of p-p-e supplies of any kind.

Ric wilkinson, ems captain for harvest volunteer fire/rescue ems: "any amount would help.

Even if someone says well i have a box of gloves that have never been opened.

We would gladly take them."

Sophia looklive: "here in madison county - they say the different volunteer departments are working together and even sharing donations when they receive them.

In harvest - sophia borrelli waay 31 news.

If you would like to donate - you can call the harvest volunteer fire department.

Just call