The Shannon County First Responders have received a generous grant from The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funding will be used to purchase and distribute essential personal protective equipment (PPE) to responders across the county as well as purchase some durable medical equipment. “The Shannon County First Responders would like to express our gratitude to the Shannon County Commissioners for their assistance in obtaining this funding,” said Bill O’Donnell, the group’s spokesman.
Early on in the pandemic, the shortage of medical quality (N95) masks was a difficulty for the First Responders. They were able to obtain a few from community donations, and the Shannon County Health Department and the Shannon County Emergency Management Office generously donated some. This type of mask is essential to protect them and their patients if a case of Covid-19 is suspected. This grant should allow the group to purchase enough to carry them through the winter.
The number of cases of Covid-19 in our county has increased dramatically over the past month. Luckily few of these people have required emergency medical care. If they do, the Shannon County First Responders will be there. With proper PPE, they can continue to serve, although some responders have been exposed and were isolated for various periods.
The mission of the Shannon County First Responders is to support local ambulance services by arriving first and providing immediate first aid and medical support as needed until the ambulance arrives. All first responders are unpaid volunteers, on call twenty four hours a day. All First Responders are trained to at least the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) level, and some are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and nurses. The First Responders do not receive any funding from insurance, medical bills or fire dues; they are entirely funded by donations.
To learn more about the Shannon County First Responders, check out their Facebook page. If you have medical training and would like to join, please send a message through the page.
