First responders will now know addresses of COVID-19 patients
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – First responders are putting themselves directly in the front lines for COVID-19 in order to keep us safe.
For that reason, the Barren River District Health Department came to agreement with Warren County to share pertinent health information with first responders so they can protect themselves when answering calls for help.
The health department will now share addresses with police, fire and EMS of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the event they have to respond to an emergency at one of those locations.
Warren County Judge Executive Mike Buchanon said this decision was well supported.
“I feel much better about our health care providers and first responders because I think that they have a greater comfort level that they are not walking into a situation that they should have been advised about,” said Buchanon.
The data, which is considered protected health information, will be communicated through dispatch operations.
According to Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower, the information will only be shared to those who need it to keep first responders safe.
“We don’t utilize personal information like this for anything other than just to reduce the potential exposure,” said Hightower.
Due to the lack of supply, first responders cannot wear personal protective equipment for every call.
“What used to be readily available is not such and so we really have to safeguard the equipment that we have,” said Hightower.
The decision to uphold Buchanon’s executive order passed unanimously by Warren County magistrates at Tuesday’s fiscal court session.
“We came to this conclusion based upon advice from our workforce group and public health and naturally our first responders and ambulance drivers who don’t want to be unnecessarily exposed to any contagious disease,” said Buchanon.
The shared information does not include those who were diagnosed by a health provider without a lab test nor those who are symptomatic but have not sought health care.
