Conquering COVID19 – FDNY EMS Responds

The New York Times profiled two paramedics conquering COVID19 in a piece about EMS response to COVID19 in New York City. The article which looks at the lives of Kenny Cheng and Sean Mahoney responding to “regular” calls and COVID19. The surprise in the reporter’s voice seems to hit the mark again and again: ‘Such is the disturbing new normal for the city’s paramedics, whose days can be mundane until — suddenly — they are not.’ It’s as if the media does not realize this is day to day responding to other people’s worst day.

Conquering COVID19: From classroom to emergency room

The two paramedics, Cheng and Mahoney, are instructors at FDNY Fort Totten (Queens) Station 60. Like 9-11 and Superstorm Sandy, the two have been called back to the streets to alleviate staffing responding to the numerous calls in New York.

Each day the two EMS Instructors with their colleagues gather for a moment of silence. The article recounts the updates on friends and co-workers who contracted COVID19. One comrade in fighting the ugly disease, Idris Bey, was named on Monday, but died by Friday, just four days later.

This pandemic is a reminder that the bravest are often forgotten in their fight against silent killers which are far less spectacular than gun fights or high rise fires.

Conquering COVID19: Protocols

The article also talks briefly about the bizarre symptomology of this disease which has confounded both medics and ER staff. Standard ACLS protocols do not seem to be as effective – and may be inapproppriate according to some researchers.