April 15, 2020 at 4:27 p.m.
As it stands right now, we are still continuing with our skills labs for EMT, AEMT/P1 and P2. The labs will remain no larger than 6 people. However, we request that each of you be honest and try to avoid spreading exposure as much as possible. If you have a known or suspected exposure to COVID-19, are quarantined or have been diagnosed with the disease, or even have signs or symptoms of ANY sort of potentially transmittable respiratory infection (or other infection that could be easily transmitted to others during the casual contact required for skills labs), please cancel your RSVP for the lab. During this crisis, as long as you cancel by emailing the Program Director AND the assigned skills lab instructor at least 24 hours prior to the lab and tell us that you were exposed or are sick, you will not be penalized, and will be allowed to reschedule at a later date. However, if you have been diagnosed, you will need to produce evidence of negative screening showing you are clear before attending a lab (or rotations).
Also, please remember to follow whatever is suggested by state health authorities for your protection. This may mean bringing your own PPE to the lab if recommended or if it just makes you feel more comfortable. We cannot provide PPE for this purpose during your labs as the utmost priority for this equipment is for healthcare workers actively engaged in patient care for diagnosed or potential COVID-19 patients. But PPE will not 100% prevent transmission of the virus (or other respiratory diseases) if you are sick so CANCEL YOUR RSVP AND DO NOT ATTEND LABS OR ROTATIONS IF YOU ARE SICK OR HAVE A POSITIVE DIAGNOSIS, ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN QUARANTINE, OR HAVE A KNOWN UNPROTECTED EXPOSURE (FAMILY MEMBER, FRIEND, ETC). Thank you.
Jane Dinsmore, Program Director