Janesville first responders taking extra steps to protect nursing homes

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Janesville senior living facilities are being careful about who they let into their buildings, even paramedics.

Janesville Fire Chief Ernie Rhodes said area nursing homes expressed concerns about first responders coming in and potentially exposing patients to COVID-19.

He sent a letter to all of the Janesville senior homes on March 20 outlining how his fire department would handle medical calls during the public health emergency.

If a patient is in critical condition and needs immediate care, EMTs will go inside as normal. If a sick patient is stable, the nursing home staff will bring the patient outside, where paramedics will provide treatment on scene.

Rhodes said first responders are more likely to be exposed to coronavirus, and they don’t want to unknowingly spread the disease to any high-risk patients in potentially vulnerable facilities.

The letter was sent to every nursing home more than a week before residents and employees at Oak Park Place tested positive for COVID-19.

As of Friday, the south-side senior living facility has had 14 positive cases, with one death.