By James Amos
The Pueblo Chieftain
PUEBLO, Colo. — Pueblo West firefighters have been vaccinated for the H1N1 swine flu, and the Pueblo West Metropolitan District has urged its workers to stay home if they become sick.
Pueblo West Fire Chief Brian Caserta said his firefighters were vaccinated Monday night and have been taking special precautions against spreading the flu.
Firefighters usually wear gloves when handling sick patients, he said. But lately they have been wearing a lot more: A full protective gown and a face mask.
“Yeah, we look a little funny walking into a house with a big gown and mask on,” Caserta said. “But I’d rather look a little funny than take the risk of the flu spreading more than it has.” Firefighters also have been putting face masks on patients who are sick or coughing, Caserta said.
He wants to prevent his 18 full-time and 32 volunteer firefighters from getting sick, bringing the disease home to their families or passing it onto other patients, Caserta said.
If firefighters start getting sick, Caserta said he’ll fill in the gaps with firefighters from other shifts.
The metro district made getting the firefighters vaccinated a priority with the limited vaccine available, according to District Manager Larry Howe-Kerr. When more vaccine is available, Howe-Kerr said he’d consider getting other essential staff workers such as water or wastewater workers vaccinated.
The district is still considering what staff would be essential, he said. All workers have been asked right now to stay home if they are ill so they don’t spread it to co-workers.
He’s also been urging workers to wash their hands and take other precautions.
Copyright 2009 The Pueblo Chieftain