ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Cumberland Trail Fire District has implemented practices to reduce its members exposure to COVID-19 and to continue to serve community.

Fire Chief Tim Hall said many of these changes were implemented prior to the stay home order from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

“The district is constantly evaluating internal and external protocol to ensure that emergency services continue unimpeded in this time of need,” Hall said.

He reported the fire district has developed protocols for treatment and care of suspected COVID-19 patients. At the station, the district has altered the physical layout of sleeping quarters and common areas to maintain social distancing.

Also, all public relation and education events have been canceled and the firehouse is closed to the general public unless deemed an emergency.

When on medical responses, personnel will wear N95 masks, eye protection, gloves and potentially gowns.

The fire district is no longer accepting cooked meal donations.

“We appreciate our residents’ donation of food, but we can only accept packaged and uncooked food at this time,” Hall said.

Beginning Saturday, the district will temporarily close the firehouse on Stewart Drive to keep it clean in the event it is necessary to close the main firehouse on South Marietta to be professionally cleaned.

They have also increased personal protective equipment and supplies with the help of residents, private business Belmont County Health Department and Belmont County EMA.

The fire district has also altered full-time staffing schedules from 24 hours on and 48 hours off to 24 hours on and 72 hours off to limit their exposure.

“This is being done to better protect our employees, their families and our residents. We’ve also implemented staggered start times to limit personnel exposure when coming on and off duty,” Hall said.

They are also working with Belmont County 911 to enable screening of patients by dispatchers

“If you are having flu-like symptoms and need our services, we are only sending one person into your residence to evaluate you to limit exposure. Upon completion of evaluation and if transportation is warranted by ambulance, you will then see the rest of our crew to safely transport you to the hospital,” Hall said.

The fire district would like to remind residents that it is important to be prepared and not panicked and to continue to take measures to help reduce the spread of this virus. These measures include washing hands often for at least 20 seconds, covering a cough or sneeze, frequently sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often, staying home if sick and practicing social distancing, which means remaining at least 6 feet from others when in public.

“Social distancing is a key practice everyone should adhere to in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus,” Hall said. “We strongly encourage our residents to stay home if you can.”