As the number of positive COVID-19 cases continues to grow in the Hudson Valley, a new directive for EMS workers is put in place to help prevent the spread of the disease.

 Orange County paramedics are on the frontlines for the coronavirus outbreak and with positive cases rising to more than 6,000 the Hudson Valley Regional EMS Council has adopted the state’s “Cardiac Arrest Standard of Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

“Essentially it's just guidance for first responders to follow,” said Kurt Hahn, the deputy EMS coordinator for Orange County Department of Emergency Services To make any efforts on scene for about 20 minutes, and then to make a decision as far as if transportation to hospital, be prudent, or if termination of resuscitation would be the ultimate decision on scene.”

Under the state protocol, if EMTs are unable to restart the heart or revive an adult cardiac patient using CPR, defibrillators, medication and other techniques at the scene then they are not to transport them to the hospital.

“It's a risk based decision,” said Hahn. “So, during a cardiac arrest, there's potential especially during the pandemic there's potential for aerosolization of droplets can be spewing out of the mouth and nose from the patient while compressions are being performed on their chests for CPR.”

The protocol is intended to protect EMS workers and to limit the number of people that could potentially be exposed by a possibly infected person. The paramedic or EMT performing CPR is also required to wear personal protective equipment.

“Every day you know EMS workers make life and death decisions, and it's in consultation with the hospital physicians emergency room physicians that will make this decision out in the field," said Hahn, "They're gonna make every effort that's reasonable based on you know what the case is all the decisions are based, you know, based on sound clinical judgment.”

While the protocol was recently implemented in Orange County the state made the revision to these treatment procedures in August 2019.

Officials say one way a person who dials 911 for a loved one or someone in distress can protect themselves from the virus is by taking a shirt or towel and covering the patient's mouth and nose while you initiate compression only CPR.