We are pleased to introduce a new option for COVID-19 testing. Pro Safety & Rescue, Inc. has been providing COVID services to private companies since the beginning of the pandemic, and has just expanded its services by offering COVID-19 testing to the public. Our designated website for public COVID testing, procovidtesting.com offers a hassle-free way to schedule your appointment.

Pro Safety & Rescue, Inc. is a CLIA Approved Laboratory that has the facilities and technology to administer and process results for both Antigen and RT-PCR molecular tests.

You read that correctly, Pro Safety & Rescue can process in-house RT-PCR molecular tests and provide results the same day. And with our easy drive-up testing, you can get tested without even leaving the comfort of your vehicle.

RT-PCR molecular testing is the gold standard of COVID-19 testing and is capable of providing the most accurate results by identifying the COVID-19 RNA present in the host at a much earlier stage of the viral infection. Molecular tests are highly recommended by the FDA and are often required in order to comply with travel restrictions. Nearly all RT-PCR tests are sent away to a third party lab in order for the results to be processed, and it can take days to get results back. Pro Safety & Rescue can offer same-day results for the most accurate test available with our in-house RT-PCR testing machine. You will need to call for an appointment as well as for pricing, as these rapid RT-PCR tests are in limited supply.

We also offer other forms of COVID-19 testing including standard RT-PCR molecular tests and rapid antigen tests. With several antigen testing machines in-house, our technicians can administer multiple antigen tests at a time, providing quick results for several patients at a time.

Antigen tests, though not as accurate as molecular tests, can provide a fast and less-expensive way to test large numbers of people, especially on a regular basis. The FDA has determined that repeated antigen testing is a suitable strategy for maintaining a healthy worksite. And Pro Safety & Rescue can provide on-site antigen testing to your worksite or business as part of our Concierge COVID Services.

Our Concierge COVID Services are available across California, and we can provide COVID-19 testing and pre-entry screening to your worksite, office, movie set, or event with professional technicians and set medics. And you can count on the professionalism and discretion of our Concierge service technicians to bring reliable COVID-19 testing right to your home for your convenience.

Don’t be fooled by companies offering COVID-19 antibody testing.

These companies are offering finger-prick ANTIBODY tests and promoting them as COVID-19 tests. These antibody tests are only designed to find evidence of past exposure to the COVID-19 virus and are not reliable in determining if you are currently infected. According to a study by UK firm BMJ, one in five of these antibody tests produce inaccurate results for past infection. And an investigation by the National Covid Testing Scientific Advisory Panel found that when these tests are used to determine current COVID-19 infection, they can have an accuracy rate as low as 55%. People could be receiving negative results from these antibody tests and walking out with a false sense of security, thinking that they are not infected when they very well might be.

You want to be sure that you are receiving the best options available, and you can count on Pro Safety & Rescue to provide real COVID-19 solutions for you, your family, or your business. And we are uniquely qualified to offer you these options at your greatest convenience. We are your solution for fast, reliable, professional COVID-19 testing in California. And it is our goal and our passion to serve our customers and our community by providing professional safety and testing services you can count on. Visit our new website procovidtesting.com to schedule an appointment today. Or contact us to see how we can bring our professional Concierge COVID Services to you.

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2021 has arrived, and we are still in the middle of a medical crisis that is taking its toll on our tired and weary unsung heroes donned in gowns and masks, located in hospitals and clinics across the country. People are continuing to get sick and more and more are needing medical attention. And this is beginning to become an overwhelming need, requiring new systems and new procedures if we are going to be successful in keeping this dilemma abated.

Keeping this in mind, Kern Public Health has launched a new program that expands its ability to maintain proper emergency response for those in need of care. And Pro Safety & Rescue, Inc. is honored to be a partner in this new paradigm of Emergency Medical Services in Kern County.

Facing the Critical Issue at hand

Because of an increase in COVID-19 cases, Kern County currently finds itself in the midst of a surge capacity for medical care. According to Kern Public Health, there are four factors in defining when a surge capacity is determined. These four factors are: volume of 9-1-1 calls, availability of ambulances, patient offload times at hospitals, and percentage of staff impacted by COVID-19. And kern Public Health has stated that the last factor, percentage of staff impacted by COVID-19, is the only factor to have yet been triggered. However, the increased volume of 9-1-1 calls, combined with the longer patient offload times at hospitals due to a reduction of available beds, has caused a shortage of ambulances that are able to respond to emergency medical requests.

Because of this shortage during a time of surge capacity, and without the assistance of any intervening agency, the Kern County Emergency Response System would not be able to respond to low acuity 9-1-1 calls when sufficient resources were not available. And if an ambulance could not be dispatched, the caller would be informed of the situation and provided other options for obtaining care. Because of this potential shortage of care, Kern County EMS determined that there was a need to integrate an additional emergency response agency into the system for lower acuity calls when ambulances are not available. And this is where Pro Safety & Rescue has the ability, and the honor, of stepping in to serve our community in a greater capacity.

EMTs from Pro Safety were already helping to relieve staffing pressures at local hospitals by supplementing additional shifts needed at those facilities. And according to Kern Public Heath Public Relations Officer Michelle Corson, when Kern County EMS decided to take this historical step in integrating an additional emergency response agency into their 9-1-1 system, Pro Safety & Rescue, Inc. was their first call.

A New Paradigm in Emergency Medical Services

“We are excited that we’ve got the opportunity to partner with an agency like [Pro Safety] during these unprecedented times,” said Corson, “and we were just excited for the partnership and were hopeful that it really expands our system and allows us to do the work and to respond the way our community needs us to.”

As of December 31st, 2020, Pro Safety & Rescue, Inc. has been activated as an additional emergency response agency into the Kern County 9-1-1 system for lower acuity calls when ambulances are not available. According to Pro Safety & Rescue, Inc. EMS Program Director Arnold Thomas, the EMTs and EMS vehicles at Pro Safety were already contracted with Kern County EMS as non-transport BLS (Basic Life Support) and could immediately provide additional assistance to our county’s overwhelmed 9-1-1 system as first responders.

When a person calls 9-1-1 during this level of surge capacity, the emergency operator will check the current availability of ambulances. If there are less than two ambulances available in the system, and the patient is determined by the operator to be non-acute, then an EMT strike team from Pro Safety would be dispatched to the location to determine the best course of action for the patient.

“Upon arrival, we do a full assessment, and do whatever we can to help that person with what they need.” Said Arnold Thomas of Pro Safety, “And if we determine that this person is definitely having a critical emergency and they need to go to the hospital and need an ambulance, then we will call an ambulance out.”

Community First

So far, according to both Kern Public Health and Pro Safety & Rescue, Inc., most people receiving emergency assistance seem to understand and appreciate this new partnership, knowing that a certified professional medical worker is still available to attend to their emergency need. Without this new partnership, and during this level of surge capacity, the possibility existed that their situation may not merit the dispatch of a medical team. But for now those fears can be alleviated, and our community can rest assured that first responders are on the way.

“The goal here is to make sure that everyone who calls 9-1-1 that’s having a life-saving emergency gets the treatment that they need.” Concluded Thomas, “And for every call that we respond to and determine that there are options available for alternative care, that just keeps more ambulances on the street.”

It is our honor and our privilege at Pro Safety & Rescue, Inc. to accept this historic new partnership with Kern Public Health and Kern County EMS, in keeping our community safe. No change of this kind has ever been made in the emergency response system in our county before. But it is during times of crisis like these, that we all rise up together as a community to meet these challenges head on. This new partnership is an example of how Pro Safety & Rescue, Inc. lives out our passion of serving our customers and our community by providing professional rescue and safety services. We are honored to be entrusted with your emergency medical needs and our first responders promise to provide the care and support you deserve.

Kern Public Health press release concerning new EMS surge plan
https://kernpublichealth.com/2019-novel-coronavirus-ems-system-surge-plan/

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Have a Site Safety Plan

First things first, you need to examine your venue to see if there are any potential hazards. Are there cords that present a tripping hazard strewn about? Is there anything blocking the emergency exits? Is all of the equipment in good repair? Having a safety professional do an inspection of your venue before the event is a great way to bolster event safety. In addition to this, it is important to have a recognized chain of command and safety protocol for staff in case of emergencies. This can save a great deal of time if an emergency occurs. You should also consider things such as where security is going to be stationed, where the medical area will be, and how long will it take for an ambulance or the fire department to arrive, should their assistance be required. These are all things to consider before the event ever takes place.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Being prepared for any and every emergency can be a challenging task because the possibilities of bad things that could happen at a large event are almost endless. Although it is a big job, It is extremely important to spend some time on this and to consider and plan for any foreseeable threats. Terrorist attacks such as active shooters and bombings are, unfortunately, a thing that every large event should take into consideration. In addition to these more sinister human threats, there are things like natural disasters as well as injuries and life-threatening situations to take into account. It’s important to have a plan in place in case a serious medical emergency arises. While we cannot plan for everything, we can still do our best to be ready for anything.

Attendee Screening

Another important part of event safety is attendee screening. Screening guests before they ever enter the venue is a proactive and extremely effective security measure. This becomes even more vital if the event is free, since many free events allow anyone and everyone to walk in off the street without any sort of pre-screening process. An integral part of attendee screening is having bag checks and metal detectors. Checking bags is a way to prevent unwanted objects and substances such as non-metallic weapons, alcohol, and drugs. Metal detectors, whether they are walk-through or hand-held, are a staple in event safety because they give security the ability to catch concealed metallic weapons such as handguns and knives that could pose serious risk to event attendees.

Trained Security

Having well-trained security staff is essential for event safety. Security personnel should be equipped with radios and provided with a site map so that they are aware of the locations of all restrooms, exits, and concession stands, as well as where medical services are located. In addition to this, if there are multiple activities taking place on the premises, they should have a schedule of when and where each activity is taking place. Keeping an open line of communication with security is important. Security personnel should be in contact with, and answer to, a member of your team who you have designated to be the security manager. This clear understanding of who is in charge will eliminate confusion and help things to run much more smoothly.

Emergency Medical Personnel

No matter how well you plan an event, medical emergencies can always occur. Whether it is a person suffering from heat exhaustion at an outdoor event on a hot day, a person falling and breaking their leg, or an attendee going into cardiac arrest, having on-site emergency medical services is crucial. A team of certified emergency medical technicians can provide immediate medical care as well as basic life support before the ambulance or fire department arrive. Having EMS on-site to administer immediate CPR or AED can mean the difference between life and death in certain cases, where seconds count. Keep in mind that different regions may have slightly different protocols regarding on-site EMS for large events. Be sure to comply with regulations for your city, county, and state for on-site EMS.

Approachable On-Site EMS

Another aspect to having an effective medical team is ensuring that the team is friendly and approachable. It’s important to remember that uniformed personnel can be intimidating. Attendees should feel comfortable approaching first responders with their concerns and emergencies.

Need Help With Your Event Safety?

Event safety is an involved process and can feel a bit daunting at times. With so many potential things that could go wrong, it is important to enlist the help of professionals. We are here to guide and assist you through the process. Safety is our specialty. Pro Safety & Rescue inc. offers a variety of safety solutions including On-Site Emergency Medical Services, safety program development, safety inspections to assess your venue or existing safety plan, and much more. Contact us now to see how we can best serve you to ensure that your next large event has the utmost in safety and On-site EMS.

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