Help Protect NJ’s First Responders If You Call 9-1-1 Or Request Services Let Them Know If You Have Flu Like Symptoms Or Have Traveled

March 16, 2020

The International Association Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Professional Firefighters of NJ (PFANJ), New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (NJFMBA), and your local IAFF and FMBA locals ask that if you have had any flue like symptoms, have traveled to any area that you were advised to be under quarantine or under a watch to let the 9-1-1 dispatcher know so firefighters, EMS and police and take protective measures prior to providing services.

There are only so many first responders to go arround and if they get sick it will stress the system as they will be in quarantine and unable to help you for at least 14 days. Lets not have a situation again that happened in Barnegat, New Jersey with COVID-19 contamination. Do the right thing, please let the police, firefighters and EMS know over the phone.

From Barnegat, NJ Police Department,

Earlier today, one of our officers responded to a call for service that required a police response and interacted with a subject who had just flown in from Denmark and was directed by the CDC to be on a 14 day self-quarantine. The person failed to advise our officer that they had just returned from Denmark and were supposed to be quarantined.

Because Denmark has over 800 active cases of COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution, the officer was immediately placed off-duty and will not return to duty for 14 days. The officer’s patrol car and common areas he occupied within the police department are being professionally sanitized.

It is critically important that members of the public act responsibly in adhering to self-quarantines and being forthcoming with public safety professionals if they have been outside of the country in the last 14 days or directed to self-quarantine. Failing to do so is dangerous to our officers, healthcare workers, and the public at large.
–Chief Germain