Keeping Fire and Police personnel healthy and on the job is critical as Oak Park withstands the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Both Fire and Police have strict protocols in place for interacting with the public in emergency situations. The departments also have plans in place should their ranks be affected and support from traditional local and regional backup networks be limited given the geographically broad reach of the health crisis.
The Fire Department is staffing three ambulances daily and its members are taking extra personal protection on all calls. Additional response personnel on emergency medical service calls will wait outside buildings and are called inside only if necessary.
Both the fire and police departments are also in continuous contact with the Oak Park Public Health Department during this changing situation to ensure all the necessary steps are being taken to keep first responders and residents safe.