While there are no confirmed Ebola patients yet in Florida, emergency management officials in Seminole County said they are taking the situation seriously.
“In emergency management we prepare for the worst and hope for the best, so we are going to prepare just like Ebola is coming,” said Alan Harris, Emergency Management Director for Seminole County.
The county is ordering more personal protection equipment, which would be the only line of defense for healthcare workers and first responders if they had to treat Ebola patients in Central Florida.
“I would not call it stockpiling, but I would certainly say it’s making sure our inventories are adequate in the event something happens,” said Harris.
County officials said first responders throughout the county - including firefighters and law enforcement officers – are now practicing the use of the personal protection equipment.
“We want to make sure our healthcare workers, EMS crews, law enforcement folks are protected with the appropriate personal protective equipment," Harris said, "And trained on how to don it, put it together, and then how to take it off. That’s very, very critical.”
County officials say so far manufacturers are keeping up with increasing demand for the protective gear. The county is paying for the additional equipment through already-budgeted county funds, and emphasizes it will be able to use the suits for other emergencies if they’re not needed for Ebola.