Gordon Graham
Category: Fire Service
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for my friends in fire and EMS. Today, I’m talking about the importance of infectious disease control.
Ever heard of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”? It’s a fascinating short story that, believe it or not, has some critical takeaways for those of us in the emergency services.
In Poe’s story, a deadly plague is spreading fast. Prince Prospero locks himself and a thousand other nobles in an opulent abbey. They seal the doors and have a grand time, thinking they’re safe from the grasp of the disease. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t end well. The Red Death sneaks in, disguised as a guest at a masquerade ball. By the end of the night, everyone is dead.
“Managing risks is part of the job, but it’s how we manage them that makes all the difference.”
Now let’s bring this back to the fire service and EMS. What can we learn from Prince Prospero? A lot about what NOT to do. Isolation is a powerful tool when dealing with infectious diseases. But we can’t use it as an escape tactic. Instead, it needs to be part of a comprehensive disease control plan.
We enforce the use of personal protective equipment. We follow rigorous sanitation protocols. And yes, sometimes we use quarantine, but all while actively engaging with the threat, not hiding from it.
The key takeaway here? You cannot simply lock away the dangers of infectious diseases. It’s about preparation and protection, not avoidance. Implementing strict protocols, using the right equipment, and maintaining high standards of hygiene — these are the weapons against the spread of diseases in public safety. We should be proactive, not reactive. We need to face the danger head-on with the best tools and knowledge at our disposal.
Remember, managing risks is part of the job, but it’s how we manage them that makes all the difference. Stay informed, stay prepared, and, as always, stay safe.
And that’s today’s tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham signing off.
