Vicksburg and Warren County E-911 leaders provide guidelines for COVID-19

Emergency call volume in the Vicksburg area remains normal despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, according to Vicksburg Warren E-911 Director Shane Garrard.

“We are following protocols issued by the Academy of Emergency Dispatch,” he said. “These are universal protocols developed in the wake of this pandemic. We have to ask more questions so we can relay information to the first responders.”

Craig Danczyk is chairman of the Warren County 911 Commission which oversees the dispatch operation in addition to being Vicksburg’s fire chief.

“Vicksburg Fire Department provides ambulance and rescue services to all of Warren County and fire protection within the city limits,” he said.

Garrard and Danczyk both advise that during this crisis, please take additional steps to protect yourself:

• Limit unnecessary travel and encounters with other people. Stay at home if possible. Use social distancing at 6 feet whenever possible.
• Wash your hands and face frequently. Use hand sanitizer if soap and hot water are not available.
• Clean and sanitize your home and work environment. Frequently clean surfaces that you handle regularly, such as computer keyboards and cell phones.
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your doctor for instructions. Do not go to a clinic without an appointment and do not call an ambulance. Ambulance crews cannot test for COVID-19.
• Please answer all questions from 911 dispatch to help first responders provide the appropriate response to your emergency.

For accurate information about COVID-19, visit the Mississippi Department of Health website and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Please do not post or share false information on social media. If you’re not absolutely sure it’s true, verify before sharing.