Tag Archives: COVID-19

Burning Question: Limiting Off-Duty Work Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic

Today’s Burning Question: Amid the pandemic we are facing my department has instituted new orders to prepare for the near future. Many of our firefighters serve at surrounding fire departments as part-time members. Can the department place restrictions on their off-duty work? Answer: In ordinary times, a fire department that seeks to limit the outside employment of off-duty members faces a number of hurtles.

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Burning Question: COVID 19 and HIPAA Hysteria

Today’s Burning Question: Does HIPAA allow first responders to be notified of critical information such as the addresses of positive covid-19 patients? Answer: HIPAA Hysteria… I do not know why HIPAA gets blamed for being a boogey-man, but HIPAA does not prohibit fire and EMS personnel from conveying necessary information to each other.

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