Ebola Awareness for Village of Schaumburg Residents

The Village of Schaumburg would like to notify residents that there is no immediate known threat of exposure to the Ebola virus to citizens and healthcare workers in the Schaumburg area. However, the Schaumburg Fire Department is being proactive to ensure the safety of residents, first responders and healthcare workers.

The Schaumburg Fire Department has developed protocols regarding the Ebola virus based on the information received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization.

At this time, the Northwest Central Dispatching Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is screening 911 callers based on their symptoms, travel history and other risk factors. Responding emergency personnel are briefed of the findings in a confidential manner and will take measures to protect themselves and the patient by wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, eye protection and masks. The receiving healthcare facility will be informed of concerns so that proper infection control precautions can be taken. Residents should not become alarmed if they see paramedics wearing PPE as this is for the protection of the department personnel as well as the residents of Schaumburg.

The fire department encourages residents to visit any of the following websites for additional information and resources:

• www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/

• www.who.int/en/

• www.idph.state.il.us/

The Illinois Department of Public Health has also activated a 24 hours a day, seven days a week hotline at (800) 889-3931 to answer questions about Ebola. People can call at any time with questions such as how Ebola is spread, who is at risk of being infected, when someone should go to a doctor, what hospitals and local health departments are doing to identify and control possible Ebola infections and other frequently asked questions.