Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Will. I am an online student going after a bachelors degree in communication at Arizona State University. In my English 102 Writing Class, they have asked me to talk about a problem in my local community and what I can do to fix it. As you all may know, right now we are dealing with the COVID 19 coronavirus pandemic which is not only happening in my local community but is happening throughout the world. Even though most countries are healing well from the crisis, I live in Massachusetts which is currently in a state of emergency. They have a few advisories and bans in place at the moment. This interview is going to be with someone who is affected on the essential and non essential sides of the virus. We want to get some insight to cooperate with my thesis statement on what we can do to stop the spread of the virus. I am a coronavirus survivor and have already been through quarantine this past month. Right now we want to talk to someone who has not been infected but works on the frontlines of containment and has also been affected by a non essential community movement. I have my dad here with me and he is a firefighter (essential) and also an officer of a church (non essential) in our local community. I will ask him a few questions on what is going on and get some insight on how to fix it.
Me: Right now we know there is a ban in effect until at least May 4th for all non essential businesses. You being a firefighter, that is the first question I want to ask. How long have you been a firefighter for?
My Dad: Over 34 years.
Me: You have alot of experience with fighting fires and treating victims during medical emergencies. Have you ever seen something like the crisis we are gonig through now?
My Dad: Not in my career.
Me: How is the mask feeling first of all?
My Dad: (adjusts mask on face) A little uncomfortable but necessary.
Me: In your experiences as a firefighter, how much more intense is it right now out there with procedures and everything you have to do on a call to call basis?
My Dad: We are still keeping up with emergencies, timing, response times, and such. We have updated some of the protocols. I may not be at liberty to mention certain things but we are more precautious and looking out as always for the health and safety of the people whose emergencies we respond to as well as looking out for ourselves. Somewhat the same in regards to responses, but looking out for more people, more guidelines, and different response procedures. Though we are still arriving on time, there are certain precautions we may or may not take depending on the circumstances. Again taking in mind the safety of our patients as well as ourselves. But as in general, we, like everyone in the state have been taught to assume that everyone may have the virus. Keeping that in mind, we are still doing our jobs, keeping social distancing at certain points, with certain individuals and in certain places.
Me: You havent had the virus correct?
My Dad: I have not.
Me: Me as your son, you know has had it. But is there anyone else that you know on or off the job that has had it?
My Dad: Yes I do. On and off (the job).
Me: How are most people dealing with it?
My Dad: To the best of my knowledge, some are quarantined, self quarantined. Some are forced to. Some have gone through with no symptoms at all. Some have had bad symptoms. I have heard good reports on alot of it. I am glad that they did. The ones that I know of. They are doing well.
Me: With Massachusetts being a hot spot for cases and with the location of them being a main site for testing, do firefighters have the ability to test as well?
My Dad: Not on the job, but we do have access to testing, most definitely. There are locations that give preference to first responders.
Me: As a first responder, has it been easier, more difficult or the same while going through this?
My Dad: We are keeping up with updated guidelines and taking more precautions. We still respond in a timely fashion. If anything, its been more safe and healthier for us.
Me: Right now let's shift over to the other side. The government has told us church is a non essential business. Most churches are closed. You, being an officer of the church go often on a weekly basis. Since you are very active, do you feel things are good, bad or indifferent with this pandemic? How has this affected your practices and how has it affected other people?
My Dad: People have definitely been affected. We are still however able to communicate online and through the phone. But there is nothing like being there. Some people have needs, spiritual and physical. For some it is hard to communicate with someone they may not know or if they don't have access to modern technology. It is definitely a great thing in order to keep people healthy. People can be very friendly at church. They greet you. Sing with you. Sit with you. Because of how close knit some are, it is be almost impossible to stand 6 feet back when you have to open the door for someone that you are greeting. And we cant just leave it open so it is good for this precaution. But in regards to fulfilling the needs for members and non members that we usually do, it is not a great thing. I pray that something will happen soon to fix this in regards to access.
Me: In thinking about if we need to do more or less with how people are reacting to this crisis, how has your experience been with treating patients at calls?
My Dad: So far. So good.
Me: As far as church, are there a lot of people using online technology and are their services still being conducted?
My Dad: There are still services being done. Online. They are minimal due to the fact we are limited to how many people can congregate at a time. With modern technology, people are on the phone, online, group chats and such. Its definitely different and in this day and age, it is a blessing to have that kind of access. It is still nothing like being there. It is the same as if we were going to a sporting event, Its nothing like being there.
Me: As we wrap this up and you see everything happening in the community, how has this affected you and your family personally? Are their any changes?
My Dad: Financially, the finances have gotten a little better. Unfortunately it is due to the overtime and the voluntary helping (covering for members affected). It is tiresome but we do what we have to do sometime. In regards to my household, it is probably the same. There are 3 in the house right now. One can work from home. The other 2 have essential jobs they must go to. For my family in general, it would be great to see everyone together. I have an elderly aunt who is in a facility that I am unable to see in person as of a couple of weeks ago.
Me: What precautions have you personally taken for your family and your household?
My Dad: Washing my hands more often. Wearing a mask, if nothing else. at least. Depending on where I am at.
Me: Last thoughts. With the ban in place until May 4th, Do you think we should be doing more or less? Do you think we should do anything differently? Do you have any ideas on how we can stop the spread of the coronavirus?
My Dad: There are some positive things that the government has put out. No matter what you tell people, some are going to do what they want anyway. I would say, stick with the social distancing. The testing is going along. Stick with what they are doing now. Of course, being a praying man, I am praying for the leadership and the medical professionals, including the ones behind the scenes who are doing lab testing and such. Wash your hands often and if you cant, then sanitize them.
CONCLUSION
Thank you for the opportunity to talk about some of the personal effects of this pandemic from your point of view on the essential and non essential side of the ban. This will be very helpful to the project I am doing on preventing the spread of the virus. We hope that things will get better. We hope the ban is over shortly. We hope people can get back to their normal lives soon. Have a great day!
