WA COVID-19 Spotlight

We have COVID-19 Tests:

Getting the word out about free testing services in Douglas County Fire District 5

Chief Tyler Caille of Douglas County Fire District 5 wants to get the word out: We have COVID-19 tests!

In Douglas County Fire District 5 (DCFD5), located in Mansfield, a rural farming community about 3 hours away from Seattle, Chief Caille and his volunteers provide critical Fire and EMS support to the sprawling farming community. Since they began implementing the WA COVID-19 testing program in May 2023, the community support they provide expanded to included COVID-19 test kits. As the public’s focus on the pandemic changes – despite COVID-19 continuing to spread – Chief Caille wants people to know that those COVID-19 tests are still available and still needed. Right now, his biggest challenge is getting the word out:

“As far as challenges go at this point, it’s really just getting the word out. We’re still working on creative ways to get that message delivered more efficiently, but that’s our main focus right now.”

Of course, that wasn’t always the biggest COVID-19 related challenge for Chief Caille. When the pandemic started, the community – including the volunteer EMS and firefighters – were scared. Chief Caille and his team struggled to find enough PPE to keep both ambulances in service. The situation was dynamic and constantly changing as new information came out, but under Chief Caille’s leadership and direction, FD5 was able to adapt and establish protocols to operate as safely as possible.

Another challenge for DCFD5 is the sheer size and scope of the service area. DCFD5 responds to calls across 540 square miles and has to transport patients anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to the nearest hospital or trauma center depending on their emergency. Sometimes, people call the ambulance because they lack transportation to get themselves to the doctor, but don’t necessarily need emergency medical care. Chief Caille elaborates:

“Sometimes people don’t need to be transported to the hospital. That was one thing that came out during COVID – we started screening more people at home. Do they truly need to go to the ER? Or is it a case of isolating, staying home, monitoring your symptoms and calling us back if you need help?

The testing materials we’re able to access through WA COVID-19 allow us to not only make those responses, but now we can leave something behind. We can test people on site, we can consult with the medical directors and ER doctors at the hospital and decide together – does this patient really need to be transported? Or can they stay home?”

Having COVID-19 tests available adds another layer of support that the EMTs can provide both directly to the community and on calls. When you can leave test kits with patients, you empower them to monitor their health and the health of their family without having to worry about how to get to the doctor or how to pay for a test kit.

“We’ve literally placed the test kits on our ambulances. It’s part of our patient response. Even if we respond to a call for a patient that doesn’t have COVID, we say: Hey, we have these test kits. You mind if we leave them with you?

Because you don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring. You don’t know what next week is going to bring. And it’s another way that we can help get those materials out to the community.”

When Chief Caille learned about the WA COVID-19 program, despite his team’s heavy work load and limited time, he saw it as an opportunity. “The way I looked at it was: How else can we help our families? Our communities? Even the visitors that just travel through here? What can we offer them?” He knows from experience that some supplemental programs add more work and stress on a volunteer fire department – and that’s the last thing he wants for his team. He’s looking to enhance what his volunteers can do on scene, without adding additional tasks to their workload.

With support from Health Commons Project, Chief Caille has been able to implement the WA COVID-19 testing program simply and efficiently. He encourages other fire departments to keep an open mind about this and similar programs, because “it’s opportunities like this that give volunteer fire departments with limited funding the chance to do some pretty amazing projects that are going to be in place for a long time.”

Now, Chief Caille is focused on letting the community know what’s available to them. With 28 years of experience in EMS, Fire Department Chief since 2004, and a member of the local police force as well – Chief Caille is used to wearing many hats and working on all sides of COVID-19 and emergency response. So leading the communications strategy for COVID-19 testing is just another of the many roles he plays. He uses social media regularly to get the word out, posts flyers in the few local businesses in town, and spreads information by word of mouth: If you see someone at the fire station, stop in and get some tests!

Chief Caille is also actively pursuing new and innovative ways to spread the word, including digital signage located along the main road in Mansfield. 

“We’re all just here to help our community. And this is just an extra level that we can do. It’s one extra step we can take to provide a valuable service to them.”