By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
The Greater Baldwinsville Ambulance Corps recently acquired a new tool in its fight against coronavirus: the ClorDiSys Lantern UV Disinfection System.
The light contains ultraviolet C (UVC) bulbs that kill mold spores, bacteria and viruses in the air and on surfaces in mere minutes. The light can hang in the back of an ambulance or be used upright in an exam room or office.
“It’s about the size of a lantern that you’d take camping,” said Chris Cullen, GBAC operations supervisor. “It’s similar to a tanning bed, which uses UVB light. It’s much more dangerous.”
The lantern has a timer so personnel can clear the area before the powerful light turns on. According to the ClorDiSys website, the lantern can reduce 99% of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria or influenza virus in 1 minute. UVC disinfection can reduce 99% of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) bacteria in 6 minutes.
“In addition, testing at Ohio State University has demonstrated that UVC kills bed bug eggs, nymphs, and reduces their host-seeking ability,” reads the ClorDiSys website.
Cullen said GBAC learned of the ClorDiSys UVC light through the local emergency medical services community. He contacted Fayetteville Fire & EMS for more information, and GBAC purchased the ClorDiSys light for about $4,000.
“Most of our revenue comes from medical billing. GBAC does not currently receive any municipal funding,” said GBAC President Mark Procopio.
GBAC has five ambulances and two fly cars that are disinfected after each call and deep-cleaned on a regular basis, Procopio said. The UVC light offers another method of cleaning on top of the hospital-grade disinfectant GBAC uses.
“The crews still have to do their hands-on cleaning with CaviCide and chemicals like that,” Cullen said.
GBAC personnel can hang their N95 face masks in an ambulance for the light to disinfect as well, prolonging the useful life of the masks.
“The community’s been very, very generous. We’ve received many donations of the masks [and] food for the crews from local restaurants,” Procopio said.
Procopio said GBAC has a decent supply of masks for now and is ordering more, but he added, “The community support is always appreciated for sure.”
To donate to the Greater Baldwinsville Ambulance Corps or for more information, visit gbacems.org.
COVID-19 in Baldwinsville
At press time, the Baldwinsville area had 23 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (19 in Lysander and 4 in Van Buren). Procopio and Cullen said GBAC has treated or transported patients with symptoms of the virus.
“We have had a few confirmed cases,” Cullen said.
“They’re in our community and it is real to us,” Procopio said.
Overall, GBAC is receiving fewer calls during the pandemic.
“Our general call volume has been pretty low, a lot slower than normal,” Cullen said.
While fewer calls are coming in, Cullen said some people might be reluctant to call an ambulance until their symptoms reach the point where they cannot ignore them.
“We have seen an increase in the number of people who are truly sick or critically sick,” he said. “It gets to a point where they’re much sicker by the time we get to them.”
Procopio and Cullen urge people to practice social distancing, wear masks when they must go out in public and follow guidance from Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and other government officials.
“It’s not just to protect yourself — it’s to protect other people,” Cullen said.
“People can help us by staying home,” Procopio said. “We’re doing the best that we can. We don’t know how long this is going to go.”
