Paris EMS Paramedic Crew Chief Chris Shoemate on Sunday deployed to EMTF-4 region as part of the states’ Medical Incident Support Team (MIST). Shoemate’s deployment is for one week where he will aid in a liaison role to render support for COVID-19 testing at multiple sites across his delegated region.
“My job as a MIST paramedic is to be the liaison between the military, local officials, and report to the State Operations Center,” he explained. “I am with another MIST team member, and we are overseeing this site.”
Shoemate is currently working in Shelby County, which is one of 27 counties in the far northeast part of the State that is delegated to him for his coverage area.
Paris EMS has several paramedics who are trained as Ambulance Strike Team Leaders, Ambulance Staging Managers, and Medical Incident Support Team and are available for deployment across the State with EMTF when needed. However, Shoemate is the only one deployed from Paris at this time.
“The military guys are doing a great job of administering the test. We are doing a lot of pre-planning for future sites at the moment. One of the most important jobs we have is communicating with the local Emergency Management Coordinators in their respective areas,” he further said of his current role.
Personnel that are part of the MIST strike teams ensure that everything, including testing, is done in the way the state requires it to be executed.
“We also deal with a lot of site obstacles, such as needing supplies, coolers, ice, etc.,” Shoemate said.
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