New Bedford EMS

Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, New Bedford EMS has only had one part-time EMT which has tested positive for the virus. PHOTOS PETER PEREIRA
New Bedford EMT, Jason Kirby, wheels an overdose patient into the ambulance before bringing him to the hospital. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
1 _M1A1749 New Bedford EMT, Jason Kirby, wheels an overdose patient into the ambulance before bringing him to the hospital. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford EMT, Jason Kirby, wheels an overdose patient into the ambulance before bringing him to the hospital. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
2 _M1A1749 New Bedford EMT, Jason Kirby, wheels an overdose patient into the ambulance before bringing him to the hospital. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford firefighters wearing hazmat suits disinfect New Bedford EMS headquarters on Hillman Street in New Bedford. This is a weekly activity which has helped contain COVID-19 from spreading within the department. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
3 _M1A1506 New Bedford firefighters wearing hazmat suits disinfect New Bedford EMS headquarters on Hillman Street in New Bedford. This is a weekly activity which has helped contain COVID-19 from spreading within the department. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford EMT's Jacob Hughes and Rick Kalisz use a special chair to lower a patient who had collapsed due to low blood pressure, down the stairs to the waiting ambulance. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
4 _M1A1802 New Bedford EMT's Jacob Hughes and Rick Kalisz use a special chair to lower a patient who had collapsed due to low blood pressure, down the stairs to the waiting ambulance. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
New Bedford emt Ivan Britto, helps a man who was complaining about having difficulty breathing, toward the ambulance in the north end of New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
5 _M1A1588 New Bedford emt Ivan Britto, helps a man who was complaining about having difficulty breathing, toward the ambulance in the north end of New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 Paramedic David Branco and Jason Stone resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
6 _M1A1700 Paramedic David Branco and Jason Stone resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford firefighters wearing hazmat suits disinfect New Bedford EMS headquarters on Hillman Street in New Bedford. This is a weekly activity which has helped contain COVID-19 from spreading within the department. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
7 _M1A1493 New Bedford firefighters wearing hazmat suits disinfect New Bedford EMS headquarters on Hillman Street in New Bedford. This is a weekly activity which has helped contain COVID-19 from spreading within the department. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford firefighters wearing hazmat suits disinfect New Bedford EMS headquarters on Hillman Street in New Bedford. This is a weekly activity which has helped contain COVID-19 from spreading within the department. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
8 _M1A1498 New Bedford firefighters wearing hazmat suits disinfect New Bedford EMS headquarters on Hillman Street in New Bedford. This is a weekly activity which has helped contain COVID-19 from spreading within the department. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
New Bedford EMT's Jacob Hughes and Rick Kalisz use a special chair to lower a patient who had collapsed due to low blood pressure, down the stairs to the waiting ambulance. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
9 _M1A1815 New Bedford EMT's Jacob Hughes and Rick Kalisz use a special chair to lower a patient who had collapsed due to low blood pressure, down the stairs to the waiting ambulance. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford EMS paramedic supervisor and Kevin Agrella pull the stretcher from the ambulance at a call for a man having difficulty breathing. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
10 _M1A1581 New Bedford EMS paramedic supervisor and Kevin Agrella pull the stretcher from the ambulance at a call for a man having difficulty breathing. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 Bill Sullivan, paramedic supervisor, responds to a call of a man having difficulty breathing in the north end of New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
11 _M1A1571 Bill Sullivan, paramedic supervisor, responds to a call of a man having difficulty breathing in the north end of New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford EMS crew responds to a man complaining about having difficulty breathing. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
12 _M1A1598 New Bedford EMS crew responds to a man complaining about having difficulty breathing. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
New Bedford EMT, Ivan Britto, left, and Dan Goodman, paramedic student, tend to a man complaining of difficulty breathing in the back of the ambulance before transporting him to the hospital. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
13 _M1A1670 New Bedford EMT, Ivan Britto, left, and Dan Goodman, paramedic student, tend to a man complaining of difficulty breathing in the back of the ambulance before transporting him to the hospital. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford EMT's Rick Kalisz and Jacob Hughes help a patient who had collapsed due to low blood pressure in downtown New Bedford. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
14 _M1A1797 New Bedford EMT's Rick Kalisz and Jacob Hughes help a patient who had collapsed due to low blood pressure in downtown New Bedford. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 Seen through port between the driving cabin and the back of the ambulance, New Bedford EMT's Kevin Agrella and Ivan Britto tend ot a patient. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
15 _M1A1689 Seen through port between the driving cabin and the back of the ambulance, New Bedford EMT's Kevin Agrella and Ivan Britto tend ot a patient.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford EMS paramedic supervisor, Bill Sullivan, foreground and New Bedford police officer Drew Frenette, give the thumbs up to another arriving ambulance at the scene of a drug overdose in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
16 _M1A1696 New Bedford EMS paramedic supervisor, Bill Sullivan, foreground and New Bedford police officer Drew Frenette, give the thumbs up to another arriving ambulance at the scene of a drug overdose in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
New Bedford EMS paramedic David Branco inserts an IV into an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
17 _M1A1714 New Bedford EMS paramedic David Branco inserts an IV into an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford EMT Rick Kalisz waits for the call in the drivers seat of a New Bedford EMS ambulance. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
18 _N8A8779 New Bedford EMT Rick Kalisz waits for the call in the drivers seat of a New Bedford EMS ambulance.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford police officer, Drew Frenette, who was first on the scene and administered nasal Narcan to an overdose patient, looks on as Jason Kirby and Bill Sullivan tend to the patient before placing him the ambulance. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
19 _M1A1725 New Bedford police officer, Drew Frenette, who was first on the scene and administered nasal Narcan to an overdose patient, looks on as Jason Kirby and Bill Sullivan tend to the patient before placing him the ambulance. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford EMT's Jason Stone and Jason Kirby tend to an overdose patient in the back of the ambulance before transporting him to the hospital. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
20 _M1A1764 New Bedford EMT's Jason Stone and Jason Kirby tend to an overdose patient in the back of the ambulance before transporting him to the hospital. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
New Bedford EMT's Jacob Hughes and Rick Kalisz climb the steps to reach a patient who collapsed due to low blood pressure in New Bedford. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
21 _M1A1771 New Bedford EMT's Jacob Hughes and Rick Kalisz climb the steps to reach a patient who collapsed due to low blood pressure in New Bedford. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 New Bedford EMT Jason Kirby focuses on the overdose patient he is trying to resuscitate at a call in downtown New Bedford. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
22 _N8A8736 New Bedford EMT Jason Kirby focuses on the overdose patient he is trying to resuscitate at a call in downtown New Bedford. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
 A New Bedford EMT helps stabilize an older gentleman who needed assistance with difficulty breathing. as he makes his way toward the waiting wheelchair. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus. PHOTO PETER PEREIRA
23 _N8A8796 A New Bedford EMT helps stabilize an older gentleman who needed assistance with difficulty breathing. as he makes his way toward the waiting wheelchair. Paramedic David Branco and Jason Kirby resuscitate an overdose patient in downtown New Bedford. Despite over 12,000 COVID-19 related calls since March, only one part-time EMT has tested positive for the virus.
PHOTO PETER PEREIRA