The long battle for local firefighters to carry a life-saving treatment could be nearing an end.
In February, the WZZM 13 Watchdog team began questioning why state protocols do not allow some firefighters to carry EpiPens for treating allergic reactions. Just weeks after our story aired, state leaders proposed changes to those protocols.
Now, we've learned that medical boards, fire departments, and other agencies have received and reviewed the proposed changes.
We spoke to a local fire chief who says he's been waiting for approval from the state for two years.
It's not like fighting a fire. For Blendon Township Fire Chief Kurt Gernaat, this battle is taking place with ink and paper.
"It's been a long battle," Gernaat said.
The draft of new state protocols would allow his firefighters to carry the life-saving treatment, EpiPens.
"It's exciting, it's a good change," Chief Gernaat said. "In the case of an allergic reaction, we'll have the opportunity, hopefully, to be able to carry auto injectors on our trucks."
Earlier this year, the Watchdog team began asking state leaders why firefighters who are certified medical first responders are not allowed to carry EpiPens, despite the fact that teachers can use EpiPens.
"(It's) an injustice so to speak, that we were asking school teachers with 20 to 30 minutes of training to use it, but yet we weren't allowed to use it," Gernaat said.
In our previous story, we introduced you to Chuck Weaver who nearly died from an allergic reaction after being stung by bees. Responding firefighters did not have an EpiPen to help.
"EpiPens got to be out there and available just in case someone else ends up in the same situation I did," Weaver told us in February.
After our story aired, the state released a draft of updated protocols to medical control boards and other agencies to review. The deadline to comment on the proposed changes ended Tuesday, May 31.
"I would like to think that maybe some of the story we did and some of the public interaction has helped change people's perspective on it," Gernaat said.
If the proposed changes are approved, each county's medical control board authority will decide whether to adopt the new protocols.
"As long as we're moving in the right direction then I'm satisfied," Gernaat said.
State officials say they plan to schedule a review meeting to discuss the feedback they've received on the proposed changes.
The goal is to have the updated protocols finalized by the end of the month.
We also reached a spokesman for the Ottawa Medical Control Board Authority. He told us that they have no objections to the state's proposed changes.