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Code Red: Weekend bridge closure to impact some first responders

LEMOYNE, Pa. – If you think the official detour around this weekend’s bridge construction on Route 581–all 25 miles of it–is a bit much,...

LEMOYNE, Pa. - If you think the official detour around this weekend's bridge construction on Route 581--all 25 miles of it--is a bit much, just think of the challenges it poses for first responders.

“With this construction project going on as well as the other events around the area, the Ford show, Foundry Day, we're anticipating a lot of traffic volume that's going to impact how we can turn around and become available for more calls,” Nathan Harig, assistant chief for Cumberland Goodwill EMS, said.

Those detours make it very difficult for Cumberland Goodwill EMS to access many Harrisburg area hospitals in a timely manner, and it's why they are following what's being called a “Code Red” protocol.

“581 and 81, right where these detours are, that has the most impact on us and that's why we're implementing this program,” Harig said. “90 percent of the time, we're able to turn around these calls in about 43 minutes, so any expansion on that time can potentially be a negative impact on our ability to treat patients here back in Carlisle,” Harig said.

Rather than transport patients to a hospital of their choice, most will be taken to Carlisle Regional Medical Center unless they need care on the other side of the Susquehanna.

“Patients experiencing a heart attack, stroke, if they're pediatric or they have major trauma, they're still going to go to a specialty resource center, they just might need to go by a helicopter if we're unable to get them there within 45 minutes,” Harig said.

“Code Red” will last for the duration of the closure until Monday morning.

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