Coronavirus: Jewish EMS Service Donates Masks To Suburban Police

CHICAGO — When an Orthodox Jewish ambulance service started to run low on personal protective gear amid the new coronavirus outbreak, officials in local towns they serve donated masks to keep the volunteer paramedics safe.

Over the weekend, Hatzalah Chicago returned the favor, donating N95 respirators to first responders in Skokie and Lincolnwood.

"It's been a little crazy over the last two weeks with calls from people who are sick and symptomatic and need to go the hospital. We were running low on masks other agencies donated some to protect our volunteers," Hatzalah organizer Simcha Frank said.

"We were able to order masks from a vendor in New York. Now that have enough masks for our vounteers, for now, at least, we were able to share with others."

In Hebrew, Hatzalah means "rescue." Since 2011, a volunteer team of 65 paramedics, emergency medical technicians and dispatchers respond to emergency calls in parts of the West Rogers Park and Peterson Park neighborhoods in Chicago, and suburban Skokie and Lincolnwood that are home to a high population of Orthodox Jews.

Saturday night, Lincolnwood Mayor Barry Bass thanked Hatzalah for donating masks to the police department.

"When communities come together during tough times we come out stronger," the mayor said in a Facebook post.