As soon as the first Ebola patient, Thomas Eric Duncan, arrived in Dallas making international headlines in October, the Colleyville Fire Department took the matter into its own hands and ordered a full compliment of personal protective gear in order to properly handle patients while protecting the emergency medical crews.





By acting early Chief Brian J. Riley was able to beat the rush and get all the equipment he needed before supply shortages became a problem.





"We stocked up with personal protective equipment," Riley said. "We ordered it while it was happening and got enough for all 39 firefighters."





Each firefighter now has a "totally encapsulated" suit and boots that cover all the way to the wrists with a hood. Two layers of nitrile gloves protect the hands and wrists and a HEPA mask with a face shield protects the face.





"The gown and most of the suit is impermeable and fluid resistant," Riley said.





The City of Colleyville paid for the equipment out of pocket. According to Riley, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have more equipment on standby that will be distributed should Ebola flare up again.