Preparing for Health EmergenciesNancy Lapolla, EMS Director

Linda Allington, EMS Clinical Services Manager

Shruti Dhapodkar, Health Emergency

Preparedness Manager September 27, 2017

Emergency Medical Services Agency

• Mission: To ensure the highest-quality emergency medical

care to people in San Mateo County through a well

integrated and coordinated system of services and to

foster the medical and health resiliency of our community

during emergencies and disasters.

• 9-1-1 Call Centers

• Fire Advance Life Support

• Ambulance Advance Life Support

• Hospitals (physicians, nurses)

• Emergency Managers

• Public Safety Agencies

• Training/Educational Institutions2

San Mateo County EMS Ambulance Response

• Always dial 911, if

immediate threat to

life or property,

medical emergency,

fire, or a crime in

progress

• 2009-2015 there

was an increase in

the volume of 9-1-1

ambulance

response

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Why People Need EMS Care: Top Primary Impressions

• Paramedics are

trained for a

variety of

medical

conditions

• The figure

shows recent

percentages of

the top reasons

EMS was called

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Transportation

• In San Mateo County,

patients request transport

to the hospital of their

choice, unless their

condition warrants going to

a specialty care hospital:

– Labor & delivery

– Trauma

– Stroke

– STEMI (ST segment

elevated myocardial

infarction)

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Trauma

• Leading cause of death of

Americans (ages 1-46) is

Trauma

• San Mateo County

established (1998) its

trauma system to ensure

quality specialized trauma

care especially for those

with severe, life

threatening, or potentially

life threatening injuries

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Stroke

Call 911 when you see any

signs and symptoms;

greatest survival is

immediate treatment.

• Ischemic stroke

Commonly, a vessel clot

blocks blood to the

brainclot with

• Hemorrhagic stroke

A blood vessel rupture in

the brain

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STEMI (ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction)

• Most serious form of a heart attack with blood clot in heart

• Signs & Symptoms:

– Neck or jaw pain

– Shoulder or arm pain

– Fast heartbeat

– Shortness of breath

– Nausea & vomiting

– Sweating

• Requires specialized treatment at a designated STEMI

hospital

• Treatment: Coronary angioplasty

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STEMI Detection

• Often detected by

paramedics via EKG

• Paramedics provide

STEMI center

advance notice of

incoming patient

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STEMI Benchmarks

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Average Time

Door to Receiving Center

Median Time

Door to Device

SMART(San Mateo County Mental Health Assessment & Referral Team)

• Dispatches vans that provide

immediate assessment,

management, transport, and

referral to people with behavioral

emergencies

• Since 2016, over 2,400 people

with behavioral health issues were

transported

• What does this program do?

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• Avoid incarceration for those who are not a threat

• Get valuable support at the right time and right place

• Provide a “safe” place and transport for those struggling

with behavioral emergencies

Health Emergency Preparedness

• Goal: Ensure our medical and

healthcare system is prepared

and ready to respond

– Plans

– Supplies

– Staffing

– Training

– Communication systems.

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Preparedness Starts With You…

Why Prepare?

• Earthquake

– The chance of >8.0 in CA can be expected once

every 494 years (USGS)

• Wildfires

– In 2017, 264 wild land fires have burned 148 acres

(Cal Fire)

• Peace of Mind

– Reduces fear, anxiety (FEMA)

• Saves Lives

– Reduces impacts of disaster or an incident (FEMA)14

What Can You Do To Be Ready?

1. Develop Family Emergency Plan

2. Create Communication Plan

3. Store Food and Water Supplies

4. Keep Medical Information

(current medications, doctor and

pharmacy’s contact)

5. Share Critical Information

(kept in sealed envelope and given

to a trusted person)

6. Get accurate information from

SMC Alert or 740AM, 810AM, and

88.5 FM15

Stay in Touch

San Mateo County EMS

Garrett Fahey, Office Coordinator

gfahey@smcgov.org

(650) 573-2009 (Non-Emergency Only)

www.smchealth.org/ems

Twitter @smcHealth

facebook.com/SMCHealth

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