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
(650) 573-2009 (Non-Emergency Only)
www.smchealth.org/ems
Twitter @smcHealth
facebook.com/SMCHealth
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