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Community Corner

County Paramedics Put Through Rigorous Training

Written by Amy Cornell, Santa Clara County Public Health Department:

This week, 34 emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and EMS field supervisors participated in a 16-hour course about managing ambulance strike teams. 

Ambulance strike teams consist of five ambulances and one supervisor that are used for a single purpose, such as assisting with the evacuation of a hospital threatened by a brush fire or hazardous materials incident, providing mutual aid to another county, or mobilizing to treat and transport patients from a multi-casualty incident.  “This course focuses on the skills necessary to manage personnel over several days or weeks, keeping crews safe, and supporting the logistical needs of the strike team such as fuel, medical supplies, feeding, and rest,” said Michael Clark, course instructor and EMS specialist with the Santa Clara County EMS Agency.  

Personnel assigned to an ambulance strike team may travel outside of Santa Clara County and spend extended periods supporting other areas devastated by natural or man-made disasters. The assignment can range from routine to missions that require operation in very austere conditions that may lack power, sanitation, and other basic services.

“Ambulance strike team training improves the county’s ability to quickly mobilize ambulances and personnel to events such as brush fires, multi-casualty incidents, or the evacuation of a critical care hospital," said Michael Petrie, director of the Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services System. "Santa Clara County uses strike teams within our EMS System, but it is almost certain that we will need help at sometime in the future from our partners. Supporting this type of training breaks down jurisdictional lines and positions us to be able to help one another quickly when lives are at risk.” 

Santa Clara County is fortunate to have a well-developed ambulance system that uses both 911 and non-911 ambulance services. 

Santa Clara County’s contract with County Ambulance (provided by Rural/Metro) includes a stringent requirement that an ambulance strike team respond in less than eight minutes for responses in the County and within 60 minutes outside of the County.

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