4g) Discussion and Possible Action Including Introduction and Waive First Reading of an Ordinance Designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones
(Sponsors: Executive Office and County Counsel)
First, this seriously impacts the patient care of our residents. It may take over an hour for the ambulance to arrive on scene and in some cases patients may succumb to their injuries or conditions. Second, this causes a cascading effect on the countywide EMS system. When the already limited number of ambulances are taken away from the 101-corridor to respond to Covelo it endangers the medical care of all county residents.
At a recent EMS meeting in Covelo organized by the County of Mendocino, it was suggested that Covelo FPD needs to be responsible for ensuring the viability of their ambulance service. We are striving to meet that challenge, but our resources are limited. Covelo FPD has since found 16 residents willing to go through EMT training to support the continued existence of Covelo’s ambulance. We are working with Mendocino College to find instructors willing to travel to Covelo to do the training. We are also working with other Fire Agencies to have their EMTs take shifts in Covelo to fill the gap while residents get trained up. This has been a mutual aid and collective effort. However, training new EMTs takes time and we can only rely on outside help for so long.
Covelo FPD is asking residents of Covelo to join it in imploring the County to set aside the historical $66,0000 for FY 25-26 to support maintaining the existence of an ambulance in Covelo. With access to those funds, Covelo FPD can continue to develop our EMT program ensuring our volunteers are appropriately trained and that we are capable of providing a level of service that keeps community members alive and safe.
First, this seriously impacts the patient care of our residents. It may take over an hour for the ambulance to arrive on scene and in some cases patients may succumb to their injuries or conditions. Second, this causes a cascading effect on the countywide EMS system. When the already limited number of ambulances are taken away from the 101-corridor to respond to Covelo it endangers the medical care of all county residents.
At a recent EMS meeting in Covelo organized by the County of Mendocino, it was suggested that Covelo FPD needs to be responsible for ensuring the viability of their ambulance service. We are striving to meet that challenge, but our resources are limited. Covelo FPD has since found 16 residents willing to go through EMT training to support the continued existence of Covelo’s ambulance. We are working with Mendocino College to find instructors willing to travel to Covelo to do the training. We are also working with other Fire Agencies to have their EMTs take shifts in Covelo to fill the gap while residents get trained up. This has been a mutual aid and collective effort. However, training new EMTs takes time and we can only rely on outside help for so long.
Covelo FPD is asking residents of Covelo to join it in imploring the County to set aside the historical $66,0000 for FY 25-26 to support maintaining the existence of an ambulance in Covelo. With access to those funds, Covelo FPD can continue to develop our EMT program ensuring our volunteers are appropriately trained and that we are capable of providing a level of service that keeps community members alive and safe.