Calif. quake: Behind AMR’s EMS response

System received over 35 calls for service over the next four hours, the equivalent of a normal 24 hour shift

August 24, 2014 07:12 AM •

By Art Hsieh
EMS1 Editorial Advisor

NAPA, Calif. - EMS crews in the Napa Valley region were jolted from their normal overnight operations by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the region at 0320 hours. According to American Medical Response - Napa Operations Manager Mark Reeves, the system received over 35 calls for service over the next four hours, the equivalent of a normal 24 hour shift.

Included in the call volume was a sudden cardiac arrest, of which return of spontaneous circulation was achieved, and a pediatric patient critically injured by falling debris.

AMR immediately implemented their callback system and had up staffed five additional ambulances with thirty minutes of the event. Through the local office of emergency services, 10 mutual aid ambulances were requested from neighboring Sonoma, Solano and Contra Costa counties.

Many were used to transfer patients from Queen of the Valley Hospital, which sustained damage to its operations.

Disaster Management Fire-EMS Mass Casualty Incidents

Arthur Hsieh, MA, NRP

Art Hsieh, MA, NRP teaches in Northern California at the Public Safety Training Center, Santa Rosa Junior College in the Emergency Care Program. An EMS provider since 1982, Art has served as a line medic, supervisor and chief officer in the private, third service and fire-based EMS. He has directed both primary and EMS continuing education programs. Art is a textbook writer, author of “EMT Exam for Dummies,” has presented at conferences nationwide and continues to provide direct patient care regularly. Art is a member of the EMS1 Editorial Advisory Board.