About Cambria

The March 9 special meeting of the CCHD was a bit of a let down for the nearly 60 people who attended. I hope at least that many show up at Tuesday’s meeting (Rabobank, 6:30pm). It should be a bit more interesting and less redundant, since the Board might take action. If Cambria wants to see a change back to having the equipment on the Fire Engine,  we need to put on the pressure and show up at the meeting. I recommend carpooling if you can. There were no spaces in the bank parking lot and I had to park across the street (horror!)

If you missed the meeting on the 9th, you didn’t miss much except a bit of a tantrum. It  started with an overview of the services the CCHD provides, after which we were all treated to a thirty minute excerpt of last month’s CCSD meeting (most of which was included on this site in a previous post. I’m not sure what the Healthcare District Board’s intention was in playing the video, but in my opinion the result couldn’t have been what they were looking for, unless they were just trying to get themselves all revved up to start “I know you are, but what am I?”

Director Clift does have some strong opinions about the CCHD removing the Advanced Life Support from the Fire Engine.  He is of the opinion that this is a turf war, not about  ensuring Cambrians have the very best emergency care possible.  Two of the five CCHD Board members spent the last hour of the meeting providing evidence Clift was on the right track. Personal attacks on Director Clift and a sense of a tightening grip on “their” district did nothing to reassure those in attendance that their safety was being put first.

In the end, when the meeting was over, no action was taken and the status of the situation seemed unchanged. That was, after all, a meeting to “discuss” the issue. Tuesday’s meeting will have the CCHD having discussion and (probably) taking some action. So have a good early dinner (maybe the Cambria Pines Lodge’s Early Bird Special) and don’t make any plans for afterward – at least not before 10 or 11pm. Bring your common sense and remember: the politics of fear can’t win over reason and an educated constituancy.

I’ll see you there!

“In my opinion, this is government at its worst.” Greg Sanders, President CCSD

The facts are these:

in 2006, the CCSD and CCHD entered into an agreement whereby the portable ALS equipment was available to be on the Fire Truck for use by the qualified paramedics who arrived at a scene, to aid in the life-saving activity.

The faster emergency personnel arrive on the scene, the better your chances of survival and complete recovery. Chief Miller ventured a guess that about 75% of the time, (and probably more) the fire department arrives first.

The ambulance arrives anywhere from 1 to 5 or more minutes later. Those minutes could mean all the difference.

Currently, every firefighter is also a certified EMT trained and certified to use the ALS equipment. In fact, nearly every one also works part time at the Heathcare District. When they arrive on the ambulance, they are allowed to perform any needed treatment, including the ALS. If that same person arrives on the fire truck, even if they arrive first, can not render aid.

One big hint that this issue is important was this: An ALS that would stay on the fire truck would cost $20,000.  District policy allows expenditures up to $25,000 without Board approval. There are regular expenditures that just barely meet the criteria of under $25,000. So why did this come to the Board? Because they could buy the equipment, but the CCHD must authorize its use, something it doesn’t seem willing to do.

If you’ve got 20 minutes, watch this part of the February meeting. If you don’t have 20, fast forward and watch the last 5 minute (start at 15:00) for a summary of Muril’s position.