Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Event Medical Standby topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board clarifies role of EMTs at Deltopia after LEMSA restrictions; approves Ventura County standby contract
Summary
The board approved a Ventura County event medical standby contract for Deltopia while clarifying that Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA) directed the IVCSD not to label EMT tents as 'first aid' and to route serious cases through 911.
The Isla Vista Community Services District voted to approve the Ventura County event medical standby contract for the Deltopia safety stations after a board discussion about limits imposed by the Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA).
Staff and directors told the board that LEMSA requested that the district not label its event EMT locations as "first aid stations" and that EMTs at the district's tents provide only limited on-site care before calling 911 for emergencies. Jonathan, IVCSD general manager, said the agency's guidance "is that they're not gonna be first aid stations, so they won't be labeled as first aid stations." He said EMTs could provide limited services such as a minor dressing or a single vital-sign check, but that anything beyond basic supportive care would require calling 911.
Board members pressed staff for operational detail. Director Frick asked for clarification about the phrase "one vital sign," and staff explained that an EMT might take a single sign (for example, pulse) to assess the patient but that multiple abnormal signs would trigger a 911 call. Jonathan said the IVCSD is coordinating with other safety partners and expects walk-up triage at Trigo Street and tents at Lowell Acorn Park and the district's event locations.
Directors asked whether the LEMSA-imposed changes affected the budget. Jonathan said the plan does not change the budgeted amount and that the district intended to staff two EMT tents and was discussing an additional team with partners. "I think it's the same budget. We wanted to have 2 tents or 2 teams at our event regardless," he said.
Questions from the board also covered scenarios such as a person passing out in a crowd. Jonathan said staff's interpretation of "supportive care" includes moving a person to safety and providing basic assistance while waiting for 911, but he acknowledged more detailed protocol discussions were needed with LEMSA.
Director Deschler moved to approve items 2.3 and 2.4 (Ventura County event medical standby contract), and Director Toppler seconded. The board conducted a roll-call vote; all present directors voted yes and the motion passed.
Staff said they would follow up with LEMSA to nail down written procedures and provide additional detail to the board at the next meeting.
