Calif. County Puts Disaster Medical Response Trailer in Service

Dec. 20--A large white trailer full of foldable cots and medical supplies now sits in one of the bays at the Corning Fire Department. On the outside of the trailer are the words "Tehama County Disaster Medical Response."

Recently key figures from agencies in the county, Red Bluff and Corning, who are on the Tehama Operational Area Multi Casualty Incident Committee, met at the Fire Department to tour the trailer, one of the county's newest assets in dealing with mass victim emergency situations.

The trailer holds 25 cots and emergency medical supplies to serve upwards of 50 victims ages infant to adult, said Corning Fire Chief Martin Spannaus.

Tehama County Public Health Director Sydnei Wilby said the trailer is a "self-contained medical system that can be transported anywhere it is needed."

Tehama County Health Services asked the local fire department if it would house the trailer, so Spannaus consulted with the city officials and the volunteer firefighters on the issue. "It was determined it would be a great asset to the city, as well as south county resident to have the emergency trailer located here," he said.

There is also disaster medical response trailer in Red Bluff, which doubles as a hazmat response unit, according to CalFire information.

Wilby said the Red Bluff emergency medical trailer is similar to the one in Corning, but bigger.

The disaster medical response trailer will available for use by any of the area's city or county agencies which has a need, Spannaus said.

"The committee is currently working on the protocol for dispatching the trailer for when the need arises," he stated.

Examples of the type of " need" the fire chief was referring to includes bus accidents, a plane crash, train derailment, and wildfire.

The trailer adds to the mass emergency response equipment already in the county, including a mobile command unit, a mobile kitchen, and dozens of fire engines and ambulances.

Wilby said funding for the $70,000 trailer was from the county's Public Health Emergency Preparedness budget, which receives most of its funding from federal and state grants.

Copyright 2011 - Corning Observer, Calif.