Hospitals, responders prepare for virus

A test earlier this month to determine whether Solano County emergency responders were prepared to handle a local case of Ebola virus was successful, Dr. Michael Stacey, Solano County chief medical officer, said.

The test was performed Nov. 20, when Solano County Department of Health and Social Services’ Emergency Services Bureau worked in partnership with all hospitals in the county and Medic Ambulance Service.

“The exercise was deemed a success by county officials because it helped county staff, local hospitals and emergency first responders better prepare for such an event should it ever happen in Solano County,” said Matthew Davis, senior management analyst and the county’s public communications officer.

“Hospitals have been working really hard for the past several months to prepare for an Ebola or communicable disease outbreak,” Stacey said.

“Their participation in today’s exercise demonstrates their commitment to public health and the well-being of residents in Solano County.”

Besides the county’s emergency bureau and the ambulance service, participants were NorthBay Medical Center, Sutter Solano Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente in both Vallejo and Vacaville.

Solano County’s Public Health Emergency Services Bureau also participates annually in a statewide emergency preparedness drill and leads efforts at the local level, Davis said. Last year, the drill focused on an active shooter situation.

In the Nov. 20 exercise, the county’s Office of Emergency Services activated its Joint Information Center (JIC) and Mobile Command Vehicle (MC1) to help hospitals and first responders work together, Davis said.

“We are always looking for ways to improve our local response efforts during disease and disaster emergencies,” Stacey said.

“Today’s exercise shows that Solano County Public Health, local hospitals and first responders are well prepared to respond to this issue.”

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