Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

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For emergencies, dial 9-1-1

EMS: Saving Lives

The Emergency Medical Services Division of the Woodside Fire Protection District is proud of the quality of services it provides for our District Residents. This medical team consists of twenty-three-licensed paramedics, twelve Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) and one Battalion Chief/Paramedic.

Woodside has six vehicles in the fleet that are Advanced Life Support capable. There are three engines, one medium duty rescue vehicle, an ambulance, and a water tender. This enables the fire district personnel to provide a high level of medical care in every vehicle that responds to an emergency.

Operational guidelines are provided by San Mateo County Protocols in which other fire agencies in the county participate. Emergency medical care is managed through a number of programs including standard operating procedures, standing orders, in-service training, and other various methods. These programs ensure consistent quality control of medical service. Fire district personnel participate in continuing education programs for both EMTs and Paramedics to assure that personnel are trained to appropriate knowledge and skill levels. WFPD utilizes modern state-of-the-art equipment that meets and often exceeds industry standards. Medical equipment is continually evaluated and updated when appropriate.

Transportation of patients is generally to the nearest medical facility in San Mateo County, which are Stanford in Palo Alto, and Kaiser Redwood City. In some cases, patients are transported to medical facilities in San Francisco or Valley Medical in Santa Clara.

Paramedic Engine Companies

Every member of the Woodside Fire Protection District is trained to the EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) level. The Woodside Fire Protection District hired its first paramedics in the fall of 1994. The first 3 paramedics worked at Station 7 on the Rescue and responded to all emergencies in the district. Setting a high priority on medical training and being prepared is what the fire district spent the next few years both training current employees and hiring additional paramedics.

Today, there are no less than 5 firefighter/paramedics on duty (one on each engine and two on the ambulance) with a total of 34 firefighter/paramedics working for the department. All our paramedics are cross trained as firefighters. This enables every apparatus to provide the ability to assist in both fire suppression and emergency medical response skills. Having a firefighter/paramedic respond to every call is advantageous to the citizens that reside in the Woodside Fire Protection District.

American Medical Response Ambulance Service

Woodside Fire Protection District has been providing 911 Advanced Life Support ambulance transport services for the past 20 years. In partnership with the county 911 contractor, American Medical Response (AMR), Woodside Fire operated and provided staffing on Medic 107 with 2 Paramedics, 24/7, 365 days per year. This agreement allowed the residents of the fire district to have an ambulance, providing Advanced Life Support capabilities, with a decreased response time then otherwise could be provided to the citizens of the fire district and San Mateo County. Medic 107 averaged over 3000 calls for service annually throughout San Mateo County and was stationed in Woodside.

In December of 2023, Woodside Fire Protection District changed its staffing model and reallocated Medic 107 personnel to better serve its residents. Woodside Fire has continued to deliver the same high quality paramedic care to the community as always and AMR will continue to provide transport to our the Fire District.

Paramedic and EMT, what’s the difference?

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

An EMT is a trained professional who responds to emergency medical situations, such as car accidents, fires, or injuries occurring in homes or workplaces. Becoming an EMT requires nearly six months of specialized training, as well as an internship in a hospital emergency room and on a transport ambulance. EMT's deliver a standard of care known as Basic Life Support (BLS), and perform lifesaving skills like Automated External Defibrillators, CPR, bleeding control, splinting, oxygen therapy and administration of epi-pens. Many assume that an EMT is a Paramedic, but this is not the case. EMTs are classified in levels, depending upon their degree of training. In California, Paramedics are EMT-Ps. Since firefighters are generally the first to arrive at the scene of an accident, EMT training allows first responders to assess medical situations and stabilize patients for transport. Patients with more severe illnesses or injuries often require the ALS care provided by Paramedics for further stabilization and transport.

Paramedic or EMT-P

Paramedics, or EMT-Ps, have more training than an EMT. Paramedic training takes at least 18 months, includes clinical training in an emergency department and hospital specialty areas like labor and delivery, and significantly more field training, usually an internship on a transport ambulance. Paramedics are able to diagnose and treat a larger range of injuries and illnesses, and can deliver many lifesaving drugs to patients in the field. In addition to the use of manual defibrillators and cardioversion, Woodside Fire Paramedics, read and assess 12 lead EKGs to help make early determination of heart attacks in the field, delivering patients to the appropriate hospital more efficiently and better stabilized for rapid care by physician specialists. Paramedics also perform Advanced Life Support (ALS), which also includes advanced airway management techniques like endotracheal intubation, needle thoracostomy, and can administer IV fluids and drugs.

Emergency vs. Non-Emergency (When to CALL 9-1-1)

In an emergency, dial 911 from your phone immediately.

An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police, fire department or ambulance.

When you call 911, be prepared to answer the call-taker's questions, which may include:

The location of the emergency, including the street address
The phone number you are calling from
The nature of the emergency
Details about the emergency, such as a physical description of a person who may have committed a crime, a description of any fire that may be burning, or a description of injuries or symptoms being experienced by a person having a medical emergency

Remember, the call-taker's questions are important to get the right kind of help to you quickly. Be prepared to follow any instructions the call-taker gives you. Many 911 centers can tell you exactly what to do until help arrives, such as providing step-by-step instructions to aid someone who is choking or needs first aid or CPR. Do not hang up until the call-taker instructs you to do so.

In addition, emergency services can be reached at these two 24-hour emergency phone numbers:

650-368-1421 Fire Emergency
650-364-1313 EMS Emergency

For frequently asked questions regarding 9-1-1, visit 911.gov

Education and CPR

For many years Woodside Fire District has offered emergency medical training for district residents and neighboring communities. Instructors provide certifications in American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), adult, child and infant as well as American Red Cross CPR/First Aid.

Currently, we are not offering courses, but highly recommend visiting the American Heart Association and American Red Cross sites to find trainings near you.

Woodside FPD, CA