Frequently Asked Questions about Paramedic Services
Q: How do I call a paramedic?
Q: How do I know if I need a paramedic?
A: When in doubt, call 9-1-1. All 911 operators are trained to help determine the kind of care you need. In an emergency, every second is critical. Don’t wait. Call 9-1-1 immediately.
Q: What information will I need to provide?
A: You will be asked your exact location and the nature of the emergency. Providing this information first insures that you are in communication with the correct emergency dispatch center and can significantly lessen the time for a trained paramedic to arrive on scene.
Q: Who do San Rafael’s paramedics serve?
A: San Rafael paramedics are standing by 24 hours a day to respond to any medical emergency at residences, businesses, senior care facilities, construction sites, parks and on local roads and freeways in or around San Rafael. The central mission of all paramedics is to quickly respond to emergency medical calls, stabilizing and assessing the patient and safely transporting the patient to an emergency room or other facility where further treatment can be administered.
Q: How many paramedics does San Rafael have?
A: At all times, 6 to 9 paramedics are on duty. All paramedics are state-certified and receive ongoing training to keep pace with advances in emergency medical treatment and technology.
Q: Are some firefighters also paramedics?
A: Yes, of San Rafael’s 66 full-time firefighter positions, currently 27 are certified paramedics. San Rafael seeks to maintain an on-duty paramedic on every fire engine company. Approximately 70% of all Fire Department responses require emergency medical services.
Q: How many calls do paramedics respond to each year?
A: In 2007, San Rafael paramedics have responded to over 4,200 emergency medical calls. Most paramedic calls are for serious medical emergencies such as victims of heart attacks, strokes, accidents, and other medical emergencies.
Q: How are paramedic services funded?
A: Paramedic services are funded by a combination of revenue from local taxes and billing of patients/medical insurance. Over 65% of funding for local paramedic services comes from a special paramedic tax that was created by local voters in 1979. Local voters have reauthorized this funding every four years, most recently in 2006.
Q: How much is the special paramedic tax?
A: San Rafael can legally assess up to $85 for residences and 11.0 cents per square foot for commercial and industrial properties. The City only collects the amount required to maintain paramedic services. For the July 2008 - June 2009 fiscal year, the City Council has determined that the rate will be $81 for residents and .103 cents per square foot for commercial and industrial properties.
Q: Can funds from the special paramedic tax be used for other purposes?
A: No. Funds from the special paramedic tax are kept in a separate fund and audited annually to ensure they are only used for local emergency medical services and equipment. These funds cannot be used for other municipal services and cannot be taken away by the state.
Q: Why are paramedic services funded by a special tax?
A: In 1979, voters established a separate, dedicated and stable funding source for paramedic services to ensure that they are insulated from fluctuations in city revenue and politics. This ensures continuity for essential lifesaving services.
Q: What does the special paramedic tax pay for?
A: Funds are used to maintain rapid response times, provide advanced heart attack treatment, maintain the number of on-duty paramedics and support other basic paramedic functions.
Q: What will happen if the special paramedic tax is not reauthorized?
A: If funding for paramedic services is not reauthorized, funding will revert back to previous levels and paramedic services will have to be reduced or other municipal services may have to be cut in order to maintain paramedic services.
Q: Do San Rafael paramedics have access to the latest technology? 
A: Yes. For example, San Rafael paramedics now have access to the new 12-lead heart monitor that allow for rapid assessment and treatment of heart attack victims. With an aging population and rapidly changing medical technology, ongoing training and equipment upgrades are essential to provide the latest lifesaving care.
Q: Will paramedics transport me to the hospital of my choice?
A: Yes, you can ask to be transported to Novato Community Hospital, Kaiser Terra Linda or Marin General. If the patient is experiencing a lifethreatening emergency, paramedics are required by state law to transport the patient to the closest hospital.