[HFDlist] Dispatching EMS Calls

[jchandler at townofholden.net]

Holden Fire Department
1384 Main Street
Holden, MA 01520




To:		Distribution
From:		Jack Chandler
Date:		July 17, 2007
Subject:	Ambulance Dispatching
Copy:		

We would like begin dispatching AMR over the fire frequency effective 0600 hours Thursday July 19th. Attached are the new policies for doing this. 

The regular AMR crew now has fire department pagers so they should hear the calls wherever they are in town. The cover crews should be monitoring the fire frequency as soon as they leave Worcester. The covers crews will be signing on as soon as they are dispatched to Holden by the AMR dispatcher. They should call the fire alarm to say they are in route to Holden and then again when they are in the town limits. Based on whether they have a William # or a Medic # will indicate to Holden dispatcher and to fire personnel if it is a BLS or ALS truck.

Once the call has been broadcast the squad and the ambulance will acknowledge that they have received the call and are responding. If they do not acknowledge it after 20 to 30 seconds it will have to be announced again.

Any questions about this policy should be brought to your supervisor, Firefighter Josh Poznanski, or Chief Chandler.

Distribution:

All Fire Department personnel via email
All Police and Dispatch personnel via Chief Sherrill
All AMR personnel via Supervisor Karen Host


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Subject:	Policies and Procedures for Dispatching Fire/EMS  ( 08 )
Date:		May 1, 2007

Title:		DISPATCHING MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

The Town of Holden contracts AMR for Emergency Medical Services.  They are currently located 56 Boyden Rd. in the old hospital.  The primary ambulance is staffed at the Paramedic level at all times.  They are to be referred to as Holden ALS.  When they are dispatched for a call, AMR dispatches a cover truck to start towards our town.  The cover truck should notify you when they are en-route and when they arrive in town.  All backup trucks will either be William# or Medic#.  If you hear a William truck, this means they are only BLS ( Basic Life Support ).  If you hear a Medic truck, this means they are ALS ( Advanced Life Support ).  If you do not hear any truck sign on, you must contact AMR at 1-800-950-9266 and advise them that our primary unit is on a call and we need a cover truck.  Reminder NO NAMES are to be announced over the radio.

Dispatching Medical Emergencies between the hours of 0600-0000hrs.

1.	Key the Fire MIG Xmit button and announce, Stand-by for a Medical at ( give location ).
2.	Use COMP C Tone, then press Page Safety.
3.	Key the Fire MIG Xmit button and announce, Holden Fire to Squad 1 and Holden ALS please respond to ( give location ) for ( give emergency ). Repeat. Holden Fire clear at ( give time ).
		
Dispatching Medical Emergencies between the hours of 0000-0600hrs.
1.	Key the Fire MIG Xmit button and announce, Stand-by for a Medical at ( give location.)
2.	Use COMP C Tone, then press Page Safety.
3.	Key the Fire MIG Xmit button and announce, Holden Fire to Holden ALS please            
Respond to ( give location ) for ( give emergency ) Repeat. Holden Fire clear at 
( give time ).

The Following types of calls require Advanced Life Support:
Difficulty Breathing, Chest Pain, Cardiac Arrest, Allergic Reaction, Electrocution, Loss of Consciousness, Poisoning, Overdose, Seizures, and Major Trauma.

If there is a BLS cover truck ( William# ) and you receive a call for one of these emergencies then you must contact AMR and request an ALS unit to respond.  If AMR does not have an ALS unit available, then ask Squad 1 what ALS you should request. 
( example: W. Boylston, Rutland, or Worcester EMS ).

West Boylston Fire- 508-835-3100
Rutland Fire- 508-886-4107
UMASS EMS- 508-856-8551