SOP 202.02 EMS RESPONSIBILITIES

Standard company operations assign Emergency Medical Services functions and responsibilities to the various companies based upon the capability and characteristics of each type unit.

Standard company operations also assign Major Medical operations functions to the particular company who can best accomplish the operations.

Standard company operations integrate the efforts of engine, ladder, rescue, and ambulance companies to achieve effective treatment, stabilization and transportation of sick and injured patients.

Standard company operations allow company members when operating at multi-patient incidents to devote full attention to their assigned tasks with confidence that other requirements for maximum patient care are being addressed by other company members.

The first arriving Fire Department Unit is expected to address or accomplish the following:

1. ASSUME COMMAND.

2. MAKE SOUND JUDGMENTS OF EMS SITUATION AND ADJUST ASSIGNMENT ACCORDINGLY.

3. GIVE BRIEF ON-SCENE REPORT, WHERE POSSIBLE.

4. ASSIGN CREW(S) SPECIFIC TASK(S) TO ACCOMPLISH.

5. INITIATE PATIENT ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT FUNCTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES.

6. COMMUNICATE WITH AMBULANCE PERSONNEL, WHEN NECESSARY.

7. ASSIGN AMBULANCE PERSONNEL IN THE BEST-INEREST OF THE PATIENT(S).

8. PROVIDE AND COORDINATE PATIENT TRANSPORTATION, WHEN NEEDED.

9. INITIATE PATIENT TRIAGE, WHEN SITUATION DICTATES.

10. ASSIGN EXTRICATION, TREATMENT AND TRANSPORTION SECTORS DURING MULTI-COMPANY INCIDENTS.

11. IMPLEMENTS AMBULANCE STAGING, WHERE INDICATED, DURING MUTI-AMBULANCE RESPONSES.

12. COMMUNICATE QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTENTS,

WHEN NECESSARY

The following items represent the standard operations that will normally be performed by engine, ladder, rescue and ambulance companies. These basic functions will provide the framework for field operations for these companies.

ENGINE COMPANY (FIRE/MEDIC)

1. ASSUME COMMAND, IF INDICATED.

2. COMMUNICATES WITH PATIENT(S).

3. INITIATES PATIENT ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT FUNCTIONS.

4. INITIATES INCIDENT DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDS INFORMATION.

5. OBTAINS AND RECORDS VITAL SIGNS.

6. OBTAINS MEDICAL HISTORY AND HISTORY OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

7. CALL FOR ADITIONAL UNITS (FIRE OR AMBULANCE) WHERE NEEDED.

8. STABILIZE ANY HAZARDOUS SITUATION.

9. ASSIST AMBULANCE PERSONNEL IN PATIENT CARE.

10. UTILIZE ALL EXTRICATION EQUIPMENT.

11. EXTRICATE PATIENT.

LADDER COMPANY/RESCUE UNIT (FIRE/MEDIC)

1. ASSUME COMMAND, IF INDICATED.
2. STABILIZE ANY HAZARDOUS SITUATION.
3. SUPERVISE PATIENT EXTRICATION.
4. PRIMARY CHOICE TO OPERATE EXTRICATION EQUIPMENT.
5. PRIMARY CHOICE FOR EXTRICATION SECTOR, IF REQUIRED.
6. PROVIDE LIGHTS OR VENTILATION, WHERE NEEDED.
7. INITIATES PATIENT ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT FUNCTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES AS ASSIGNED.

E.M.S. UNIT (AMBULANCE PERSONNEL)

1. CONFER WITH COMMAND, OR ASSUME COMMAND IF INDICATED.
2. REVIEW INCIDENT FORM AND INFORMATION OBTAINED.
3. INITIATE PATIENT ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT FUNCTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES.
4. USE BLS EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES, WHERE NEEDED.
5. COMMUNICATE WITH OR NOTIFY HOSPITAL BASE, WHERE INDICATED.
6. TREAT PATIENT PER HOSPITAL ORDERS, IF OBTAINED.
7. COORDINATE PATIENT EXTRICATION.

This procedure does not limit a company to' its listed function. Every company will be expected to perform all basic functions within the limits of their training and capability. It will be the ongoing responsibility of Command to integrate tasks and functions as required with the available resources, in a manner that benefits the patient(s).

Normally, engine, ladder, and rescue (fire/medic) company personnel are expected to operate extrication equipment (Hurst tool, saws, etc.). Ambulance personnel are responsible for providing ALS for patients and, therefore, should not normally be diverted from that responsibility with extrication functions.

Company officers are expected to assume responsibility of reporting and recording the following areas:

1. ACCURATELY COMPLETE THE FIELD INCIDENT REPORT AND SIGN INCIDENT FORMS FOR WHICH THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE.
2. DOCUMENTING ON THE FIELD INCIDENT FORM, ALL VITAL SIGNS AND TIMES OBTAINED.
3. OBTAIN SUFFICIENT PERTINENT INFORMATION TO ENTER INTO THE INCIDENT.

Company officers have the responsibility to provide ambulance personnel with sufficient information which will allow ambulance personnel to inform the receiving facility to the extent of injuries, mechanism of injury and all other pertinent information relating to the patient(s) medical emergency. This information should be by verbal report, when possible, and by documentation on the incident form.

Company officers should attempt to involve ambulance personnel, where appropriate, in the treatment of patients, therefore, reducing the amount of information that is needed to be exchanged and improving relations with ambulance and hospital personnel.