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Comprehensive Assessment of Emergency Medical Services 20 <br /> DRAFT REPORT and 911/Communications Center Operations Study <br /> For the most part these response codes are universal and well known to emergency medical and first <br /> responder agency personnel. <br /> The table that follows identifies the medical dispatch response codes, the condition identified and <br /> associated with that code, the agency/unit dispatched and the level (status) at which they are expected <br /> to respond. <br /> Figure 10 <br /> Medical Dispatch Response Codes <br /> Response Code Condition Identified Agency/Unit Dispatched Response Status <br /> Non-life threatening, <br /> ALPHA Ambulance only Non-Emergency <br /> low priority assessed <br /> Non-life threatening, <br /> BRAVO Ambulance only Emergency <br /> but more serious <br /> First Responders Emergency <br /> CHARLIE Potentially life threatening <br /> Ambulance Non-Emergency <br /> DELTA Life threatening All Units Emergency <br /> All Units; including <br /> ECHO Circling the drain Emergency <br /> Law Enforcement <br /> The distribution of emergency to non-emergency medical calls has changed significantly since 2009 <br /> when the "response determinants" were adjusted to reflect more closely those recommended by the <br /> National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (NAEMD). The distribution of emergency and non- <br /> emergency medical calls dispatched during 2011 is illustrated in Figure 11. This issue will also be <br /> addressed further in Section 3-911/Communications Center. <br /> Figure 11 <br /> Medical Call Response Levels-2011 <br /> Respnse Level Number of Percent <br /> Responses of Total <br /> Initial Lights& Sirens, Downgraded to No Lights or Sirens 330 3.1% <br /> Initial No Lights or Sirens, Upgraded to Lights& Sirens 111 1.1% <br /> Lights& Sirens 3,577 34.1% <br /> No Lights& Sirens 6,476 61.7% <br /> Total Responses 10,494 <br /> The non-emergency to emergency call ratio of 2-to-1 is not unusual among North Carolina EMS <br /> agencies. In fact, it could be expected to remain close to these percentages for the near future. <br /> The first two Response Level categories listed in Figure 11 may result as the EMD (Emergency Medical <br /> Dispatcher) continues their questioning of the 911 caller following the actual dispatch of the response <br /> units. As such, the patient's condition may worsen from that initially reported; i.e. "Initial No Lights or <br /> Sirens, Upgraded to Lights & Sirens"; or, improve or through further questioning be determined to not <br /> be as serious as initially reported; i.e. "Initial Lights &Sirens to No Lights or Sirens". <br /> Solutions for Local Government,Inc. 18 <br />