Agenda - 08-30-2012 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Comprehensive Assessment of Emergency Medical Services 32 DRAFT REPORT and 911/Communications Center Operations Study Map#1 is that previously shown on page 8; it identifies the existing EMS district boundaries and the staging locations of the current EMS Medic units. Map #2 outlines in various colors the 4-mile/8-minute drive time road-based limits from each Medic location. Note that the boundaries for Medic 1, Medic 4, and the temporary location of Medic 5 overlap one another somewhat. Also, the south County locations identified for Medic 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 overlap to such an extent that the outermost distances of each were used and combined in order to determine the extent of area covered. Map#3 shows the same 4-mile/8-minute road-based boundaries as Map#2, however, this time overlain onto the map illustrating the county-wide distribution of EMS call locations over the past three years; 2009-2011. Map #4 includes gray shading over the areas of the County that currently lay outside the limits of the 4-mile/8-minute ALS response perimeter(s). Map#5 is a duplicate of Map #4, however, this time it also include red dots at the approximate locations of each of the 22 Fire Department station locations located within; and as the case with Mebane and North Chatham Fire Departments-very near;the County. Comments re: Maps • While the maps emphasize significant characteristics impacting ALS response time, they (collectively) also exacerbate somewhat the previous issue having to do with ambulance availability. • The areas of the County identified wherein ALS Medic Units should be able to travel within the 4-mile/8-minute time standard are, in fact centered within the more populated areas of the County and, for the most part, proximate the major highways corridors. However, there are still many hundreds of EMS calls that have been dispatched beyond these areas of coverage over the past three years that have not received the same level of response. • A visual estimate of the shaded area noted in Map #4 would suggest as much as 55-60% of the County is outside the 4-mile/8-minute ALS response perimeter. • As previously stated, the combined (potential) capabilities of the 12 Fire Departments that are available to respond from 22 additional station locations could provide some assurance to areas of the County that take longer than 8 minutes for EMS/ALS Units to access; however, to get to the incident scene within the 4-minutes suggested for a BLS response, would mean a 2-mile/4- minute Total Response Time. A response time that, as an overall or individual department average, has yet to be accomplished. Solutions for Local Government,Inc. 30