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Comprehensive Assessment of Emergency Medical Services 106 <br />and 911 /Communications Center Operations Study <br />Figure 36 <br />The Emergency Communications Process <br />F I ® F <br />CT D No. G -► <br />1 1 <br />CHUTE + TRAVEL <br />TIME TIME <br />'a' Ring -to -Call Taker (CT) Answers I <br />'b' CT Answer -to- Dispatch <br />'c' Announcement /Tone to "Vehicle Moving' (VM) <br />'d' Emergency Unit Travel Time <br />Unit <br />Arrives <br />"RESPONSE TIME" <br />The significant activities illustrated and undertaken by Communications Center staff include: <br />1. The telephone is answered in the Communications Center (now) by a Telecommunicator <br />who: <br />■ Follows initial question protocols; verification of address, phone number, immediate <br />circumstances, etc. and either; <br />• Determines that the emergency is a significant event requiring that a Fire, Rescue, EMS, or law <br />enforcement agency or unit be dispatched, <br />Or <br />• Determines that the call is not an emergency, is a duplicate call, or is one describing an incident <br />already reported, and terminates call. <br />2. The call is dispatched <br />■ The dispatch is official once the "tone" or page has been sent and the announcement has been <br />made via radio in the station or vehicle of the service agency to be assigned the call; this <br />announcement of course will include the initial incident description, victim information, <br />reported status /condition, and address. <br />■ A Telecom municator may maintain communications with units dispatched and responding to <br />the reported incident via radio (versus telephone) oftentimes for indeterminate periods until <br />the full extent and nature of the incident can be personally observed by the responders and the <br />need for additional resources, personnel or information is determined. <br />3. During calls involving medical emergencies a significant responsibility of the Telecom municator <br />continues after the call has been dispatched, and relates specifically to "emergency medical <br />dispatch" (EMD) protocols. In this instance the Telecom municator will remain on the line with the <br />caller to obtain as much additional patient /victim information as possible as they will then <br />(oftentimes) simultaneously and continuously alert the responding Paramedics as to patient <br />condition, physical characteristics, scene circumstances, etc.; and as appropriate provide First -aid <br />instructions to the caller in an effort to help the victim; i.e., "emergency medical dispatch ". <br />Solutions for Local Government, Inc. 62 <br />