Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Comprehensive Assessment of Emergency Medical Services 108 <br />and 911 /Communications Center Operations Study <br />Figure 37 <br />Medical Dispatch Response Codes <br />Response Code <br />Condition Identified <br />Agency /Unit Dispatched <br />Response Status <br />Non -life threatening, <br />ALPHA <br />Ambulance only <br />Non - Emergency <br />low priority assessed <br />Non -life threatening, <br />BRAVO <br />Ambulance only <br />Emergency <br />but more serious <br />First Responders <br />Emergency <br />CHARLIE <br />Potentially life threatening <br />Ambulance <br />Non - Emergency* <br />DELTA <br />Life threatening <br />All Units <br />Emergency <br />All Units; including <br />ECHO <br />Circling the drain <br />Emergency <br />Law Enforcement <br />Note the asterisk ( *) next to "Non- Emergency" in the Response Status column in the CHARLIE row. In a <br />potentially life threatening emergency, First Responders (typically the closest Fire Department) will be <br />dispatched to respond with lights & siren; i.e. emergency status; while the ambulance (Medic Unit) will <br />be dispatched at the same time, however, in non - emergency status... initially. The assumption being <br />that First Responders, assumedly first on the scene, will be able to assess and confirm (or not) the level <br />of severity of the patient's condition. If First Responders in fact confirm the condition to be life <br />threatening, the Medic Unit will (typically) immediately upgrade to emergency status and respond <br />accordingly. Should the condition be determined to not in fact be life threatening, the Medic Unit will, in <br />most cases, continue on to the scene to confirm the condition of the patient and if necessary provide <br />transportation to a medical facility. <br />Note Regarding the Communications Process <br />The above narrative explanation of Response Codes focuses on medical emergencies and EMS response; <br />albeit the stated focus of this study. Of course Communications Center personnel must also deal with <br />Fire and Law Enforcement emergencies on a daily basis as well. Subsequently, the Appendix of this <br />report includes process maps outlining examples of the call processing, dispatch, and ongoing <br />communications activities that will typically occur not only with EMS, but with Fire and Law Enforcement <br />as well. <br />Communications Center Staff <br />The individuals who occupy the workstations or "consoles" in the County's Communications Center are <br />classified as "Telecommunicators ". At present there is one (1) Shift Supervisor (Lieutenant), one (1) <br />Lead Telecommunicator /Assistant Shift Supervisor (Sergeant), one (1) Communications Training Officer, <br />and two (2) Telecom municators assigned to each shift. <br />While the designated Supervisors will carry additional responsibilities, they are expected to handle them <br />in addition to receiving, dispatching and monitoring 911 emergency and administrative calls received as <br />the call volume dictates. <br />In this and similar County facilities, the principal activities occurring on the call center floor are those <br />directly involved with the processing of calls received. In this regard, while the position title <br />"Telecommunicator" is totally appropriate, the functional responsibilities of the position may vary <br />Solutions for Local Government, Inc. 64 <br />