1. Emergency Medical Technician Programme
Ambulance Operations
Emergency Medical Technician Programme

2. Ambulance Operations
Insight into to the requirements, knowledge
and judgements required
to work as a team
member and also as an
individual and competent
EMT

4. The functions of a Command & Control Centre
A C & C Centre is typically a secure room or building in a government facility that operates as the agency's dispatch centre & coordination office all in one. Command and control centres are operated by a government or state run agency.

5. The role and responsibility of the EMC
The Emergency Medical Controller operates a C & C Centre in order to control efficiently and effectively the emergency ambulance, patient transport and First Responder services for service users and to cater for the communications needs of the Health Service.

6. The role and responsibility of the EMC
The EMC has a key role in delivering an effective response to emergencies within an established set of performance indicator response times.
The EMC will play a lead role in improving communication within and externally to the service, by performing their duties in line with the ethos of customer / client service.

7. Describe the pre-arrival instructions
The EMC can assist the caller with pre-arrival instructions to help the victim, using standardised protocols developed in AMPDS, PHECC & with a medical director.
Such instructions may consist of simple advice to keep the patient calm and comfortable or to gather additional background information for responding practitioners.
The instructions can also become more complex, providing directions for CPR, as an example.

8. Functions of a Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS)
AMPDS provides a unified system used to dispatch appropriate aid to medical emergencies.
It includes systematised caller interrogation and pre-arrival instructions.
Each call is also assigned a sub-category or code.
It also helps when analysing the calls for how the call was described and managed.

9. The time phases of an ambulance call in response to an incident
Date of call
the specific day, month and year the call is received at the C & C.
Time of call
the time recorded at the precise moment when the call is answered by a call taker in the CC. Time is recorded in HH/MM/SS.

10. The time phases of an ambulance call in response to an incident
Time call passed
the time the dispatch details of the call are passed to the crew. Time is recorded in HH/MM/SS.
Time mobile
the time the emergency ambulance/vehicle with appropriate crew, mobile (on dispatch) and on way to the scene. Time is recorded in HH/MM/SS.

11. The time phases of an ambulance call in response to an incident
Time at scene
the time of the arrival of the emergency ambulance/vehicle at scene. Time is recorded in HH/MM/SS.
Time at patient
the time of arrival at the patient side to provide emergency care.

12. The time phases of an ambulance call in response to an incident
Time departs scene
the time the patient departs the scene to travel to the destination point/hospital. Time is recorded in HH/MM/SS.
Time of handover
the time of completed handover of the patient to another member of the health care team at the destination point/hospital.

13. The time phases of an ambulance call in response to an incident
Time at destination point/hospital
the time patient arrives at the destination point/hospital Time is recorded in HH/MM/SS.
Time clear
the time the vehicle, crew and equipment is available for the next dispatch. Time is recorded in HH/MM/SS.

14. PHECC Priority Despatch
Dispatch standards
Calls received for emergency medical assistance shall be prioritised using ProQA from AMPDS
The dispatch cross reference (DCR) table six level priority classification as approved by PHECC shall be utilised
The principles for dispatchers shall be applied when dispatching resources to an emergency medical incident

15. Dispatch Codes 1. Life Threatening 2. Serious Non-Life Threatening 3.
Clinical Status
Code
Description
Essential Response
Response to scene 1.
Life Threatening
ECHO
Cardiac or Respiratory Arrest
Ambulance with Minimum Paramedic
Lights and Sirens
DELTA
Life Threatening other than Cardiac or Respiratory Arrest 2.
Serious Non-Life Threatening
CHARLIE
Serious not Life Threatening - Immediate
BRAVO
Serious not Life Threatening - Urgent 3.
Non Serious or Life Threatening
ALPHA
Normal Traffic
(No lights or sirens)
OMEGA
Minor Injury or Illness
Ambulance with Minimum EMT

16. Principles for Dispatchers
The nearest available ambulance shall be tasked to the highest priority incident
The 'recommended response' other than an
ambulance shall be dispatched if resources are available
Dispatchers shall have discretion to override ProQA to assign a higher priority to an incident
An ambulance tasked to lower priority incident may be diverted to higher priority incident when resources are limited

17. Principles for Dispatchers
The Dispatcher may preserve the availability ofambulances by queuing Alpha and Omega priority incidents until sufficient resources are available
When response is delayed Dispatchers shall inform the caller of estimated time of arrival
The Dispatcher shall make contact with caller if ambulance response is delayed (> 20 minutes) to verify patient's condition and review priority of incident

18. Principles for Dispatchers
Any recommended resource should only be deployed if it has a reasonable expectation of making patient contact.

19. Dispatch Codes
The Command, Control & Communications Centre, when activating a response to an incident, shall give the DCR code for the information about the incident to the Practitioners.
Dispatchers and Practitioners must be made aware that DCR code and dispatch response levels may differ

20. Time Phase of Ambulance Call
Pre-dispatch
Dispatch
Travel to the Scene
Actions at the Scene
Travel to the Hospital
Actions at the Hospital

21. Pre-Dispatch Service and maintenance of ambulance. Equipment.
Fuel, oil, water, condition of ambulance
Equipment.
Checked for serviceability
Re-stocked

22. Pre-Dispatch
Local Topography.
Temporary street closures, road works, etc
Alternative routes based on traffic patterns

23. Dispatch Exact address (landmarks if any) Exact nature of call
How many patients are there?
Any dangers at the scene. (Hazmat)
Additional Resources or Services also mobilised

24. Carefully and rapidly respond, ie amb ID “Mobile”
Travel to the Scene
Carefully and rapidly respond, ie amb ID “Mobile”
Activation Time
Response time
Time Limit
Choose the fastest and safest route.

25. Travel to the Scene
Obtain any additional information
Make any additional decisions re backup
Emergency / Urgent / Special Journeys

26. Factors which effect response times
Day of the Week
Time of Day
Weather
Road Maintenance and Construction
Railroad Crossings
Bridges, Toll-Bridges and Tunnels
Schools, and School Buses

27. Physician on Scene If the doctor assumes responsibility for the
patient, then the care of the patient cannot be
handed back to persons of lesser qualifications,
especially if invasive procedures have been
initiated by the doctor.
This will require that the doctor is transported
along with the patient to the hospital

28. Physician on Scene
If the doctor assumes responsibility for the patient, the ambulance crew shall work as a team with the doctor

29. Travel to Hospital Transport to appropriate facility
Provide continuous care and monitoring
Give an ETA and any special needs to control to pass on to the hospital

30. Actions at the Hospital
Hand over to appropriate individual
DO NOT leave patient unattended
Provide a brief but thorough report
Hand over paper work - get a signature

31. Actions at the Hospital Verbal Report on Hand-Over of Patient
NAME and AGE of the Patient
Chief Complaint
Mechanism of injury
SAMPLE
Clinical status
Report any abnormal vital signs
Clinical impression

32. Garda Escorts Requesting a Garda escort must be done
through the control and local protocols should be strictly adhered to
Consider category of
patient and risk to
rescuers and road users

33. Finding an Address on a Map
If received RT confirm Phonetic spelling with your control
Look up address in rear of map O/S book
Locate page number and Grid reference
Be aware of other sections in book
If vehicle is fitted with a GPS – become familiar with your make and model

34. QUESTIONS