Chapter 4
EMS System
Communications
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4-1
Objectives
4-2
Communications Systems
4-3
Communication
• Communication
– The exchange of thoughts and messages
that occurs by sending and receiving
information
– Use clear text or speech to relay data
4-4
Regulation
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
– Responsible for regulation of interstate and
international communications
– Develops and enforces rules and regulations
pertaining to radio transmissions
– Controls licenses and allocates frequencies
– Establishes technical standards for radio
equipment
– Monitors frequencies for appropriate usage
– Spot-checks for licenses and records
4-5
Radio Frequencies and Ranges
4-6
Very High Frequency (VHF)
• Band
• VHF low band frequencies
– Bend and follow the curvature of the earth
• VHF high band frequencies
– Travel in a straight line
4-7
Ultra-High Frequency (UHF)
• Radio waves travel in a straight line
– Can reflect off or bounce around buildings
– Shorter range than VHF high or low bands
• Often requires the use of repeaters
4-8
800-Megahertz Frequencies
•
UHF radio signals
•
Allow clear communication with minimal
interference
•
Trunking system
– Allows routing of a transmission to the
first available frequency
•
Use multiple repeaters
4-9
Communications Equipment
4-10
Base Station
• A radio located at a stationary site such
as a hospital, mountain top, or public
safety agency
4-11
Mobile Two-Way Radios
• Vehicle-mounted
device
• Usually transmit at
lower power than base
stations (20 to 50
watts)
• Typical transmission
range is 10 to 15 miles
over average terrain
4-12
Portable Radios
• Handheld device
• Typically have power
output of 1 to 5 watts
– Limited range
4-13
Repeater
• Receives a transmission from a low-power
device on one frequency and retransmits at a
higher power on another frequency
4-14
Digital Radio Equipment
•
•
•
•
Pagers
Mobile data computers (MDCs)
Automatic vehicle locator (AVL)
Global positioning system (GPS)
4-15
Cellular Telephones
• Geographic “cells”
• Each cell has a base station to transmit
and receive signals
• Transfer unit’s radio activity to the
appropriate cell base station
4-16
Transmission Modes
•
•
•
•
One-way
Simplex
Duplex
Multiplex
4-17
9-1-1
• 9-1-1
– Official national emergency
number in the United States and
Canada
• Enhanced 9-1-1
– Routes call to 9-1-1 center
closest to caller
– Automatically displays caller’s
phone number and address
– Most 9-1-1 systems are
Enhanced 9-1-1 systems
4-18
Dispatch
4-19
Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)
4-20
Guidelines for
Effective Radio Communication
4-21
Guidelines for Effective Radio Communication
• Check equipment at the start of your shift
• Before speaking into the radio:
– Make sure radio is on and the volume is properly
adjusted
– Reduce background noise as much as possible
– Listen to make sure frequency is clear before
speaking
– Hold the radio’s microphone 2 to 3 inches away
from your mouth
– Locate and press the “push to talk” (PTT) button
– Pause (with the PTT button depressed) for one to
two seconds before speaking
4-22
Guidelines for Effective Radio Communication
• Address unit being called by name and
number
• Identify the name/number of your unit
• Wait for unit being called to signal you to
begin
• Relay your message
• Speak clearly
• Keep transmissions brief
• “Clear” at the end of your message
4-23
Guidelines for Effective Radio Communication
• Use plain English
– Avoid use of “ten codes” and slang
• Avoid meaningless phrases, such as “Be advised”
• Do not use profanity on the air
• Avoid words that are hard to hear like “yes” and “no”
– Use “affirmative” and “negative”
• Courtesy is assumed
– No need to say “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re
welcome”
• When transmitting numbers, give the number, then
give the individual digits
• Do not offer a diagnosis of the patient’s complaint or
injury
4-24
En Route to the Call
4-25
En Route to the Call
• Dispatch:
– “Medic 51 (five, one), respond code 3 to 4321 (four, three,
two, one) East Main Street for a report of difficulty
breathing. Call number 987 (nine, eight, seven). Time out
1402 (one, four, zero, two).”
• Medic 51:
– Dispatch, Medic 51 (five, one) received. Responding to
report of difficulty breathing at four, three, two, one East
Main Street.”
• Dispatch:
– “Medic 51, Dispatch received, you are responding. Caller
reports your patient is 70-year-old female in the kitchen of
this address. The door will be unlocked. 1403.”
• Medic 51:
– “Dispatch, Medic 51, received. 70-year-old female in the
kitchen and the door will be unlocked.”
4-26
Arrival at the Scene
4-27
Arrival at the Scene
• Medic 51:
– “Dispatch, Medic 51. We are on scene.”
• Dispatch Center:
– “Medic 51, Dispatch received, on scene
at 1406.”
4-28
When to Notify Dispatch
• Receiving the call
• Responding to the call
• Arriving at the scene
• Leaving the scene for the receiving facility
• Arriving at the receiving facility
• Leaving the hospital for the station
• Arriving at the station
4-29
Communicating with the Patient
• Identify yourself
• Respectfully explain that you are there to
provide assistance
4-30
Communicating with
Individuals from Other Agencies
• Organized
• Concise
• Thorough
• Accurate
4-31
Communicating with
Individuals from Other Agencies
Hand-off report to ALS personnel:
• Identify yourself as an EMT
• Report the patient’s name (if known), age, gender,
primary problem (chief complaint), and current condition
• Describe what happened and the position in which the
patient was found
• Describe pertinent assessment findings, including vital
signs
• Report any medical history you obtained from the patient
• Describe the emergency medical care that you gave
• Describe the patient’s response to the treatment given
• Orders received from medical direction (if applicable )
4-32
Communicating with Medical Direction
4-33
Communicating with Medical Direction
• Communications should be:
– Professional
– Organized
– Concise
– Accurate
– Pertinent
• “Echo” any orders received
4-34
En Route to the Receiving Facility
4-35
En Route to the Receiving Facility
• Receiving facility radio report
– Identify unit and level of care provider (such as
BLS, ALS)
– Estimate time of arrival at facility
– Patient’s age and gender
– Chief complaint
– Brief, pertinent history of present illness or
problem
– Major past illnesses
– Mental status
– Vital signs
– Pertinent physical exam findings
– Emergency medical care given
– Response to emergency medical care
4-36
Arrival at the Receiving Facility
4-37
Arrival at the Receiving Facility
• Notify dispatch as soon as you arrive at the
receiving facility.
• Medic 51:
– “Dispatch, Medic 51. Arrival at Anytown
Medical Center.”
• Dispatch Center:
– “Received, Medic 51. Arrival at Anytown
Medical Center at 1448.”
4-38
Arrival at the Receiving Facility
• Verbal (“hand-off”) report
– Introduce the patient by
name (if known)
– Patient’s chief complaint
– Pertinent patient history
– Emergency medical care
given
– Patient’s response to care
given
– Vital signs taken en route
– Any additional information
4-39
En Route to the Station
4-40
En Route to the Station
• Notify dispatch when you are leaving the
receiving facility and are en route to the
station.
• Medic 51:
• Dispatch:
• Medic 51:
• Dispatch:
“Medic 51 to Dispatch.”
“Dispatch. Go ahead Medic 51.”
“Dispatch, Medic 51 is leaving
Anytown Medical Center en route to
our station.”
“Received, Medic 51. En route to
your station. Time: 1510.”
4-41
En Route to the Station
• Contact dispatch again on arrival at the
station or when you enter your service area,
per your agency’s guidelines.
• Medic 51:
• Dispatch:
• Medic 51:
• Dispatch:
“Medic 51 to Dispatch.”
“Dispatch. Medic 51 – go ahead.”
“Dispatch, Medic 51 is back at our
station and in service.”
“Received, Medic 51. In station and
available for service. Time: 1518.”
4-42
Legal Considerations
4-43
Legal Considerations
• Communication with a patient
should always be:
– Direct
– Polite
– Honest
• Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA)
4-44
Questions?
4-45