Alright EMS detectives, what do you find odd about this report? When I think about my EMS system’s ability to reach me while I am on duty, something here doesn’t ring true.
In my little rural system, the communication center has several ways to contact me:
- Portable radio, which by policy must be turned on during the shift.
- Pager
- Unit mobile radio
- Unit mobile data terminal
- Cell phone, which I voluntarily allow to receive dispatch information during the shift
- Landlines at a hospital emergency department
- Landline at the station
Now, I’ll assume that at the very least DCFD EMS units have portable and mobile radios as well as MDT capabilities; someone can correct me if I’m wrong.
If the crew is on duty, they should be reachable, right? Even if they couldn’t respond due to mechanical issues, there should be the ability to maintain contact at all times.
If not, there should be policies and procedures in place for dispatchers to follow when the primary communication channel fails.
It seems like several things failed here.
I can’t even imagine not “pulling out the stops” when a fellow public safety member is critically injured. We’re here to support each other when the need is great.
Not having a system in place to provide an effective response to an officer down call makes one suspect what happens when it’s not as high profile.
Oh wait, we know that already.
