EMS dispatch centers shall dispatch the correct resources to requests for ambulances.
The purpose of this guideline is to outline details regarding resources to be dispatched based on the nature of the call.
| Nature of Call |
Dispatcher Actions |
| All 9-1-1 calls |
Refer to Guideline 1-100 - Air Transport of Patients.
Refer to Guideline 1-200 - Ambulance Dispatch.
Refer to Protocol 2-924 - Universal Patient Care. |
| Structure fire or other incident where firefighters may be entering a hazardous atmosphere: Dispatch a non-dedicated standby ALS ambulance. |
| Aircraft Emergency 2 (Full Emergency) |
Dispatch closest ALS ambulance for standby. |
| Aircraft Emergency 3 (Accident) |
Dispatch closest two (2) ALS ambulances and Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| Aspirin Diagnostic |
Refer to Protocol 2-220 - Chest Pain / Suspected Cardiac Event. |
| Hazardous Materials Release |
If patient or patients: Refer to MPDS Protocol 8 below.
If no patients: Dispatch closest ALS ambulance for standby and notify Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| All MPDS Protocols |
Echo-level (not breathing): Dispatch closest ambulance, closest ALS ambulance (if closest is not ALS), and Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance).
In other words, the absolute closest ambulance should be dispatched. A total of two ALS providers should be dispatched. |
| MPDS Protocol 4 (Assault) |
4-D-1 (Arrest): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| 4-D-1 (Multiple Victims): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) and Rescue Task Force (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 7 (Burns) |
Refer to Guideline 1-300 - Ambulance Operations.
Refer to Protocol 2-176 - Burns. |
| 7-D-1 (Multiple Victims): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) and Rescue Task Force (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| 7-D-2 (Arrest): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| 7-C-4 (Significant Facial Burns): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 8 (Hazmat) |
Refer to Protocol 2-176 - Burns.
Refer to Protocol 2-352 - Exposure: Cyanide.
Refer to Protocol 2-374 - Exposure: Nerve Agents. |
| 8-D-1 (Arrest): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| 8-D-5 (Multiple Victims): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) and Rescue Task Force (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 9 (Cardiac Arrest) |
Cardiac arrest pathway: Refer to Protocol 2-198 - Cardiac Arrest. |
| Obvious or expected death: Refer to Protocol 2-198 - Cardiac Arrest. |
| MPDS Protocol 14 (Drowning) |
Obvious death: Refer to Protocol 2-286 - Drowning / Near Drowning. |
| 14-D-2 (Underwater): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 15 (Electrocution) |
15-D-1 (Multiple Victims): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) and Rescue Task Force (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 17 (Fall) |
17-D-2 (Arrest): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 18 (Headache) |
Stroke time window: Refer to Protocol 2-880 - Suspected Stroke.< |
| MPDS Protocol 20 (Heat/Cold Exposure) |
20-D-2 (Multiple Victims): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) and Rescue Task Force (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 21 (Hemorrhage) |
21-D-1 (Arrest): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 22 (Inaccessible) |
22-D-1 (Mechanical), 22-D-2 (Trench), 22-D-3 (Structure), 22-D-4 (Confined), 22-D-5 (Terrain), 22-D-6 (Mudslide), or 22-B-2 (Peripheral): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 24 (Pregnancy) |
High risk complications: Refer to Protocol 2-242 - Childbirth / Labor |
| 24-D-1 (Breech), 24-D-2 (Head Visible), 22-D-3 (Imminent), 24-D-6 (Baby Born, Baby Complications), or 24-D-7 (Baby Born, Mother Complications): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 27 (Penetrating) |
27-D-1 (Arrest): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| 27-D-6 (Multiple Victims): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) and Rescue Task Force (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 28 (Stroke) |
Stroke time window: Refer to Protocol 2-880 - Suspected Stroke. |
| MPDS Protocol 29 (Traffic) |
29-D-1 (Major Incident): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) and Rescue Task Force (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| 29-D-2 (High Mechanism), 29-D-4 (Hazmat), 29-D-5 (Pinned), or 29-D-6 (Arrest): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 30 (Trauma) |
30-D-1 (Arrest): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 31 (Unconscious) |
31-D-1 (Agonal): In addition to primary ambulance, dispatch Ops Ambulance (EMS Crew Leader) (or additional ALS ambulance). |
| MPDS Protocol 33 (Transfer) |
This protocol only applies to transfers out of a hospital (i.e., ER, ICU, etc.). All other requests for an ambulance should be processed using MPDS protocols 1 through 32.
Refer to Guideline 1-200-72 - Transfer Priority Calculator. |
