D. Ambulance Response Zone - A specific geographic area within the ambulance service area, which is
designated by the EMS Agency for the assignment of primary and back-up ambulance resources.
E. Back-Up Response - A response to provide back-up by a mutual aid ambulance to an incident requiring
more than one (1) ambulance, a response into another service area who's resources are committed or
unavailable, or to provide assistance to a primary responding ambulance.
F. Cover Unit - The movement of a unit from its home service area to provide temporary ambulance coverage
for one or more service areas without ambulance coverage.
G. Emergency Medical Dispatch Protocols – Protocols used by an Emergency Medical Dispatcher to
determine priority of response and provision of appropriate pre-arrival instructions.
H. Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) – An individual who has successfully completed a course of
instruction approved by the Local EMS Agency and who is certified by the Local EMS Agency.
I. Event Stand-By – A special event that requires an ambulance be on stand-by in the event a medical
emergency occurs. A special event stand-by can require that the ambulance(s) be committed to that event
or that the ambulance is non-committed to the event (still available for call assignment as required by
system demands). Examples of Event stand-by’s include football and basketball games, fairs, concerts, etc.
J. Indirect Requests - A source other than the patient, someone with the patient (including on-scene rescuers),
or a physician calling for their patient. This includes a calling party that is unable to answer key questions
regarding the patient because they are not with the patient.
K. Incident Stand-By – An incident that necessitates that an ambulance be on stand-by in the event a medical
emergency occurs. This can include, but not be limited to, incidents involving a fire, hazardous materials,
police action or as requested.
L. Operations Channel – A radio channel, different than the primary dispatch channel, that is assigned by the
ambulance dispatch center for an incident or incidents.
M. Priority 1 - A lights and siren immediate response for a presumed life-threatening condition. Such
incidents have a significant probability of a patient in cardiac arrest, having an airway problem, or serious
compromise of the respiratory or cardiovascular systems, including, shock. This prompts the response of
the closest advanced life support ambulance unit (if available) and the closest non-transport first responder
unit in order to provide the most rapid response of personnel who can provide immediate basic life support
in the form of airway management, CPR, bleeding control, and, if available, defibrillation. If the provider
agency for the zone in question offers paramedic services, a paramedic ambulance shall be dispatched on
this call for the provision of an advanced life support assessment. Transport is the next most important
treatment mechanism. Therefore, the closest ambulance unit should be responded, including the diversion
of an ambulance unit enroute to a lesser priority response. Specific response time requirements may exist
through agreements with provider agencies.
N. Priority 2 - A lights and siren immediate response for a presumed emergency condition. This priority
prompts the immediate response of the closest advanced life support ambulance unit (if available). If the
provider agency for the zone in question offers paramedic services, a paramedic ambulance shall be
dispatched on this call for the provision of an advanced life support assessment. Such incidents may require
immediate transportation and, if available, advanced life support care to treat the patient's emergency
condition. In an urban setting with rapid ambulance response times, the response of a non-transport first
responder unit is not necessary as the need for immediate basic life support intervention is limited.
However, in rural, remote, or wilderness areas where the ambulance response is prolonged, the response of
a non-transport first responder unit is appropriate to provide supportive basic life support until the arrival of
the ambulance. Specific response time requirements may exist through agreements with provider agencies.