EMD Codes

[radiotrack1]

My county currently use Emergency Medical Dispatch Codes for paging EMS calls. Does any one know if these codes are pretty much standard throughout anywhere that uses them or does it vary. I have a complete list of what the codes are if anyone wants to compare them. For example a motor vehicle accident is considered SIGNAL 29. Then after the signal they give a response code such as D4 for subject pinned.

[ab8sf]

Mostly plain language for my are in Michigan. The only time they use a code is if its a fatal, in which case they use a code (usually "K" or a few others depending on agency). Doesn't really help with information security when used this way.... Probably more for shorthand or as a euphemism.

Jim AB8SF

[AndrewJohnson]

If You Would Please Post Them

Thanks

[Robbyboy]

AndrewJohnson --

I quickly googled AMPDS and came up with the site that I usually refer to (I believe his first name is) Jim Fordyce has a site that I am going to post a link to right here:

http://www.fordyce.org/scanning/scan.../scfcodes.html

Originally Posted by AndrewJohnson

If You Would Please Post Them

Thanks

[CFP387]

Originally Posted by radiotrack1

Does any one know if these codes are pretty much standard throughout anywhere that uses them or does it vary.

I believe that the EMD codes are standard across most of the country. Here a "signal 29", as you call it, is considered a "Traffic Accident With Injury" and it is followed by the page on which the patient's chief complaints are found.

(29A1) in Rowan County could be loosely translated to:

• 29: Traffic accident with injury

• A: Intensity or severity of the patients per the caller. A is minor scrapes and cuts, through E, complete laceration, convulsions, CPR in progress, or confirmed fatality.

• 1: The page in the EMD flipbook on which the patient's chief complaint is found.

Originally Posted by radiotrack1

I have a complete list of what the codes are if anyone wants to compare them.

By all means, please do. I have a list of codes 1 through 39 that we use, but I'd like to see just how our list stacks up to some of yours. I'll have to do some digging and post my list here.

[Robbyboy]

Originally Posted by CFP387

(29A1) in Rowan County could be loosely translated to:

• 29: Traffic accident with injury

• A: Intensity or severity of the patients per the caller. A is minor scrapes and cuts, through E, complete laceration, convulsions, CPR in progress, or confirmed fatality.

• 1: The page in the EMD flipbook on which the patient's chief complaint is found.

By all means, please do. I have a list of codes 1 through 39 that we use, but I'd like to see just how our list stacks up to some of yours. I'll have to do some digging and post my list here.

With AMPDS there is some room for interpretation BUT the one major reason it came to life was so that responders did not have to interpret response types (Emergent, Non-Emergent) For PDS purposes, they only use Hot and Cold. Hot is Lights and Sirens, and Cold is Routine Traffic. PDS Does not recognize lights, but no sirens , etc. If my memory Serves me correctly:

• A: Nearest BLS Cold
• B: Nearest BLS Hot
• C: Nearest ALS Hot, Nearest BLS Cold
• D: Nearest ALS & BLS Hot
• E: All responding units Hot (Screened as in immenant life threat, only one that comes immediately to mind is 9E01 which is a working cardiac arrest/imminent death)
• O: Public Service Call (i.e. Old lady MacGillicuddy was cleaning the sink trap and for some reason cannot get back up because she is "Old")

Hope my Tongue in cheek helps put matters into perspective!

Cheers

[CFP387]

One other thing: when dispatching, our county uses "clear code", as some call it, which is just plain english.

Dispatch protocol is:

• Station or units to respond
• Type of call
• Address or nearest location
• Cross-streets or nearest intersection
• Patient's chief complaint or size up of call
• Ops channel for all radio traffic

Only on text messages (via Nextel or alpha-numeric paging) after dispatch do these EMD codes show. There is never a reference to an "alpha response".

The text message would be as follows (this is not meant to be a real call):

(17B1) FALL W INJURY/1755 N MAIN ST
SALISBURY/17TH STREET AND 18TH
STREET/NORTH FROM SQUARE TO CITY
LIMITS/5008/ E522/FDFG2/ 75YOF C/A/B
FELL FROM STANDING POSITION.

Translation: The call is on North Main Street between 17th and 18th streets and between the square in Salisbury and the city limits. A 75 year old female has fallen who is conscious, alert, and breathing.

[pinetree]

Try this site for a copy (pdf) of the flip chart.

http://www.memphisfire.net/divisions/ems/

[radiotrack1]

Our code appear very similar to suffolk county codes listed but there is some difference here is what I Have

EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH CODES

1. ABDOMINAL PAIN, PROBLEMS

A1 Abdominal Pain

C1 Fainting or near fainting > 50
C2 Females with fainting or near fainting 12 – 50
C3 Males with pain above the naval > 35
C4 Females with pain above naval > 45

D1 Not alert

2. ALLERGIES (STINGS, BITES)

A1 No difficulty breathing
A2 Spider bite

B1 Unknown status

C1 Difficulty breathing or swallowing
C2 Special medications or injections used

D1 Severe respiratory distress
D2 Not alert
D3 Condition worsening
D4 Swarming attack
D5 Snake bite

E1 Ineffective breathing

3. ANIMAL BITE, ATTACKS

A1 Not dangerous body area
A2 Non recent injuries
A3 Superficial bites

B1 Possible dangerous area
B2 Serious hemorrhage
B3 Unknown status

D1 Unconscious or arrest
D2 Not alert
D3 Dangerous body area
D4 Large animal
D5 Exotic animal
D6 Attack or multiple animals

4. ASSAULT, SEXUAL ASSAULT

A1 Not dangerous body area
A2 Non recent injuries

B1 Possible dangerous area
B2 Serious Hemorrhage
B3 Unknown Status


D1 Unconscious or arrest
D2 Not alert
D3 Abnormal breathing
D4 Dangerous body area
D5 Multiple Victims

5. BACK PAIN (NON TRAUMATIC)

A1 Non traumatic back pain
A2 Non recent traumatic back pain

C1 Fainting or near fainting > 50

D1 Not alert

6. BREATHING PROBLEMS

C1 Abnormal breathing
C2 Cardiac history

D1 Severe respiratory distress
D2 Not alert
D3 Clammy

E1 Ineffective breathing

7. BURNS, EXPLOSION

A1 Burns < 18% body area
A2 Fire alarm
A3 Sunburn or minor burn

B1 Unknown status

C1 Building fire with entrapment
C2 Difficulty breathing
C3 Burns > 18%

D1 Unconscious or arrest
D2 Severe respiratory distress
D3 Not alert
D4 Explosion
D5 Multiple victims

8. CARBON MONOXIDE INHALATION

A1 Carbon monoxide alarm

B1 Alert without difficulty breathing

C1 Alert with difficulty breathing
D1 Unconscious or arrest
D2 Severe respiratory distress
D3 Hazmat
D4 Not alert
D5 Multiple victims
D6 Unknown status

9. CARDIAC, RESPIRATORY ARREST OR DEATH

O1 Expected death

B1 Obvious death

D1 Ineffective breathing

E1 Not breathing at all, Full arrest
E2 Breathing uncertain
E3 Hanging
E4 Strangulation
E5 Suffocation
E6 Drowning

10. CHEST PAIN

A1 Breathing normal < 35

C1 Abnormal breathing
C2 Cardiac history
C3 Cocaine
C4 Breathing Normal > 35

D1 Severe Respiratory distress
D2 Not alert
D3 Clammy

11. CHOKING

A1 Not choking now

D1 Not alert
D2 Abnormal breathing

E1 Choking verified ineffective breathing

12. CONVULSIONS SEIZURES

A1 Not seizing now

B1 Breathing regular not verified < 35

C1 Pregnancy
C2 Diabetic
C3 Cardiac history

D1 Not breathing
D2 Continuous or multiple seizures
D3 Irregular breathing
D4 Breathing regular not verified > 35

13. DIABETIC PROBLEMS

A1 Alert


C1 Not alert
C2 Abnormal behavior
C3 Abnormal Breathing

D1 Unconscious

14. DROWNING, DIVING, SCUBA ACCIDENT

A1 Alert and breathing normal (out of water)

B1 Alert with injuries (in water)
B2 Unknown status

C1 Alert with abnormal breathing

D1 Unconscious
D2 Not alert
D3 Diving or suspected neck injury
D4 Scuba incident

15. ELECTROCUTION, LIGHTNING

C1 Alert and breathing normal

D1 Unconscious
D2 Not disconnected from power
D3 Power not off or hazard present
D4 Long fall
D5 Not alert
D6 Abnormal Breathing
D7 Unknown status

E1 Not breathing or ineffective

16. EYE INJURIES

A1 Moderate eye injuries
A2 Minor eye injuries
A3 Medical eye problems

B1 Severe eye injury

D1 Not alert

17. FALLS

O1 Public assist

A1 Non dangerous body area
A2 Non recent

B1 Possible dangerous body area
B2 Serious hemorrhage
B3 Unknown status


D1 Dangerous body area
D2 Long fall
D3 Not alert
D4 Abnormal breathing

18. HEADACHE

A1 Breathing normally

B1 Unknown status

C1 Not alert
C2 Abnormal Breathing
C3 Speech problems
C4 Sudden onset of severe pain
C5 Numbness or paralysis
C6 Change in behavior

19. HEART PROBLEMS

A1 Heart rate > 50 bpm but < 130 bpm
A2 Chest pain < 35

B1 Unknown status

C1 Firing of AICD
C2 Abnormal breathing
C3 Chest pain > 35
C4 Cardiac history
C5 Cocaine
C6 Heart rate < 50 bpm or >130 bpm

D1 Severe respiratory distress
D2 Not alert
D3 Clammy

20. HEAT, COLD EXPOSURE

A1 Alert

B1 Change in skin color
B2 Unknown status

C1 Cardiac history
D1 Not alert

21. HEMORRHAGE

A1 Not dangerous hemorrhage
A2 Minor hemorrhage

B1 Possible dangerous hemorrhage
B2 Serious hemorrhage
B3 Bleeding disorder

C1 Hemorrhage through tubes


D1 Dangerous hemorrhage
D2 Not alert
D3 Abnormal breathing

22. INDUSTRIAL, MACHINERY ACCIDENT

B1 Unknown status

D1 Life status questionable
D2 Caught in machinery
D3 Multiple victims

23. OVERDOSE, POISONING

O1 Poisoning

B1 Overdose

C1 Violent
C2 Not alert
C3 Abnormal breathing
C4 Antidepressants
C5 Cocaine
C6 Narcotics
C7 Acid (Alkali)
C8 Unknown status
C9 Poison control request for response

D1 Unconscious
D2 Severe respiratory distress

24. PREGANCY, CHILDBIRTH, MISCARRIAGE

A1 First trimester bleeding

B1 Labor not imminent
B2 Unknown status

C1 Second trimester bleeding
C2 First trimester serious bleeding


D1 Breech or cord
D2 Head visible
D3 Imminent delivery
D4 Third trimester bleeding
D5 High risk complications
D6 Baby born

25. PSYCHIATRIC, MENTAL, BEHAVIOR

A1 Non violent and non suicidal

B1 Violent
B2 Threatening suicide
B3 Near hanging, strangulation or suffocation
B4 Unknown status

D1 Not alert


26. SICK CALL

A1 thru A26 Non priority symptoms

B1 Unknown status

C1 Cardiac history

D1 Not alert

27. STAB, GUNSHOT, PENETRATING TRAUMA

A1 Non recent

B1 Non recent central wound
B2 Known single peripheral wound
B3 Serious hemorrhage
B4 Unknown status

D1 Unconscious or arrest
D2 Not alert
D3 Central wound
D4 Multiple wounds
D5 Multiple victims

Ending in G=Gunshot

Ending in S=Stabbing

28. STROKE (CVA)

A1 Breathing normal < 35

B1 Unknown status

C1 Not alert
C2 Abnormal breathing
C3 Speech or movement problems
C4 Numbness or tingling
C5 Stroke history
C6 Breathing normally > 35

29. TRAFFIC COLLISION

A1 First party call not dangerous injury

B1 Minor Injuries
B2 Multiple victims (one ambulance)
B3 Multiple victims (additional ambulances)
B4 Serious hemorrhage
B5 Other Hazards
B6 Unknown

D1 Major Incident
a. Aircraft
b. Bus
c. Subway/metro
d. Train
e. Watercraft
D2 High mechanism
a. All terrain vehicle
b. Auto versus bicycle or motorcycle
c. Auto versus pedestrian
d. Ejection
e. Personal watercraft
f. Rollover
g. Vehicle over bridge/height or embankment
D3 Hazmat
D4 Trapped or pinned
D5 Ejection

30. TRAUMATIC INJURIES

A1 Not dangerous body area
A2 Non recent trauma

B1 Possible dangerous body area
B2 Serious hemorrhage

D1 Dangerous area
D2 Not alert
D3 Abnormal breathing

31. Unconscious

A1 Single episode

C1 Alert difficulty breathing
C2 Cardiac history
C3 Multiple episodes
C4 Single episode > 35
C5 Females 12 – 50 with abdominal pain

D1 Unconscious
D2 Severe respiratory distress
D3 Not Alert

E1 Ineffective breathing

32. UNKNOWN PROBLEM

B1 Standing, sitting, walking, talking
B2 Medical alert
B3 Unknown status

D1 Life status questionable

33. DOCTORS OFFICE AND CARE HOME TRASNPORT

A1 Transport by air unit
A2

C6 Emergency Response

T=Transport
P=Palpitate