What does it mean in PA when an EMS dispatcher uses the terms "Class 1" or "Class 2" etc. ? I know Montgomery County, Berks and Lancaster Counties do it. I am guessing it has to do with the type of medical emergency the medics are being dispatched for.
EMS classes in PA
- Thread starter policefreak
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For Montgomery County, the patient classes are:
Class 1 : Immediately Life Threatening
Class 2 : Potentially Life Threatening
Class 3 : Non Life Threatening
Class 4 : Psychiatric
Class 5 : Deceased
An X after the class designates a violent patient...most often used with Class 4.
This system is not uniform and different areas use slightly different classifications.
Lehigh County uses an Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc. response criteria when dispatching. A similar system is described here:
http://www.fordyce.org/scanning/scanning_info/scfcodes.html
Class 1 : Immediately Life Threatening
Class 2 : Potentially Life Threatening
Class 3 : Non Life Threatening
Class 4 : Psychiatric
Class 5 : Deceased
An X after the class designates a violent patient...most often used with Class 4.
This system is not uniform and different areas use slightly different classifications.
Lehigh County uses an Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc. response criteria when dispatching. A similar system is described here:
http://www.fordyce.org/scanning/scanning_info/scfcodes.html
Last edited:
Steveradio
Member
Lehigh & Berks use the same along with Northampton and many others. Unknown if these are set by Regional standards or other reasons, I forget.
The Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta & Echo codes used by Lehigh Co are a compiled list of questions asked by the dispatcher to the caller and depending on what the answers are you go to another screen and a classification is given from that.
Alpha is least severe of emergency where Echo is get as quick as you can, Echo is normally used for Cardiac Arrest or severe MVA's with Class 5 etc..
If someone has a better list or response of ABCDE please post. Also curious if any other counties in PA use this too?
Steve
The Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta & Echo codes used by Lehigh Co are a compiled list of questions asked by the dispatcher to the caller and depending on what the answers are you go to another screen and a classification is given from that.
Alpha is least severe of emergency where Echo is get as quick as you can, Echo is normally used for Cardiac Arrest or severe MVA's with Class 5 etc..
If someone has a better list or response of ABCDE please post. Also curious if any other counties in PA use this too?
Steve
senduhelp
Member
I know in the Cumberland/Dauphin County area the following are true:
Class 1: ALS unit lights/sirens in use
Class 2: BLS unit lights/sirens in use
Class 3: no lights/sires, routine travel
Class 1: ALS unit lights/sirens in use
Class 2: BLS unit lights/sirens in use
Class 3: no lights/sires, routine travel
NodrogCop
Member
Lancaster County is the following:
Class 1: ALS unit lights/sirens in use
Class 2: BLS unit lights/sirens in use - around here, usually has a Medic aboard anyway
Class 3: BLS no lights or sirens
Class 1: ALS unit lights/sirens in use
Class 2: BLS unit lights/sirens in use - around here, usually has a Medic aboard anyway
Class 3: BLS no lights or sirens
Steveradio said:
If I recall, this is one of the items that is standardized on a regional basis through the Regional EMS Council.
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=170&Q=246137
scanjunkie
Member
The only time you will see an "X" after Class 5 is when encountering the occassional Zombie, or the politically correct term, the Living Dead!benrussellpa said:
Clarification:
There are class codes for response, as noted by senduhelp and NodrogCop.
There are also patient condition codes, but they depend on the Regional EMS Council.
The Class 1-5 are used in Eastern PA Regional (includes Lehigh, Schuylkill, etc.)
In Central PA, There are only 4 classes. 1-3 are the same, 4 is deceased. There is no specific class for psych patients.
There are class codes for response, as noted by senduhelp and NodrogCop.
There are also patient condition codes, but they depend on the Regional EMS Council.
The Class 1-5 are used in Eastern PA Regional (includes Lehigh, Schuylkill, etc.)
In Central PA, There are only 4 classes. 1-3 are the same, 4 is deceased. There is no specific class for psych patients.
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