EMS Unit ID in CT

[fdscan]

You guys might know that CT uses a neat EMS Unit ID system, I'm sure other states do as well. I'm not sure as to whether this is a requirement or a preference, or what... Because I know some departments just use like "Medic-1" or whatever. Maybe it's outdated? Now that I look into it more, looks like not a lot of people at all use it. Just curious if anyone's got info on it...

Basically, the format I'm talking about is #1-phonetic alphabet term-#2

Now for a little algebra:

#1= Level of Care
phonetic alphabet term=Each agency is issued a letter (by who, I don't know), and they use the corresponding phonetic alphabet term to identify themselves on the radio, and in general.
#2 - Unit ID - The department/agency issues its own unit number or ID to each of its ambulances/cars, that goes here.

Level of Care:
My memory's a bit rusty, but this is what I remember.

1-First Aid/Basic Care
2-BLS/EMT Level
3-Not Sure
4-Heavy Rescue (Outdated/Not Used)
5-ALS

Phonetic Alphabet Terms:

From what I know, each EMS agency in the state is issued one of these, but I don't understand how we have one for EVERY agency, or who exactly distributes them. Anyone know?

Here is a list of what I know, off the top of my head... Post any if you know any.

Bravo: Ansonia
Charlie: AMR
Lima: Bethany
Fox: Ex-Woodbridge Vol. EMS, not sure who has it now...

For example, "5-Charlie-22" would be ALS unit 22 from AMR.

"2-Bravo-8" is Ansonia's new Ford, BLS unit 8.

I also know that some agencies simply use two numbers or a set of numbers without the letter, where the first number represents the level of care and the rest represent the unit ID designated by the dept.

Basically - I'm curious on who's got info on this, if it's still in use, who uses it, if it's a requirement, etc...

Thanks in advance, and hope you found this knowledgeable.

 

[Skooter92]

EMS Unit ID's

It's not consistent statewide, unfortunately. For example, in Stamford, when we ID on the Stamford TRS with SFRD dispatch, SEMS units ID as Medics 1-5, with the tour captain as "901". However, with SW CMED, we ID as "201" through "205", with the tour captain as "200". At night, our Medic 2 becomes Medic 92 on the TRS, which on CMED IDs as "292". and so on. Greenwich's units operate on the GPD TRS as Medics 1-4, with the ops supervisor as 1505. On CMED, GEMS comes up as "1511" through "1514", with the ops supervisor again as "1505". No particular rhyme or reason sometimes. I think it would be a dandy project for the state wiki to start a chart, broken down first by CMED, then community/service, of the CMED and local identifiers used by services. Might take a while, but as a collaborative project it could go quickly with some input.

 

[fdscan]

Yeah, I assumed that it wasn't consistent statewide. It is unfortunate, but then again with all the EMS agencies in the state I doubt the letters of the alphabet would be enough.

Stamford and Greenwich's systems seem pretty weird... Not sure how they change like that, why they wouldn't just stay as consistent as possible.

The chart sounds like a great idea. It would take a lot of help, but with the right people I'm sure it could be at least partially completed.

 

[gallagher073]

Danbury Ambulance, Inc. (Private Company, NOT the hosp) uses the same system.

5-Delta-XX

 

[firerick100]

heres a list i found on a search and also northwest cmed (waterbury area) uses numbers such as wolcott is 166 naugautuck is 088 (these are the tax codes for the towns.

Alpha New Haven Fire
Bravo Ansonia
Charlie New Haven AMR
Delta Hamden
Echo West Haven
Fox
Gulf Milford
Hotel Branford
India North Branford
Juliet Oxford
Kilo Derby
Lima Bethany
Mike North Haven
November AMR Valley
Oscar Meriden Fire
Papa Hunters Ambulance
Quebec East Haven
Romeo New Haven SHARPE Team
Sierra
Tango Seymour
Union
Victor Shelton (Echo HHL)
Whiskey Wallingford
X-ray Madison
Yankee Guilford
Zulu VEMS Units (Paramedic Intercepts out of Griffin)

 

[N1TGE]

If town codes were used across the board it would work just fine. Then special teams like SHARP or commercial services could use the alpha designators. Look at that, I just solved the problem.

 

[firerick100]

heres a list of town northwest takes care of

Northwest Connecticut Public Safety Communication Center's CMED Member Communities and Participating Hospitals

Beacon Falls
Bethel
Bethlehem
Brookfield
Cheshire
Danbury
Middlebury
Naugatuck
New Fairfield
Newtown
Oxford
Prospect
Redding
Ridgefield
Roxbury
Seymour
Southbury
Thomaston
Waterbury
Watertown
Wolcott
Woodbury

 

[kmacinct]

There is actually a Statewide Standard of unit identification, and it is well referenced in many documents, including the regional and statewide communicaitons plans.

It's known as "Plain English"

"Mytown Ambulance 6" coming to you BLS.....


.

 

[kmacinct]

If town codes were used across the board it would work just fine. Then special teams like SHARP or commercial services could use the alpha designators. Look at that, I just solved the problem.

You and I have discussed this before.. .The towns that cant agree on one agency, and insist on having 3,4, or even 5 emergency response agencies under the same community..... (Whole New Topic)..

I'll use Colchester (cause I can and there is only 1 agency)
Town Code "028"

What would you call the Westchester Ambulance?????

Oh yea, and I cant remember 159 town codes off the top of my head.... Plain English just works SO WELL........ (If people use it!)

 

[fdscan]

There is actually a Statewide Standard of unit identification, and it is well referenced in many documents, including the regional and statewide communicaitons plans.

It's known as "Plain English"

"Mytown Ambulance 6" coming to you BLS.....


.

I know, a lot of agencies use that method and it works just fine, not a problem with it. I was just curious about this one, and was wondering how often it is used - if it still is - today. Just looking for some info on it, that's all. Not necessarily in favor of it, but was looking to learn more myself and educate those who don't know about it.

 

[wa2chj]

Hunters Ambulance in South Central
2 Papa ## = EMT Basic
4 Papa ## = EMT Intermediate
5 Papa ## = Paramedic

Hunters Ambulance in North Central
300 Bravo ## = EMT Basic
300 Mike ## = EMT Inermediate
300 Alpha ## = Paramedic

## = 1-29 plus Supervisor Vehicles

Complicated? Yes! Confusing? You bet. I wish this state would use a state wide system!

Scott
WA2CHJ
CC-EMT-P

 

[fdscan]

Agreed. Statewide would be nice.

 

[izzyj4]

The correct (or at least as I remember it) statewide level of care was;

1- BLS first responder
2 -BLS transport
3 - Heavy rescue
4 - EMT Intermediate (fly car or on board ambulance)
5 - ALS (fly car or on board ambulance)

ALSO the Fox designation that used to be for Woodbridge FD ambulance I believe now is used by Nelson Ambulance up in the New Haven region. Uniform has been never used and I think Sierra was being used at one time but I do not remember by who. It wasn't being used when I was working there but after I left I want to say some part of the SHARP team was suing the designator.

 

[fdscan]

Okay THAT was the 1-5 list. I knew something was up with mine, but that's what I could piece together.

IIRC Nelson is now Nelcon... I don't regularly monitor them, but I'll take your word lol.

I don't know anything about Sierra. I could have sworn I saw something about Yale Med Students on that list... But never knew much about it. Doubt it's still up there.

 

[kmacinct]

EMS UNIT ID

Sierra
Clinton?????

 

[KB1JHU]

Sierras were some sort of first responder group at Yale. I don't know if they still have that program or if they just don't use the radio.

 

[PJH]

And for those in the NC CMED area, its Town code, level of care, unit number (or at least to be). Commerical services were in the high 800/900 range.

So for Granby it is (was) 40-Bravo-1 = Granby, BLS, Unit 1

If memory is correct:

Alpha - ALS
Bravo - BLS
Mike - Intermediate

There were a couple for fly cars etc, but don't them. The list is/was available on the CMED internet site. Its been awhile since I have been active on the EMS side of things.

 

[fdscan]

Scott - Yes, that must have been the one I was thinking of.

Thanks for the info, PJH.

 

[izzyj4]

Sierra
Clinton?????

You know, now that you mentioned it, Clinton may have used the Sierra designator way back when they came into the region. Now I have only heard them say "Clinton 9-4-1" for example when signing on.