Niagara EMS codes

[Doug093]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum, infact this is my first posting. I've recently gotten into scanning the Niagara EMS, and local fire departments. I was origionally only into scanners for at the airport while spotting, but when I upgraded my scanner I got hooked on this more so than aviation now Enough of my rambling, I have just 2 questions and I am wondering if someone can help me. When I listn to Niagara EMS and they hand out a call, they will use "DSA" and "HBD". Those are 2 terms that I haven't figured out. If someone can help me that would be great.

Dougler

 

[SCPD]

VSA - vital signs absent (deceased)
HBD - has been drinking (intoxicated)

You'll probably come across a bunch more. They've been posted before in this forum, but it might take a bit of searching.

 

[Doug093]

VSA - vital signs absent (deceased)
HBD - has been drinking (intoxicated)

You'll probably come across a bunch more. They've been posted before in this forum, but it might take a bit of searching.

Thank you for your reply! I've come across alot of different ones, but these 2 were giving me the most trouble in figureing out what they meant. I do have 1 more that comes to mind, DSA(Doesn't seem alive?).

Thanks again,
Doug

 

[SCPD]

I think what you're hearing as DSA is really VSA.

 

[Thornhill20]

I listened to Niagara EMS for close to 7 years and I've never heard "DSA"...my guess is that you're mistaking VSA for DSA.

One thing that took me awhile to figure out was particularly used by PCDAS (Port Colborne and District Ambulance Service), which was what sounded like "MED Center"...the fire department and police also use it a lot. In reality, they're saying "MET-CENTER" which is the Marine Education and Training Center on Barber Drive along the Welland Canal.

Also I kept hearing them refering to "The Dew", which is really "The Dieu", as in the Hotel Dieu hospital...that should be obvious, but it took me a bit to figure it out

You might also hear an ambulance, particularly one from the Port Colborne or Fort Erie base saying something like "we've arrived at the bend"...that refers to what is commonly called the "S" bend...on Highway 3 on the border of Port Colborne and Fort Erie (Holloway Bay Road and Highway 3)...units do Code 8 Standby's there all the time.

What else might you hear...hmm. I've only heard it a few times, but sometimes you'll hear an ambulance sent to "the portal" for a standby...this is Highway 140 and Highway 406...the portal to the Welland Canal tunnel.

That's about it.

-M

 

[jellotor]

Don't forget the other hospitals. "The General" is St. Catharines General. "Welland County" (or often just "County") is the Welland hospital.

There is some shorthand used for the Lincoln hospital at times too but I can't seem to recall it.

 

[snowplowguy]

Lincoln hospital is located in Grimsby and is called West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. The drivers usually refer to it as "West Lincoln".

Also you may hear the term ...... GNGH

Which is Greater Niagara General Hospital located in Niagara Falls.


Port Colborne General is another Niagara Hospital.

 

[Thornhill20]

There's also DMH, which is Douglas Memorial Hospital in Fort Erie.

There's official MOH shortforms for these hospitals that I've heard used as well..such as WCGH for Welland County General Hospital, HDH for Hotel Dieu, etc...

If anyone on here has access to a Niagara EMS map book, they're printed in the back.

-M

 

[jellotor]

...I forgot about Greater Niagara General. GNGH really seems to roll off the tongue as far as paramedics and dispatchers are concerned.

 

[snowplowguy]

There is some shorthand used for the Lincoln hospital at times too but I can't seem to recall it.

Heard them use it yesterday........

GMH

Grimsby Memorial Hospital.... aka.... West Lincoln Memorial Hospital

 

[jellotor]

That's the one. I've got to admit I haven't listened to Niagara EMS for the past two months or so...been busy with 'other projects.'

'The Dieu' is a commonly misunderstood/misheard one and I had a chuckle when I read it on here. An assignment editor asked me about six months ago why it was that Niagara paramedics were being sent to a place called 'the doo.'

I guess it's easy to screw up if you're unfamiliar with Niagara area hospitals.

 

[Doug093]

Thanks for your help everybody! This is straying from my origional question, but are there any frequencies I can pick the NRP up on with a Pro-82? I am pretty sure I can't(As I've tried several). So then the next question becomes, what type of scanner can pick them up? :?:

The Dougler!

 

[EJB]

None, the NRP is encrypted.
Eric

 

[Doug093]

None, the NRP is encrypted.
Eric

What is the point in that, its not like anything major ever happens in Niagara. What about the OPP? Are they the same way.

The Dougler :!:

 

[EJB]

The OPP are 'scannable' with digital scanners. Pro 96 and BC296D are a few of the options.

 

[jellotor]

[quote="Doug093]
What is the point in that, its not like anything major ever happens in Niagara. What about the OPP? Are they the same way.
[/quote]

Quite the opposite, actually. There are a lot of things going on in Niagara and some of them never become public knowledge due to the encryption in place.

If ever there was a location I wish wasn't encrypted it is Niagara. Perhaps the interest in hearing what I can't hear now is overwhelming me...

 

[snowplowguy]

VSA combined with a Code 5 ....... must be a nasty site.

Heard 2 of those locally this week.

 

[Doug093]

VSA combined with a Code 5 ....... must be a nasty site.

Heard 2 of those locally this week.

Heard 2 of those today, however not the same Combo's. First was just a VSA. Then about an hour ago VSA which turned into a code 5 However, I tried tuning into the EMS again(Been listning to Lincoln Fire since I finally found there freq), but anyways, haven't heard a peep on the EMS frequency all day. 155.130 is what I thought it was.

 

[Saint]

re-155.130

VSA combined with a Code 5 ....... must be a nasty site.

Heard 2 of those locally this week.

Heard 2 of those today, however not the same Combo's. First was just a VSA. Then about an hour ago VSA which turned into a code 5 However, I tried tuning into the EMS again(Been listning to Lincoln Fire since I finally found there freq), but anyways, haven't heard a peep on the EMS frequency all day. 155.130 is what I thought it was.

In Fort Erie 155.130 was one of the main frequencies to listen to the ambulances in the Niagara Region Untill the ambulances went to the bell fleetnet trunked system. I hear nothing on this frequency anymore.
Steve

 

[mciupa]

Re: re-155.130

In Fort Erie, 155.130 was one of the frequencies to listen to ... I hear nothing on this frequency anymore.

And I guess that 152.135 Cardiac will be silent as well.
Steve, have you seen/heard them using the TACT talkgroups ?