Sac Metro Fire Terminology

[servo_fan]

A few questions about units, and terminology.

1. Lately I've heard a few unit identifiers that I don't remember hearing before, and I'm not sure what/who they are. They tend to come up on the tac channels during more "intensive" calls. Some of the units I've heard in the last few days are 7151, and 2444. What or who are these units?

2. What is a "MCI"? I'm thinking it's for Mass Casualty Incident, or something like that? Sometimes Batallion Commanders are asked if they are declaring a MCI, and the other day I heard one declared, but wasn't sure what that meant exactly.

3. When checking hospital status, what does "immediate" mean? When units ask if there are any diversions, sometimes hospitals are "immediate" and others are "open". Does "immediate" mean the hospital is closed temporarily because they are too busy?

Thanks!

 

[Eng74]

In general terms that are used in CA MCI is Mass Casualty Incident. If you declear a MCI (in Kern county we call it a Med Alert) It starts alerts the hospitals and they can tell how many (number of red, yellow , or green tags) Pt. they can take. It is just another part of managing incidents. As for immediate I would guess that is for pt. that are immediate need. the hospital is not closed but not taking anymore pts. If a pt. is immediate the next hospital might be too far to transport to.

 

[Sac916]

A few questions about units, and terminology.

1. Lately I've heard a few unit identifiers that I don't remember hearing before, and I'm not sure what/who they are. They tend to come up on the tac channels during more "intensive" calls. Some of the units I've heard in the last few days are 7151, and 2444. What or who are these units?

2. What is a "MCI"? I'm thinking it's for Mass Casualty Incident, or something like that? Sometimes Batallion Commanders are asked if they are declaring a MCI, and the other day I heard one declared, but wasn't sure what that meant exactly.

3. When checking hospital status, what does "immediate" mean? When units ask if there are any diversions, sometimes hospitals are "immediate" and others are "open". Does "immediate" mean the hospital is closed temporarily because they are too busy?

Thanks!

1. Some of those units you are hearing are investigative units such as Arson. Most Arson investigators have Peace Officer powers too.

2. You are correct regarding MCI.

3. Hospitals change their level of services based on their staffing and patient needs. Sometimes hospitals get so full they can't accept any patients. Other times they can only take immediate/trauma only. Diversion is simply a way of managing hospital care.

 

[sac-emt]

Hope that this will help


1. 71xx is Elk Grove Fire's Identifier and 24xx is for Sac Metro.

From my experience in Sacramento County, xx50 would be a EMS identifier , so 7151 would be an EG Fire EMS officer.

xx40 would be a Training identifier, so 2444 would have been a training officer.

I used to have a list of the numbering system, but cannot find it.

Here are the Fire Department/Districts here in Sac County and dispatched from SRFECC.

22xx = Sac City Fire
24xx = Sac Metro Fire
34xx = Folsom Fire
37xx = Galt Fire
43xx = Herald Fire
71xx = Elk Grove Fire
81xx = Wilton
91xx = Courtland
95xx = Walnut Grove

2. MCI - 5 or more patients with significant injuries.


3. Sac County EMS Protocols

All Receiving Facilities:

OPEN - Receiving all patients.

IMMEDIATE - Any patient with airway or circulation problems

DIVERSION - Receiving only immediate patients, except for the following decisive
factors:

a. Patients in active labor should be transported to the facility where the
delivery is scheduled.

b. Sexual assault patients will be transported to UCDMC.

CLOSED TO ALL AMBULANCE TRAFFIC – Closed to ambulance traffic including
immediates. Usually occurs when an internal hospital disaster has been declared.


Hospitals with Trauma Receiving Designation:


1. OPEN TO TRAUMA PATIENTS - Receiving all critical trauma patients.

2. CLOSED TO TRAUMA PATIENTS- CLOSED TO ALL critical trauma patients. Critical
trauma patients MUST be transported to the next time closest trauma center.

It is expected that hospitals that lose key personnel / equipment needed to care
for trauma (i.e. Trauma Surgeon availability, operating room availability,
emergency department overload, CT scanner availability, etc.), shall CLOSE to
trauma patients until the resource(s) becomes available.

 

[servo_fan]

Thanks everyone...as usual the quick and thorough responses are appreciated.

 

[sac-emt]

Thanks everyone...as usual the quick and thorough responses are appreciated.

I shall also echo those sentiments as well.

A great group of people, I say!!!

 

[RolnCode3]

What's the difference between "multi-casualty" and "mass casualty". I've heard both, including a discussion between battalion chiefs as to which an event qualified for.

 

[sac-emt]

What's the difference between "multi-casualty" and "mass casualty". I've heard both, including a discussion between battalion chiefs as to which an event qualified for.

I think they are one and the same. This according to what I what I have always heard and known.

I have a link to Sac Co EMS's Policies, Procedures & Protocols that are utilized in this county regarding MCI's.

The Link: http://www.sacdhhs.com/CMS/download/pdfs/EMS/EMS_Policy 7500.09 Disaster Medical Services Plan.pdf

Thanks for the intel on the Delta Incident. I hooked up Stockton PD and also had Stockton CHP, but no go.