Santa Ana headed to OCFA

[monitor142]

Garden Grove has been staying on their local tac (2H) for structure fires for a while. 2N is spotty in certain parts of the city as the RF sites are pretty far away.

As far as loading, I can see OCFA rearranging their fleet map to give Santa Ana their own tac. Maybe they'll bump the ALS no contact T/G off 4G or 5K to another t/g. The Countywide can handle the loading that Santa Ana would bring over. The South Cell is already very busy with law enforcement, public works, and lifeguard traffic already.

The latest additions to the system (Santa Ana USD PD and Irvine Valley College PD) are actually on the Countywide as their primary and South as their secondary/alternate cell t/g because the Countywide has capacity.

Remember, while OC is a SmartZone system, they are fairly stringent on which talkgroups actually roam among the different cells.

Another technical issue is the radios have issues roaming between different cells. They need to sit on each control channel for a predetermined amount of time to monitor the data stream and they also loose priority monitor on selected talkgroups.

-M142

 

[monitor142]

Santa Ana has several talkgroups that will be depreciated when they switch to OCFA. The have the local 1-x talkgroups that are for admin, training, chat that will not be needed any further. They can keep 3-C, 3-D, 3-E as alternate cell back up plus all other FD's have them in their radios already. They do not want to do a reprogramming of all County/City FD radios. That will be a waste of money. K.I.S.S principle.

-M142

OCFA has grown at a nice clip recent times.

Wonder if this will further encourage cities like Brea, Fountain Valley and Costa Mesa which have pending surveys from OCFA on the table.


Back to scanning now - how will this change things?
I note OCFA will have Santa Ana as new Division 6. Guess they will need a few new talk groups, or shift around existing ones??
Santa Ana FD which can get rather busy has 8 dedicated TGs on the CCCS system currently.

 

[seligman]

Thanks for the explanation.

I've been curious about 4G and 5K for a long time. First off, what's the difference between the two? Second, it sounds like the medic has called a specific ER but there's no ringing, dial tones, or DTMF tones heard. The nurse answers the radio as if she was answering the phone. I could be wrong but I don't think these calls are prearranged by going through Med Call on 6-Alpha...perhaps that is the meaning of "No Contact"?

So how does this work?

As far as loading, I can see OCFA rearranging their fleet map to give Santa Ana their own tac. Maybe they'll bump the ALS no contact T/G off 4G or 5K to another t/g.

 

[monitor142]

I'm not in the medical business but the way I'm assuming it works is OC EMS has protocols in place when to go to 6A and request to speak with the handful of base hospitals in OC. Certain guidelines require that the paramedics speak with a base nurse and/or doctor for medical related orders, meds, etc.

ALS no contact is to me a medical call that requires medical escort by paramedics however it doesn't require meds to be given. You'll notice that the paramedics can call any hospital ER in OC that isn't a designated base hospital. Base hospitals do have ALS no contact radios also. If you hear the traffic it's usually a paramedic giving an ER advanced notice that they are enroute and can confirm that the ER is not on divert due to saturation (full). They page the 6 digit trunking ID assigned to the radio at the ER with their radio to wake them up.

The County is divided into two zones between 4G and 5K. They like to use the 22 freeway for a lot of things so I wouldn't be surprised if that's how it works.

-M142

 

[emcomm]

Sad to see SAFD go after such a history. I grew up there in the 80's and started my EMS career in Tustin/Santa Ana.

 

[LAflyer]

Note comments in below memo regarding frequency assignments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TO: All Personnel
FROM: Brian Stephens, Assistant Chief/ Support Services
SUBJECT: Santa Ana Fire Service Transition Update

The transition of the Santa Ana Fire Department to the OCFA is well underway. Approximately 70% of the employees have already completed the necessary paperwork to become OCFA employees and the Transition Team is working hard on the numerous tasks required to meet the April 20th start date.
Various questions have been raised regarding the transition and a list of Frequently Asked Questions is attached to this memo for your information.


Santa Ana Transition
Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the start date?

The OCFA will begin providing all risk emergency response, fire prevention, and public education services within the city at 0800 on April 20, 2012.

2. How many stations will there be?
The OCFA will continue to staff all ten Santa Ana Fire Stations. The new stations will be in Battalion 9, and numbered 70 to 79. The Battalion H.Q. will be at Station 74.

3. Will there be a new Division?

Yes – The City of Santa Ana will become Division 6, headquartered at Fire Station 74. The Division Chief, Division Captain, Administrative Assistant, and Nurse Educator positions will be filled by transitioning personnel from Santa Ana. The Operations Support Division will become Division 7.

4. What type of Fire Apparatus will be at each station?
Santa Ana Fire apparatus purchases were funded through neighborhood community grants and must remain assigned within the city. The chart below shows the location and type of apparatus assigned to each station. The ALS truck companies at stations 71 and 75 will be non quint TDA’s and staffed with a FF and FC Paramedic (so that the FAE and tiller qualified FF can operate the Truck if both paramedics leave the scene on hospital follow up).

Station #71
(Current Station #1)

Medic Engine 71
Medic Truck 71

Station #72
(Current Station #2)
Medic Engine 72

Station #73
(Current Station #3)
Medic Engine 73

Station #74
(Current Station #4)

Medic Engine 74
Division Chief D-6

Station #75
(Current Station #5)
Medic Engine 75
Medic Truck 75

Station #76
(Current Station #6)
Quint Truck PAU 76

Station #77
(Current Station #7)
Engine PAU 77
Medic Van M-77

Station #78
(Current Station #8)
Engine PAU 78
Medic Van M-78

Station #79
(Current Station #9)
Engine PAU 79
(FAE PM)

Station #70
(Current Station #10)
Engine PAU 70

5. How many calls does SAFD handle?
In 2010 the City handled 18,000 calls with 36,000 unit responses. The chart below shows the annual unit response data for engines, trucks, and Battalion Chief from 2010.
Engine 1 = 2,227
Truck 1 = 819
Engine 2 = 1,418
Engine 3 = 1,964
Engine 4 = 1,440
Battalion 1 = 325
Engine 5 = 2,285
Truck 5 = 994
Engine 6 = 1,316
Truck 6 = 567
Engine 7 = 1,742
Engine 8 = 1,931
Engine 9 = 977
Engine 10 = 1,463

6. How will EMS Transportation be handled?
The OCFA is assisting the city with an ambulance RFP that will provide private ambulance service within the city.

7. Are there any Special Target Hazards we should know about?
Yes – City Hall, the Orange County Civic Center, Federal Court Buildings, and City and County Jails. The city also has more high rise buildings than the rest of our total service area some of which are not protected by fire sprinklers. It will also be the only area we serve with un-reinforced masonry construction.

11. What radio frequency will be used?
Division 6 will be assigned the new tactical and alternate frequency of 4-H and 4 –I.

12. What are the closest PM receiving center hospitals?
West-Med Santa Ana, and Fountain Valley Community Hospital.

19. Will OCFA honor the existing SAFD automatic aid agreements?
Yes – The OCFA will continue to provide automatic aid to Orange, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, and Costa Mesa.

21. Are there talking points to cover with the public so we’re all giving the same message?
The OCFA will continue to provide the same high levels of service No Santa Ana Fire Stations will be closed Paramedic service will be enhanced by having paramedics assigned to all ten stations and the number of on-duty paramedics will increase from 12 to 19 The OCFA will continue to be an active participant in local community events Many of the current Santa Ana Firefighters will remain in the City Fire prevention and plan check services will remain available within the city

=

 

[Robertolson]

Why are they running 1/2 the city with medic engines and the other 1/2 of the city with medic vans ?

are they using private ambulance for the transportation

I heard on the scanner, which sounded like dispatch training / testing on the 3 * tac's the other day

 

[pepsima1]

Why are they running 1/2 the city with medic engines and the other 1/2 of the city with medic vans ?

are they using private ambulance for the transportation

I heard on the scanner, which sounded like dispatch training / testing on the 3 * tac's the other day

The reason why they are using 1/2 the city with medic engines is because certain parts of the city are not as busy as other sections of the city. Also, depending on areas of the city and where the stations are located they are going to to put medic vans at busy stations.

It looks like they will use private ambulances like CARE Ambulance, Doctors Ambulance, and Medix Ambulances services which contracts through OCFA. Makes sense. Probably CARE since G Grove, and Anaheim use their services. Just my thoughts.

 

[Code20Photog]

OK, so what's the final verdict on the radio channels?

 

[LAflyer]

See the above memo.

4-H and 4 –I will be used.

 

[Code20Photog]

Sorry, should have been more clear. Did they move to 5B, or are they still on TG224 on MetroNet for dispatch?

 

[Code20Photog]

OCEMS No Contact ALS guidlines

ALS No-Contact: Criteria
Base contact is NOT REQUIRED for persons meeting all of the following criteria:

The patient is stable, as defined by:

Vital signs are within this range*:

Pulse 50 – 130 bpm
Respirations 12 – 26 per minute
Systolic blood pressure >90 mmHg
The patient is 18 years-old or older or if under 18 years-old, has consenting parent, caretaker or written or telephone verbal emergency medical consent present.

The patient would normally be triaged to the most accessible non-specialty receiving center.

Only these ALS interventions may be required:
Oxygen.
IV at TKO rate or a saline lock.
Field blood glucose determination.
Cardiac monitoring.

OR, if following the interventions below, the patient is asymptomatic with normal vital signs* after a single dose or treatment:

IV dextrose / IM glucagon / PO glucola or sugar tabs for hypoglycemia (BS < 80).
Albuterol nebulized treatment for asthma / COPD.
Nitroglycerin for cardiac chest pain with or without aspirin administration.
Naloxone for suspected narcotic overdose.
Morphine sulfate for pain due to skeletal trauma or burns.
IV fluid bolus (200-250 mL normal saline) with return of vital signs to established parameters above*.
Normal saline nebulized treatment for suspected croup.
Aspirin given in management of cardiac chest pain.

 

[CommLt]

They will be dispatched on 5B starting April 20.

The database has already been updated for the tacticals.

 

[Code20Photog]

Thanks, I just programmed our Orange County Bureau's scanner, and have to make sure they know the changes.

 

[mdfillipp]

Thanks for the explanation.

I've been curious about 4G and 5K for a long time. First off, what's the difference between the two? Second, it sounds like the medic has called a specific ER but there's no ringing, dial tones, or DTMF tones heard. The nurse answers the radio as if she was answering the phone. I could be wrong but I don't think these calls are prearranged by going through Med Call on 6-Alpha...perhaps that is the meaning of "No Contact"?

So how does this work?

'all but certain that 4G is for the north, and 5K is for the south. if you monitor the control channel using Trunker, etc., you can see pages being sent from handheld radios in the field, to the radios in the ERs. someone in the ER answers a short time later.

 

[monitor142]

some eye candy for you folks from the socalscan group....it's already starting ; )

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socalscan/photos/album/1858948202/pic/list

-M142

 

[pepsima1]

I saw the new Santa Ana Engine 72 today. It has the new logo which is Orange County Fire serving the City of Santa Ana. They were out cruising the city this evening. Saw another Santa Ana Engine 10 put it is still with the Santa Ana logo on the rig.

 

[Code20Photog]

I assume the ditched the ambulances once they went county. Any idea what's happening to them, I figure they're going to get sold off, but any chance they'd use those as a ET or Medic Van?

 

[RadioDaze]

A recent story on transition:
County fire agency rushes to absorb Santa Ana duties | The Orange County Register

Contract signed:
Santa Ana to sign fire contract with county today | The Orange County Register

 

[fireinoc]

New word out today on OCFA radio assignments within Santa Ana

11. What radio frequencies will be used?
Division 6 will be assigned the following 800 MHz radio frequencies:
Dispatch = 3 C (this frequency will be simulcast on 4 B and 5 B)
Division Tactical = 3 D
Major Incident = 3 E
Alternate Tactical = 3 K
Fail Soft = 3M
Santa Ana mobile and portable radios will be re-programmed to the OCFA frequency mask prior to the transition. Changes include OCFA Zone 1 and 15 plus the ability to scan the Zone 3 frequencies listed above. Division 6/Battalion 9 units will continue to operate on the south county cell Zone 3 frequencies in lieu of the county wide zone 4 frequencies in order to maintain optimal coverage in the down town area high rise buildings.