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HomeMy WebLinkAboutESD-007-08 CJ. u ~~ REPORT EMERGENCY AND FIRE SERVICES Date: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE ~~o~~PA" .;LqCj-O~ Meeting: April 28, 2008 Report #: ESD-007-08 File # 10.12.6 By-law #2.00~-o8: I Subject: DURHAM REGION MEDICAL TIERED RESPONSE AGREEMENT Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report ESD-007-08 is received for information; and 2. THAT the attached Durham Region Medical Tiered Response Agreement between Durham Region EMS and The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington be approved and that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute this agreement. Submitted by: ~~ 0 -- Reviewed b~~--~ Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer ordo Weir, AMCT, CMM111 Director of Emergency & Fire Services GW:sr CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T(905)623-3379 F (905)623-6506 ESD-007-08 Page 2 BACKGROUND Clarington Emergency and Fire Services has participated in tiered response, which was initiated in the 1980's and was set up to dispatch police, fire and ambulance to what is determined to be a life threatening situation. At that time, a life threatening situation was established as a condition that falls within the following criteria: · Absence of breathing/difficulty breathing . Unconsciousness . Severe bleeding · Motor vehicle accident with ambulance responding . Real or apprehended heart attack A tiered response committee was established in 1999 to review the criteria in an effort to form an agreement between responding agencies that would clarify their level of response. In October 2004, guidelines for Tiered Response Agreements were sent out to all agencies affected. A copy of these guidelines is attached. REPORT After review of this agreement, it is staff's recommendation that the Municipality of Clarington approve and sign the document. Attachment: Durham Region Medical Tiered Response Agreement Guidelines for Tiered Response Agreements IfAlTH DEPARThENT Assistant Direcl:or STEVE D. MCNENl Y Ext. 2248 Emergency Medical Services 4040 Anderson St., Whitby, ON L1R 3P6 Phone: (905) 665-6313 Fax: (905) 444-2042 DURHAM REGION MEDICAL TIERED RESPONSE AGREEMENT This letter of agreement between Durham Region EMS and the Clarington Emergency Services authorizes the Ministry of Health and long-Term Care (MOHl TC) Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) activation of a tiered response, to provide first response resources and skills to out of hospital medical emergencies in accordance with the following criteria: LEVEL C TIERED RESPONSE: A tiered response will be requested within one (1) minute of EMS dispatch, and in conjunction with the response reference chart, for the following emergency requests for service: 1. Respiratory Arrest (Absence of Breathing) 2. Cardiac Arrest (Absence of Pulse) 3. Unconsciousness. 4. Motor Vehicle Collision with EMS attending. 5. Profuse and Uncontrolled Bleeding. 6. Acute Chest Pain and/or Shortness of Breath / Difficulty Breathing. The level C Tiered Response criteria are not consistent with the recommendations from Durham Region EMS (only Level A and Level B criteria are recommended by Durham Region EMS) but have been directly requested by the Fire Chief of the Clarington Emergency Services. Thus, via this agreement Durham Region EMS shall honour the request of the Fire Chief. The CACC shall notify the Clarington Emergency Services within 1 minute of EMS dispatch in response to a potential life threatening medical emergency, which meets the stated criteria for tiered response. "Corrunitted to exceUence in pre-hospita/ care. " The CACC shall provide all necessary call details/information during the initial and/or follow-up notification(s) to ensure the details provided to emergency first response resources are consistent with the details provided to EMS. The stated criteria for medical tiered response are in addition to the usual incidents requiring fire services response under their fire suppression, rescue and/or HAZMA T mandate where CACC notification of the fire service is automatic. Once a tiered response has been initiated, it shall only be cancelled if the request for service is cancelled by the call originator and/or EMS resource(s) have arrived on scene and made patient contact. This agreement recognizes that the participating agency, Clarington Emergency Services, may not be able to respond to a medical tiered response when occupied with another emergency, or for any other reason as determined by their senior on-duty officer. The Clarington Emergency Services will immediately notify the CACC of their inability to operate or respond in accordance with the tiered response agreement and CACC shall advise Durham Region EMS accordingly. CACC Responsibilities: · Activation of the tiered response, to provide first response resources and skills to out of hospital medical emergencies in accordance with the applicable tiered response criteria. · Provide all necessary call details/information during the initial and/or follow-up notification(s) to ensure the details provided to emergency first response resources are consistent with the details provided to EMS. Fire Service Responsibilities: · Emergency first response (first aid, oxygen, CPR, automated defibrillation), . Fire prevention and suppression, · Coordinate rescue and/or HAZMA T operations in cooperation with EMS resources to ensure patient clinical care requirements are addressed. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Responsibilities: . Coordinate all out of hospital medical care and transportation. · Work cooperatively with Fire Services during rescue and/or HAZMAT operations to ensure patient clinical care requirements are addressed. This agreement will be reviewed annually to ensure its currency. Dated the day of 200_. Durham Reaion EMS Name (print): Title: Signature: Municipality of Clarinaton Jim Abernethy, Mayor Patti L. Barrie, Municipal Clerk Appendices: Tiered Response Reference Chart Qoriginal Agreement - Date o Amended Agreement - Date c c . . GUIDELINES FOR TIERED RESPONSE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED BY PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES IN ONTARIO Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services October 2004 c INTRODUCTION The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services support the implementation of formal tiered response agreements between local police, fire, ambulance and other public or private safety agencies. Such written agreements provide a framework for cooperation between, and coordination of, emergency services on a local/evel. The coordination of public safety agencies is a teamwork approach that helps improve the response to specified emergency situations and overall public safety service to the community. BACKGROUND c Tiered response is recognized internationally as an effective method of coordinating ambulance, fire, police and other public or private safety agencies to provide rapid first response assistance to the public in the most timely and efficient manner possible. Tiered response endeavors to send the closest emergency response agency, based on time, to render assistance at the scene of an emergency incident until the primary response agency can arrive. Tiered Response is a formal,~lj~i~.Wt1e~~'2i~t~.~./~fGjic ._r~t~I~~~~ ~~~'aa~~I~i~:~~~~~ ~;:~~~::ez :~~:~i;~~:~~!~~~~~~~i~Osafety incident. A tiered response agreement outlines the capabilities, expectations and limitations of each agency and defines the criteria for each public safety agency's response. In some instances, this cooperation led to the development and implementation of formal written tiered response agreements. Such agreements determine when and under what circumstances participating public safety agencies call upon each other for assistance. The term tiered response grew out of an effort to establish a coordinated systems approach to emergency incident response. Tiered Response, as a program, was first documented in the Fifteen Components of An Emergency Health Services (EHS) System. This includes the provision for multi-agency response to life-threatening medical emergencies (Tiered Response). These components have been adopted as, and are recommended as being one of the principles of the EHS system in Ontario. GUIDING PRINCIPLES The guiding principles of any tiered response program are: l . To ensure the timely availability of staff and resources to safely and efficiently mitigate a life threatening / public safety incident; ( · To deploy adequately trained and equipped personnel to the scene of agreed upon life threatening / public safety emergencies. For example, as a minimum, current certification in first aid and CPR would be required for personnel in the medical emergency response. WHAT IS A TIERED RESPONSE AGREEMENT? It is a written, formal agreement that: · Spells out the terms and conditions under which tiered response is activated; · Sets out the capabilities, expectations and limitations of each agency involved in the agreements; · Establishes activation and deactivation protocols for the participating agencies. REQUIREMENTS FOR A TIERED RESPONSE AGREEMENT ( A written agreement is required between participating public safety agencies, which defines the specific capabilities, expectations and limitations each agency will have in respect to each other, and each agency's role in various emergency situations. A sample tiered response agreement is attached to this guideline, which may be modified to meet local needs and participants. It is strongly recommended that a tiered response committee be established, consisting of all of the partners to the agreement. The committee should meet on a regular basis to address the operations within the agreement areas. The committee should review each tiered response agreement on an annual basis, as a minimum. A TIERED RESPONSE AGREEMENT INCLUDES: · The expectations and limitations of each participating agency; · The types of emergency situations under which Tiered Response shall be activated and deactivated for each group; · The role of each responder group in each type of emergency situation; · The role of various dispatch services, the dispatch function of each agency center in tiered response activation; ( · The type and nature of Protocols utilized to activate and coordinate tiered response (" ( ( partners; the responsibilities and protocols utilized by the responding agencies at a scene; · The type and nature of orientation and training activities conducted to ensure that participating public safety agencies are effective in working together to respond to specific emergency situations; · A resolution from participating municipal councils authorizing and approving municipal participation in such a program; · The type and nature of agreement amending formulae, the manner to arbitrate disputes and a process for partners to withdraw from such an agreement. GENERAL CRITERIA FOR TIERED RESPONSE Tiered response criteria used by communities for public safety agency agreements will vary according to local conditions such as: · Geographical distances in rural or remote areas; · Differences between full-time, part-time and volunteer agencies; · The type and level of emergency services and resources available; · The intention of tiered response is to provide a clear response time advantage by one of the other partners over the primary responding agency. CRITERIA FOR ACTIVATING TIERED RESPONSE · Life threatening public safety incidents, such as medical emergencies; · Multi-casualty incidents; · Hazardous material incidents involving casualties and/or potential for casualties; . Chemical, Biological, Radiation, Nuclear, Explosion (CBRNE) incidents. The effectiveness of tiered response programs is dependent upon prompt notification of participating agencies and the activation of the closest (in response time) appropriate emergency response unit, regardless of agency affiliation. Tiered response agencies should expect to be activated within 1 minute of receipt of a life threatening/public safety incident, as defined in the agreement. In order for a tiered response program to provide the greatest benefit to the public, all participating agencies should respond to life threatening incidents, particularly when there is a time advantage over the primary agency response time. Levels of participation by municipalities and safety agencies may vary based on community needs and resources. OPERA TlONAL CONSIDERA nONS An agreement to participate in a tiered response program is a voluntary commitment on the part of each agency involved. All participants in the tiered response agreement must clearly understand the agreed upon procedure associated with start-up, operational and maintenance costs of the program. Any locally agreed upon replacement procedures of supplies and equipment should be documented in the agreement. c The committee must ensure that all participants are properly trained to meet the expectations of each partner within the agreement. Consideration should be given to interagency training and exercises to ensure an effective and efficient response capability. Consideration should be given in any tiered response agreement to CBRNE situations or other long term/major impact incidents that would affect the agencies abilities to function in a routine manner. For example, large numbers of staff affected by quarantine. CONCLUSION Tiered Response is a voluntary program built on the principles of teamwork and cooperation between the public safety agencies. Each participant in a local emergency response program has a specific role to play in the community, and by working together they are better equipped to meet the specific emergency needs of the constituents they serve. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Emergency Health Services 5700 Yonge St. 6th Floor North York ON M2M 4K5 Telephone (416) 327-7925 Fax (416) 327-7911 or Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Policing Services Division 9th Floor, 25 Grosvenor Street Toronto ON M7 A 1 Y6 Fax (416) 314-3040 ( or Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Office of the Fire Marshal ih Floor, 5775 Yonge Street North York, ON M2M 4J1 Telephone (416) 325-3100 Fax (416) 325-3162 i