Ops-03 - Response to Emergency Medical Calls

Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department

Standard Operating Guidelines

Subject: Response to Emergency Medical Calls SOG # Ops-03 Initiated 07/16/2024 Approved: Fire Chief Clay Fallis

Purpose

This guideline is established for the response to emergency medical calls by the members of the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department.

Guideline

1.     Rescue 3 is the primary apparatus to respond to all medical emergency calls or calls to support EMS. NOTE: The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is mounted in this apparatus. Engine 3 will be the secondary apparatus to respond to a call of this nature.

2.     Personnel are required to use universal precautions while on the scene of an emergency medical call. Universal precautions include the use of the following Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – gloves, masks, gowns, or other PPE that may be necessary to protect against exposure.

3.     When responding to calls such as Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in progress or for a subject not breathing, personnel must be a certified Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Paramedic or have a current First Aid, CPR/AED certification. Personnel should take the trauma bag, which contains the bag valve mask, along with the AED (if applicable) when they get off the apparatus.

4.     When responding to calls for manpower to assist EMS, the need to be a Paramedic, EMT, EMR or CPR/AED certified is waived.

5.     On occasion the officer of the apparatus may have to supply one or two firefighters (if available) to the ambulance personnel if they are running short of crew. He or she will appoint the most medically trained personnel to assist on the call.