§ 22-61. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Advanced life support level 1 (ALS-1) means transportation by ground ambulance, medically necessary supplies and services and an ALS assessment by ALS personnel.

Advanced life support level 2 (ALS-2) means emergency transport* by ground ambulance with administration of three or more medications by intravenous push/bolus or by continuous infusion excluding crystalloid, hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic solutions, or transportation, medically necessary supplies and services and the provision of at least one of the following ALS procedures: manual defibrillation/cardioversion, endotracheal intubation, central venous line, cardiac pacing, chest decompression, surgical airway, and intraosseous line.

*This Code covers cardiac arrest where efforts are terminated on scene and the patient is not transported.

Aid only—No transport call means service which may include the administration of BLS, ALS treatment and or patient evaluation by City Fire/EMS personnel, but no transportation of the individual is made in a City ambulance and supplies costing over $25.00 were used.

Ambulance means any motor vehicle used, designed, redesigned or constructed and equipped for emergencies and used for the purpose of transporting a person who may be sick or injured.

Basic life support (BLS) transport means transportation by ground ambulance, medically necessary supplies and services with the equipment and staffing needed to provide basic services such as control of bleeding, splinting fractures, treatment for shock, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), etc.

Call means the response to a request for services by City personnel.

Emergency means any circumstance that calls for an immediate action and which the element of time in transporting the sick, wounded or injured for medical treatment is essential to the health or life of any person. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, accidents generally, traffic accidents, acts of violence resulting in personal injury, and sudden illness.

Emergency medical service (EMS) means services used to respond to an individual's perceived need for immediate medical care and to prevent death or aggravation of physiological or psychological illness or injury.

Hazardous material mitigation means response and services to calls involving the spill/release of hazardous chemicals/substances. Special personal protective equipment, detection equipment and specialized supplies are required to properly respond and take action at hazardous materials calls.

Heavy rescue means activities including, but not limited to, hydraulic rescue tool extrication, use of power equipment or a rescue saw, or a complicated extrication/rescue.

Medical Director means the licensed physician appointed by the City Council to promulgate and update the System Standard of Care and to perform medical audits and otherwise monitor system performance specifically for the Emergency Medical System.

Medical protocol means any diagnosis-specific or problem-oriented written statement of standard procedure, or algorithm, promulgated by the Medical Director as the normal standard of pre-hospital care for a given clinical condition.

Mileage means total miles traveled from point of patient pickup to a medical facility, intercept site or landing zone.

Motor vehicle accident response means activities at a motor vehicle accident including, but not limited to, basic extrication, vehicle stabilization, fuel/fluids leak mitigation, electrical hazard removal, and Micro-Blaze application.

Patient means any person receiving assessment or care from the City Fire Department.

Response only—No transport call means service which may include the administration of BLS, ALS treatment and/or patient evaluation by City Fire/EMS personnel, but no transportation of the individual is made in a City ambulance. There will not be a charge if less than $25.00 worth of supplies are used. However, there will be a service charge if a pattern of overuse of the Fire/EMS system for non-life threatening service is determined. This also triggers assessment of the possible need for human services assistance, or other types of help needed in the home.

Service area means that geographic area which is contained within the City limits and any area covered by an Interlocal Agreement or Mutual/Automatic Aid agreement as entered into by the City.

System standard of care means the combined compilation of all priority-dispatching protocols, pre-arrival instruction protocols, medical protocols (i.e., first responders and ambulances) and standards for certification of pre-hospital care personnel (i.e., telephone call-takers, first responders, ambulance personnel and online medical control physicians), as well as standards governing requirements for onboard medical equipment and supplies, and licensure of ambulance services and first responder agencies.

Weapons of mass destruction/specialized response services means calls for service resulting from terrorist/civil disobedience suspected activity or situations requiring the use of specialized detection equipment and personal protective equipment or other specialized supplies necessary to handle the situation. Specialized equipment is available locally but subject to reimbursement requirements as used or consumed. Specifically, the County expects reimbursement of supplies/equipment used to handle situations by the jurisdiction using the equipment.

(Ord. No. 200-911-04, § II, 9-21-2004; Ord. No. 200-02-10, § I, 7-20-2010)