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Emergency service response codes are predefined systems used by emergency services to describe the priority and response assigned to calls for service. Response codes vary from country to country, jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and even agency to agency, with different methods used to categorize responses to reported events.
In the United States, response codes are used to describe a mode of response for an emergency unit responding to a call. They generally vary but often have three basic tiers:
The term "Code 4" is also occasionally considered a response code, though it generally only means "call has been handled or resolved, no further units respond".
Certain agencies may add or remove certain codes. For example, in the Los Angeles Police Department's radio procedures, Code 1 is not a response code, and its meaning is transferred to Code 2, the original meaning of which is transferred to the semi-official response code "Code 2-High". Additionally, some agencies use "Code 99" which means for all units to respond, typically used in bomb threats, active shooters, hostage situations, and other high-level situations.
Some agencies may use the terms "upgrade" and "downgrade" to denote an increase or decrease in priority. For example, if a police unit is conducting a Code 1 response to an argument, and the dispatcher reports that the argument has escalated to a fight, the unit may report an "upgrade" to a Code 3 response. The term downgrade may be used in the opposite situation.
A similar variation, generally used by units instead of dispatchers, is to "increase code" and "reduce code". For example, if multiple units are responding Code 3 to a call, but the units already at the scene have mostly resolved the situation, the scene units may request that the responding units "reduce code". In this example, to "reduce code" would mean to continue responding, but at Code 2 or Code 1, rather than discontinue altogether.
Some emergency medical services use "Priority" instead:
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) states "it is required that plain language be used for multi-agency, multi-jurisdiction and multi-discipline events, such as major disasters and exercises", and federal grants became contingent on this beginning fiscal year 2006. [1] NIMS also strongly encourages the use of plain language for internal use within a single agency.
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The use of lights and sirens is up to the individual police officer driving to the call. The nature of the call is an aggravating factor when deciding when to use them. Calls are graded by either the control room direct (in the case of emergency calls) or by some sort of first contact centre (nonemergency calls). Grading is affected by such factors as the use or threat of violence at the incident being reported. Even though the grading is done by the control room, officers can request an incident be upgraded if they feel in their judgement they are needed immediately. They can also request to downgrade an incident if they feel they cannot justify using emergency equipment like blue lights and sirens.
There is no nationally agreed call grading system with a number of different systems being used across the UK and attendance times given the grade varies between forces, depending on how rural the county is. For example, Suffolk Constabulary break down Grade A emergencies into further sub-categories of Grade A Urban and Rural, with Urban attendance times attracting a 15-minute arrival time and Grade A Rural attendance would attract a 20-minute arrival time. Some of these are listed below but is not exhaustive. [2]
| Grade | Meaning | Audible and visible emergency equipment | Target time |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Immediate response call | Use advisable | 8 minutes |
| B | Significant call, routine call | Can be used if driver thinks police are needed immediately | 20 minutes |
| C | extended call, Scheduled appointments | Not to be used | No time limit |
| D | Non-attendance | Not to be used | Non-attendance |
| Resolved | Non-attendance | Not to be used | Call is resolved at point of contact. |
Another variant in use within the UK.
| Grade | Meaning | Audible and visible emergency equipment |
|---|---|---|
| IM | Immediate Priority | Normally used, examples of incidents graded as an immediate priority include incidents in which life is at risk, there is serious injury (or risk of), serious road traffic collisions, and where serious crime is in-progress or has just taken place. |
| H | High Priority | Normally used - incidents graded high are of serious nature and have the potential to develop into immediate priority incidents |
| N | Normal Priority | Not used - incidents are graded as normal that do not depend upon a timely police response. |
| L | Low Priority | Not used - incidents graded as low that do not depend upon a timely police response and may be resolved by phone or pre-arranged appointment. |
| NA | Non-attendance | Not used, no police attendance required. |
A numerical grading system is used in some forces. [3] [ failed verification ]
| Grade (Status) | Meaning | Audible and visible emergency equipment |
|---|---|---|
| State 0 | Officer in danger | All available officers on radio frequencys respond. |
| State 1 | Emergency response | Road traffic exemptions usually utilised as is audible and visual warning equipment. |
| State 2 | Urgent response | Road traffic exemptions may be utilised along with audible and visual warning equipment. |
| State 3 | Non-urgent response | Audible and visual warning equipment is not used. |
| State 4 | Appointments | Audible and visual warning equipment is not used. |
| State 5 | For information only | Calls not usually requiring police attendance that may be logged for information only. |
| State 6 | On Scene | Officer On Scene of incident. Update information when necessary. |
Ambulance responses in the UK are as follows. Some ambulance services allow driver discretion for Category 3/4 calls; this may be dependent on the type of call or how long it has been waiting for a response for. 999 calls to the ambulance service are triaged using either the NHS Pathways system or the Medical Priority Dispatch System.
| Grade | Meaning | Audible and visible emergency equipment | Type of call | Initial response target | Response details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Immediate Life Threat | Always used | Cardiac arrests, Choking?, Unconscious, Continuous seizure, Not alert after a fall or trauma, Allergic reaction with breathing problems, Major Incidents | 7 min | Response time measured with arrival of first emergency responder Will be attended by single responders and ambulance crews |
| Category 2 | Emergency | Always used | Stroke patients, Fainting – not alert, Chest pain, Road Traffic Collisions, Major burns, Sepsis | 18 min | Response time measured with arrival of transporting vehicle |
| Category 3 | Urgent | Usually used (service policy dependent) | Falls, Fainting – now alert, Diabetic problems, Isolated limb fractures, Abdominal pain | 120 min | Response time measured with arrival of transporting vehicle |
| Category 4 | Less Urgent | Not usually used | Diarrhea, Vomiting, Non-traumatic back pain, Health Care Professional admission | 180 min | Maybe managed through hear and treat Response time measured with arrival of transporting vehicle |
| GP Urgent | Urgent response | Not usually used | GP urgent admissions to hospital. Urgent interhospital transfers | 1–4 hours or scheduled timeframe, decided by admitting HCP |
The use of flashing lights and sirens is colloquially known as blues and twos , which refers to the blue lights and the two-tone siren once commonplace (although most sirens now use a range of tones). In the UK, only blue lights are used to denote emergency vehicles (although other colours may be used as sidelights, stop indicators, etc.). A call requiring the use of lights and sirens is often colloquially known as a blue light run.
Code 1: A time critical case with a lights and sirens ambulance response. An example is a cardiac arrest or serious traffic accident.
Code 2: An acute but non-time critical response. The ambulance does not use lights and sirens to respond. An example of this response code is a broken leg.
Code 3: A non-urgent routine case. These include cases such as a person with ongoing back pain but no recent injury.
Additional codes are used for internal purposes.
Country Fire Authority There are two types of response for the Country Fire Authority which cover the outer Melbourne Area. These are similar to those used by Ambulance Victoria, minus the use of Code 2.
Code 1: A time critical event with response requiring lights and siren. This usually is a known and going fire or a rescue incident.
Code 2: Unused within the Country Fire Authority
Code 3: Non-urgent event, such as a previously extinguished fire or community service cases (such as animal rescue or changing of smoke alarm batteries for the elderly).
Marine Rescue NSW
Code 1 Urgent Response - Use warning devices
Code 2 Semi Urgent Response - Use of Warning devices at skippers discretion
Code 3 Non Urgent Response - Warning Devices not needed
Code 4 Training - No Warning devices to be used unless specifically needed for training
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service and the New South Wales State Emergency Service use two levels of response, depending on what the call-out is and what has been directed of the crew attending the incident by orders of the duty officer:
The New South Wales Police Force uses two distinct classifications for responding to incidents. In order to respond 'code red' a driver must be suitably trained and have qualified in appropriate police driver training courses. [7]
New South Wales Ambulance use 2 priorities similar to both SES and RFS.
SA Ambulance Service use a Priority system.
| Priority | Case Type | Lights & Sirens Used | Crew Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency | Yes | Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) |
| 2 | Emergency | Yes | Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) |
| 4 | Urgent | No | Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) |
| 5 | Urgent | No | Emergency Support Service (Ambulance Officer) |
| 6 | Routine | No | Emergency (Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic) |
| 7 | Routine | No | Emergency Support Service (Ambulance Officer) |
| 8 | Routine | No | Patient Transport Service (Ambulance Officer) |
Note: Priorities 0 and 3 have been reserved for future use. Priority 9 is used for administration taskings.
The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service, Country Fire Service and South Australian State Emergency Service use a Priority System which has been recently updated.
| Priority | Type | Local Event Triage | Lights & Sirens Used | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency | Can't wait | Yes | Multiple Units Sent, Life-Threat |
| 2 | Urgent | Can Wait | No | Single Unit Responded, Potential for Life-Threat |
| 3 | Routine | Will Wait | No | Used Primarily by SES, No risk of Life Threat |
All calls are routed through the Metropolitan Fire Service (Call Sign "Adelaide Fire") including State Emergency Service 132 500 calls.
During significant weather events the State Communication Centre (SCC) unit of the SES take over call taking responsibly. This operations centre is manned by volunteers routing calls for assistance to the closest unit who will dispatch the events to individual teams.
Queensland Police uses the priority system:
For Queensland Police code 1 and code 2 are exactly the same response time. Rarely will a job be given a priority code 1, instead officers will (in most cases) be told to respond code 2.
St John Ambulance Northern Territory uses terms to determine the response: [8]
St John Ambulance Western Australia uses the following codes to determine a response: [9]
The Western Australian Police uses the following codes from 1 to 7 to determine response actions:
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services have two response codes: [10]
BC EHS Clinical Response Model implemented as of May 30, 2018 by BC Emergency Health Services, updating how they assign paramedics, ambulance and other resources to 9-1-1 calls. [11]
| Colour | Patient Condition | Details | Additional Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purple | Immediately life threatening | Eg. Cardiac Arrest | Fire Immediately dispatched |
| Red | Immediately life threatening or time critical | Eg. Chest Pain | Fire Immediately dispatched |
| Orange | Urgent | Potentially serious, but not immediately life threatening (Eg. Abdominal Pain) | Fire may be dispatched |
| Yellow | Non-urgent | Not serious or life threatening. (Eg. Sprained Ankle) | |
| Green | Non-urgent | Not serious or life threatening. Possibly suitable for treatment at scene. NOT Being implemented immediately | |
| Blue | Non-urgent | Not serious or life threatening. Further clinical telephone triage and advice Referrals to HealthLink BC (8-1-1 calls) | Patient will be called back. |
An ambulance is a medically equipped vehicle used to transport patients to treatment facilities, such as hospitals. Typically, out-of-hospital medical care is provided to the patient during the transport. Ambulances are used to respond to medical emergencies by emergency medical services (EMS), and can rapidly transport paramedics and other first responders, carry equipment for administering emergency care, and transport patients to hospital or other definitive care. Most ambulances use a design based on vans or pickup trucks, though others take the form of motorcycles, buses, hearses, aircraft and boats.
An emergency is an urgent, unexpected, and usually dangerous situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment and requires immediate action. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative care for the aftermath.
A certified first responder is a person who has completed a course and received certification in providing pre-hospital care for medical emergencies. Certified individuals should have received much more instruction than someone who is trained in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) but they are not necessarily a substitute for more advanced emergency medical care rendered by emergency medical technicians and paramedics. First responders typically provide advanced first aid level care, CPR, and automated external defibrillator (AED) usage. The term "certified first responder" is not to be confused with "first responder", which is a generic term referring to the first medically trained responder to arrive on scene and medically trained telecommunication operators who provide pre-arrival medical instructions as trained Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD). Many police officers and firefighters are required to receive training as certified first responders. Advanced medical care is typically provided by EMS, although some police officers and firefighters also train to become emergency medical technicians or paramedics.
An emergency vehicle is a vehicle used by emergency services. Emergency vehicles typically have specialized emergency lighting and vehicle equipment that allow emergency services to reach calls for service in a timely manner, transport equipment and resources, or perform their tasks efficiently. Emergency vehicles are usually operated by authorized government agencies, but some may also be operated by private entities where permitted by law.
Hatzalah is the title used by many Jewish volunteer emergency medical service (EMS) organizations serving mostly areas with Jewish communities around the world, giving medical service to patients regardless of their religion. Most local branches operate independently of each other, but use the common name. The Hebrew spelling of the name is always the same, but there are many variations in transliteration, such as Hatzolah, Hatzoloh, and Hatzola. It is also often called Chevra Hatzalah, which loosely translates as "Company of Rescuers", "Group of Rescuers", or "Rescue Squad". It is the largest volunteer medical group in the United States.
A police car is a ground vehicle used by police and law enforcement for transportation during patrols and responses to calls for service. A type of emergency vehicle, police cars are used by police officers to patrol a beat, quickly reach incident scenes, and transport and temporarily detain suspects, all while establishing a police presence and providing visible crime deterrence.
Emergency vehicle lighting, also known as simply emergency lighting or emergency lights, is a type of vehicle lighting used to visually announce a vehicle's presence to other road users. A sub-type of emergency vehicle equipment, emergency vehicle lighting is generally used by emergency vehicles and other authorized vehicles in a variety of colors.
Emergency vehicle equipment is any equipment fitted to, or carried by, an emergency vehicle, other than the equipment that a standard non-emergency vehicle is fitted with.
A nontransporting EMS vehicle is a vehicle that responds to and provides emergency medical services (EMS) without the ability to transport patients. For patients whose condition requires transport, an ambulance is necessary. In some cases they may fulfill other duties when not participating in EMS operations, such as policing or fire suppression.
Emergency vehicle equipment is used in the United Kingdom to indicate urgent journeys by an emergency service. This usage is colloquially known as "blues and twos", which refers to the blue lights and the two-tone siren once commonplace. A call-out requiring the use of lights and sirens is often colloquially known as a "blue light run".
NSW Ambulance, previously the Ambulance Service of NSW, is an agency of NSW Health and the statutory provider of pre-hospital emergency care and ambulance services in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
Traffic signal preemption is a system that allows an operator to override the normal operation of traffic lights. The most common use of these systems manipulates traffic signals in the path of an emergency vehicle, halting conflicting traffic and allowing the emergency vehicle right-of-way, thereby reducing response times and enhancing traffic safety. Signal preemption can also be used on tram, light-rail and bus rapid transit systems, to allow public transportation priority access through intersections, and by railroad systems at crossings to prevent collisions.
Louisville Metro Emergency Medical Services is the primary provider of pre-hospital life support and emergency care within Louisville-Jefferson County, Kentucky. LMEMS is a governmental department that averages 90,000 calls for service, both emergency and non-emergency, each year.
Emergency medical services in France are provided by a mix of organizations under public health control. The central organizations that provide these services are known as a SAMU, which stands for Service d’aide médicale urgente. Local SAMU organisations operate the control rooms that answer emergency calls and dispatch medical responders. They also operate the SMUR, which refers to the ambulances and response vehicles that provide advanced medical care. Other ambulances and response vehicles are provided by the fire services and private ambulance services.
Police in the United Kingdom use a wide range of operational vehicles, including compact cars, powerful estates and armoured police carriers. The main uses are patrol, response, tactical pursuit, and public order policing. Other vehicles used by British police include motorcycles, aircraft, and boats.
A Community first responder (CFR), is a person available to be dispatched by an ambulance control centre to attend medical emergencies in their local area. They can be members of the public, who have received training in life-saving interventions such as defibrillation, off duty paramedics, nurses or medical doctors, or indeed professionals from a non-medical discipline who may be nearby or attending emergencies, such as firefighters. Community first responders are found in the emergency healthcare systems of Canada, United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, Israel, Italy (soccorritori), Australia, Singapore and Romania.
The Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), sometimes referred to as the Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System (AMPDS) is a unified system used to dispatch appropriate aid to medical emergencies including systematized caller interrogation and pre-arrival instructions. Priority Dispatch Corporation is licensed to design and publish MPDS and its various products, with research supported by the International Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (IAEMD). Priority Dispatch Corporation, in conjunction with the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, have also produced similar systems for Police and Fire
Courtesy lights are used to request right-of-way primarily by volunteer or on-call firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and other first responders to expedite their response in their privately owned vehicles to their firehouse, base, or directly to the scene of an emergency call. Courtesy lights sometimes allow the user to disobey traffic laws such as speed limits, but usually not laws applying to stop signs or stop lights. Courtesy lights should not be confused with emergency warning lights used in conjunction with audible warning systems (sirens) for emergency vehicles such as police cars, fire apparatus, ambulances, etc, nor should they be confused with warning lights as used by tow trucks, snow plows, construction vehicles and school buses to increase awareness especially when moving slowly or stopped in the roadway.
The Dutchess County Department Of Emergency Response has the responsibility of governing Emergency operations in Dutchess County, New York. This encompasses Police, Fire and EMS.
A mass casualty incident describes an incident in which emergency medical services resources, such as personnel and equipment, are overwhelmed by the number and severity of casualties. For example, an incident where a two-person crew is responding to a motor vehicle collision with three severely injured people could be considered a mass casualty incident. The general public more commonly recognizes events such as building collapses, train and bus collisions, plane crashes, earthquakes and other large-scale emergencies as mass casualty incidents. Events such as the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the September 11 attacks in 2001, and the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 are well-publicized examples of mass casualty incidents. The most common types of MCIs are generally caused by terrorism, mass-transportation accidents, fires or natural disasters. A multiple casualty incident is one in which there are multiple casualties. The key difference from a mass casualty incident is that in a multiple casualty incident the resources available are sufficient to manage the needs of the victims. The issue of resource availability is therefore critical to the understanding of these concepts. One crosses over from a multiple to a mass casualty incident when resources are exceeded and the systems are overwhelmed.
