5.72.130 Emergency medical system.
The city fire department shall operate emergency paramedic/aid units and provide emergency medical aid and transportation. All medical emergency dispatches through 911 telephone access shall be answered by the fire department. Ambulance services, as licensed herein, shall not respond to 911 dispatches in the city unless requested to do so by the fire department.
A. Ambulance companies receiving a direct request for emergency medical services shall notify the fire department’s 911 communications center immediately so that a fire department first response can be initiated. The only exception to this requirement shall be for the transport of stable patients from one medical facility to another and routine/nonemergent medical transports and exams. The 911 system must be activated for all prehospital emergency medical service primary examinations and unstable patient care. The fire department shall establish ambulance response criteria and make such criteria known to each ambulance company at the time of application and renewal of business license. Each ambulance company shall submit a response report quarterly or on demand of the fire department outlining compliance with the response criteria.
B. Ambulances shall notify the fire department’s 911 communications center when they are responding or transporting in a code situation (emergency lights and/or siren). They shall give their location and their destination.
C. When an ambulance company provides emergency medical standby (i.e., 10K Fun Runs, etc., by community event promoters), the following conditions shall apply:
1. The ambulance company shall notify the fire department in writing at least fourteen days prior to the date of the event, or as soon to the event as reasonably possible, stating the date, time and scope of standby responsibilities.
2. Ambulance companies engaging in standby activities shall notify the fire department’s 911 communications center immediately on all advanced life support/life threatening calls as required.
3. Ambulance company standby for handling basic life support calls must obtain prior approval and parameters for care set by the fire department.
4. All emergency medical services activity provided by the ambulance company at such events shall be documented and a report forwarded to the fire department within one week subsequent to the completion of the event. (Ord. 2308-98 § 13, 1998.)