EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND POLICE OFFICERS

CRITERIA FOR FIRST-CLASS AMBULANCE SERVICES WERE ESTABLISHED BY STANDARD ELEVEN, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY BUREAU. THEY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) CLEAN CASUALTY-CARRYING VEHICLES, MOTOR CARS AND ON OCCASION HELICOPTERS, OF A DESIGN THAT PROVIDES ADEQUATE SPACE FOR ALL NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AND FOR AN ATTENDANT TO CONTINUE EMERGENCY CARE IN TRANSIT, (2) CENTRAL DISPATCHING AND CONTROL OF ALL AMBULANCES IN THE AREA WITH THE DISPATCHER TRAINED AS THROUGHLY AS THE AMBULANCE ATTENDANTS, (3) AN ATTENDANT AND COMPETENT DRIVER, BOTH CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AS HAVING COMPLETED BOTH THE STANDARD AND ADVANCED FIRST AID COURSES AND HAVING RECEIVED TRAINING IN MEASURES SUCH AS PROTECTIVE RESCUE, CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION, AIRWAY MAINTENANCE, CONTROL OF HEMORRHAGE, EMERGENCY CHILDBIRTH AND THE CARE OF THE MENTALLY DISTURBED, (4) ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLE FOR RESCUE AND EXCELLENT EMERGENCY CARE, AND (5) TWO-WAY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE AMBULANCE AND THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. EXPENDITURES OF TAX MONIES FOR EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE IS FULLY JUSTIFIED BECAUSE OF THE LIFE-SAVING AND INJURY-MINIMIZING POTENTIAL PROVIDED. A POLICE OPERATED SERVICE USING DUAL-PURPOSE VEHICLES OFFERS ADVANTAGES BECAUSE IT PERMITS DUAL USE OF PERSONNEL WHO MUST BE FULLY TRAINED IN EMERGENCY CARE AS WELL AS POLICE WORK. A VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE IS LIKELY TO BE THE BEST CHOICE IN SMALL COMMUNITIES AND RURAL AREAS. PASSAGE OF AN ORDINANCE REGULATING AMBULANCE SERVICE IS RECOMMENDED AS AN EFFECTIVE STEP IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL, THE CURRENT STATUS OF EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE IN MANY COMMUNITIES LEAVES A GREAT DEAL TO BE DESIRED.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 37, No 9, PP 38-41, 1 PHOT
• Authors:
  • Hampton, O P
• Publication Date: 1970-9

Media Info

• Serial:
  • POLICE CHIEF

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communication; Communication systems; Disasters and emergency operations; Emergency vehicles; First aid; Hazards and emergency operations; Medical equipment; Medical services; Personnel; Police; Radio; Training
• Old TRIS Terms: Two way communication
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00221076
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 28 1970 12:00AM