Code of response

[Wmed60]

I have seen on tv shows that in some areas when they get a code 2 call they go lights and sirens. Where I am from code 2 is no light and no sirens. But code 3 has lights and sirens. Dose anyone work in that kind of system. Do they go lights and sirens to every call and the code is the severity? In my area they say we go code 3 too much.

[croaker260]

Code 2 vs code 3 vs code 1...somatics based on the system in question.

If your real question is if we use a priority dispatch system where we go hot to some calls and cold to the rest...we do here in Boise Idaho.

We (EMS) basically dont go on Omega (public assit only)at all, go cold (code 2) on "alpha responses and code 3 on bravo through echo responses.

[the1141man]

Around here, FD (which I am) runs Code 3 to everything but "public assist" calls. Any med aid, regardless of "code blue" or "stubbed toe" gets a code 3 response from Fire ... this's a countywide thing, including all cities within the county that have their own FDs.

EMS:they use PMD, but calls are prioritized as Priority 1--immediate life-threatening "emergent" calls (MVA, poss MI, etc), Priority 2--possible life-threatening "urgent" calls (Unknown GI prob), and Priority 3--everything else ("stubbed toe" falls under this category).
EMS responds Code 3 to Pri1&2 calls, Code 2 to Pri3 calls. Technically there are 7 Priority levels, but 4-6 are inter-facility transports, and 7 is a committed standby (sporting event, etc). All of those are rolled Code 1 (meander over there eventually, stop by quarters to take a leak and pick up your NintendoDS or PSP, get your coffee at Starbucks, etc).

[SgtScott31]

Metro Nashville FD/EMS runs on a priority system. Depending on the severity of the call will dictate if lights/siren is required/used.

However, Rutherford County EMS, just southeast of Nashville run lights/siren to every call. Similar to several EMS agencies in middle TN. I think it's an unnecessary risk, but it doesn't look like it's about to change anytime soon.

[the1141man]

However, Rutherford County EMS, just southeast of Nashville run lights/siren to every call. Similar to several EMS agencies in middle TN. I think it's an unnecessary risk...

*LOL* Dontcha know that running code is like putting in the "God Mode" code for DOOM, Sarge? ;)

[BD6413]

We use A, B, C, D, E type dispatches. {A or Alpha being low priority to E or Echo being a certain or obvious death}

Alpha calls - No Lights or Sirens
Bravo Calls - Lights and Sirens at driver's discrestion {usually used}
charlie calls - Lights and Siren - ALS is automatically dispatched
Delta Calls - Lights and Siren - ALS is Automatically dispatched
Echo Calls - Lights and Sirens - ALS / ALS Supervisor is automatically dispatched these calls 9 out of 10 times are cardiac arrests

Transports to hospitals usually are never run with lights and sirens.....Unless the patient is unstable, in arrest, or at the discrestion of the Paramedic. We've found that lights and sirens don't get you anyplace faster especially in our area which is often conjested.

[Adam07003]

We generally go lights/sirens to 95% of the calls. I have my crew respond "signal 4" (signal 4 in suffolk county is slow your response, use lights/sirens at your descrtion, scenes under control so take it easy - kinda thing) - so we just say "signal 4" if we dont want lights/sirens.

we got into a discussion yesterday about this... some people will just put lights on and stop at all lights. in CEVO class we were taught if you use your lights your required by law to use your sirens. i also don't like using ONLY lights, because at traffic lights you CONFUSE people.

i rarely go "signal 4", or no lights sirens... only if i have that patient whos just telling me they have the yearly cold or that high fever from time to time. if my vitals are good, patients as they normally are and in no danger what so ever, i'll take my time, no sense in putting me, my crew and the patient at risk of getting into an accident because we were rushing someone to the hospital who really only called us because they had no other means to get there for their standard call.

[rumedic1]

We go lights and siren to all calls. We do only 911 calls. Yes that means if someone calls 911 for a stubbed toe we run L/S to stubbed toes. BUT whats even worse than that is that they dispatch a fire department to first respond on that same stubbed toe and they will respond an engine company L/S.

[RFRDxplorer]

Here we run code 2 as responding with normal traffic (no lights/sirens) and Code 3 (light/sirens). Code 1 here means returning to station. For certain calls, they may be dispatched out as a code 2 response, but certain other calls such as an automatic alarm get an engine company Code 3 and the remaining companies respond Code 2 unless told otherwise (i.e.- Cancel or step it up to Code 3).

[Adam07003]

Same here with lights/sirens to alarm. Until we get to the alarm, its lights/sirens because we don't know what we are going into. Once we're there, we evaluate and make a transport decision. Either family transports themselves, or we transport, etc... I don't like RMA's in suffolk county, too much damn paperwork and calling of doctors, easier just to take them to hospital. I don't mind anyway taking someone if they wanna go. I used to do transports with my old agency but this new agency doesnt do transports unless its a firemans family.

[RyanEMVFD]

Here we just have "A" and "B" responses. "A" is emergency and "B" is not. Simple huh?

[Brian1023]

We run.....

Priority 1: Life threatening; lights and sirens.

Priority 2: Not immediate life threat, but possibility; lights and sirens

Priority 3: No life threat whatsoever; no lights or sirens, but get there with no delays.

[maverick1221]

Ha...we use signal 10 for hot, signal 50 for cold...Code 2 means bathroom...code 3 means chow time. Funny how where ever you come from how different things are.

[pepezen]

If it's 03:00 and we are responding to a residential, my Captain is pretty discrete w/lights and sirens. Sometimes just lights on the straight roads

[ljaykennedy]

Here in Maine it is at the descretion of the medic on board. But most calls we go out code 3 (lights and siren) to come in code 1 (no lights or siren). We do have a code 2 lights no siren and no increase in speed) but tends to confuse people. It would be used to move people.

[CaptainMikey]

CODE 1-Every one runs hot
CODE 2-FD runts hot, Medic runs cold (if only medic is dispatched, medic runs hot)
CODE 3- Everyone runs cold

[leylandauto]

Here in Maine we run RLS or not. There is nothing as dumb (or confusing to the public) as an ambulance sitting at a light with it's lights on. What message are we sending the driving public? Obviously each service has their own policies on response. Each of the three services I work for keep it pretty lose and leave it up to the crew for the most part. My partner at my full time job run quiet to many scenes. My test I apply is; "can I stand up in court and defend running hot to this call". Usually we stay quiet. When running hot I use the siren as needed. Hard to justify running the siren down a back country road allllllll the way to the scene (especially in the middle of the night). Be careful out there.

[gearup]

The part of Az. that I'm from it all depends on the call. It also varies from the town that your in. One town will mostly run code three to all calls unless told by dispatche other wise. The town I'm in depends on the medics and fire captains if the call requires both. Most times it's either one or the other, although here in the mountains there are quite a few mvds, because of animal problemsand people not taking caution or junked up.

[redcrossemt]

Priority One - Lights and Siren
Priority Three - No Lights, No Siren

Code Three typically refers to lights/sirens, but is usually used solely by police in our region.

[ZootTX]

My system uses a 'priority' level of response:
Priority 1 - Lights and Siren
Priority 2 - no lights or siren
Priority 3 - transfer

[EMTVOLFF]

Same priority system as used above, 1=lights and siren, 2 is same, 3 is no lights no siren.

However, we only have certain amounts of time to arrive at each call. If I get dispatched on a Priority 1 MVA instead of a Priority 2, then I usually want to know why it's a 1 instead of a 2, and generally will put a helicopter on standby.

[medx69]

we have code 1 which is lights siren to or from scene, code 2 is lights but no siren, code 5 is no lights no siren, we run hot to the call if necessary and crew makes determination if lights and siren to hosp, but most time its no lights and siren to hosp (even on codes, depending the time of day), gives time for reassessments and proper treatment

[Lump532]

In Western New York we used several "codes" based on the town you were in or the service you worked for.

Lights and Sirens:
A Mode
Code 2
Code 3
Priority 1

No Lights or Sirens:
B Mode
Code 1
Priority 2

My service is now pushing for everyone to use the NIMS standards and go to plain language. We just started using "Hot" and "Cold." It feels a little funny at first but at least everyone knows what your saying.

I guess this thread shows the need for a standard system very well.

[JonathanGennick]

My service is now pushing for everyone to use the NIMS standards and go to plain language. We just started using "Hot" and "Cold." It feels a little funny at first but at least everyone knows what your saying.


We use plain language. We use the term "lights and sirens". I've heard the terms "hot" and "cold" used a few times in casual conversation, but on a run, and on our run sheets, we use the term "lights and sirens". That way there's never any confusion about what we mean.

I'm a big fan of plain language.

[emt161]

"Light it up."

"Nice and easy."

"Go ahead and light it, but don't kill yourself getting there."

Codes. Pff.

Almost forgot- lights and sirens preferred by the company for most emergency calls (gotta keep those contracts happy). Transport is at my discretion.