2009-01-22 Dispatch & 1st Respond Protocals/MOU/Fire & County
MEMORANDUM O ERSTANDING
This agreement has been made and entered into this 2 d day of January, 2009 by and between
Okeechobee County Fire Rescue, hereinafter referred as "County", and City of Okeechobee Fire
Department, hereinafter referred to as "City", to estab ' h dispatch protocols, first responder
responsibilities, first responder qualifications and patit care documentation requirements to properly
coordinate emergency services at an emergency scene pursuant to Section 401.435 (2), Florida Statutes.
Nothing in this Memorandum of Understanding shall ate any type of fiduciary responsibility or
relationship of any kind whatsoever between the parti.
DISPATCH OTOCOLS
1. The City will respond to all medical emergencies and vehicle accidents within the corporate limits
of the City to which a County ambulance is di atched. It. is hereby acknowledged that the City
will respond to such medical emergencies wi 7 engine company.
2. The City engine company will communicate 4i h the County ambulance on the County EMS
frequency in radio language which complies current local practice and Federal
Communications Commission regulations. radio transmissions shall comply with the Florida
EMS- Communications Plan.
3. Communications between the City engine coy il any and the County ambulance, while either is
enroute to a medical emergency, shall occur y when the patient-is unstable or the emergency
scene is unsafe and only when such communi 'on can be expected to positively affect the
outcome of the patient of further ensure the s of responding personnel.
FIRST RESPONDS SPONSIBMTES
1. If the City engine company is first to arrive a e emergency scene and the scene is not safe, the
City shall immediately advise the responding County ambulance of the unsafe condition(s) and
initiate efforts to make the scene safe.
2. If the City engine company is first to arrive al t e emergency scene and the scene is safe, or is made
safe prior to arrival of the County ambulance, City personnel shall begin patient assessment,
observing universal precautions and initiate a ropriate treatment
a) If the patient is determined to be unstable, ty personnel shall initiate aY.~r..~ate treatment and
advise the responding County ambulance of t it: unfavorable conditions.
b) If the patient is determined to be stable, Ci personnel shall initiate appropriate treatment and
advise County personnel of conditions upon it arrival at the emergency scene.
3. Following arrival of the County ambulance a e emergency scene, City personnel shall assist with
treatment and preparation of the patient for rt as directed by County personnel
4. All on-scene treatment shall be rendered in a c rdance with County EMS protocols
FIRST RESPONDER UALIFICATIONS
All persons functioning as first responders pursuant to 's Memorandum of Understanding shall:
1. Be certified in the State of Florida as an emerg cy medical technician or paramedic in accordance
with the 1998 US DOT National Standard C-tm ' ulum or have successfully completed a course
which meets or exceeds the requirements of the 979 U.S. DOT Emergency Medical Services First
Responder Training Course;
2. -Have successfully completed a course which is or exceeds the requirements of the Emergency
Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC);
3. Maintain competency through continuing eme g ncy medical education, to include at least twenty-
four (24) hours per year of in-service training a County ambulance.
PATIENT TREATME DOCUMENTATION The City will document patient condition(s) found an( atment by first responder personnel prior to
- arrival of a County ambulance at all medical emergen4 :y to which the City has been dispatched. A copy of
said documentation shall be made available to the Cot nty within 24 hours of the incident.
COORDINATION AW ENFORCEMENT
EMS personnel (including fast responders) shall: -
1. Upon arrival, obtain an initial report on patien d scene status from the on-scene law enforcement
- officer; -
2. Comply with law enforcement requests with ct to scene control;
3. Maintain the integrity of a known or potential ' e scene that may require further investigation. If
the patient treatment results in alteration of the physical scene, EMS personnel will advise the on-
scene law enforcement officer of the nature o such alteration(s).
4. Draw blood for forensic testing (paramedics o ) at the request of the on-scene law enforcement
officer. The paramedic will adhere to chain-o ustody procedures applicable to blood tubes and kit
as requested by the law enforcement officer.
EFFECTTVE DATE
This Memorandum of Understanding shall become eff ive ten (10) days following its execution by all
parties and shall remain in effect until ten (10) days fo c g written notice of termination by either the
County or City.
Clif Betts, Jr., Chairman Dowling R. Watbford, Jr., P,tgm Pro-T pore
Board of County Commissioners City Council
Date: Date: May 5, 2009
au t. ~t
Sharon Robertson, Clerk LEM Ganl°tea' CC '
Board of County Commissioners ~My 5, 2009
Date:
( - r-
Nick A. Hopkins, Chief Herb Smith, Chief
Okeechobee County Fire Rescue Okeechobee Fire Department
Date: Date: rtty 5, 2009
Reviewed far legal suffi
Reviewed For Legal X
Sufficiency
-Jffiv R. Cock
JAN 2 0 2009 City Attarney
Date: MW 5, 2009
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY ATTORNEY