4.1 This guide has been developed to facilitate communications between agencies involved in the delivery of emergency medical services. This guide is intended to be applied by agencies providing emergency medical services to improve their communications with EMS support agencies. It recommends necessary communication before, during, and after an EMS event.

1.1 This guide covers the planning, operations, and evaluation phases of interagency communications as part of a comprehensive EMS system.

1.2 This is a guide for interagency communications within an EMS system. Interagency communications involves the EMS responder and support agencies whose primary mission is not to deliver prehospital emergency medical care.

1.3 The primary focus of this guide is to address interagency communications necessary for ongoing EMS responses.

1.4 The guide also addresses interagency communications in any major EMS incident, including man-made or natural disasters.

1.5 The recommendations for drills/exercises for the evaluation of interagency communications during an EMS event are also incorporated into this guide.

1.6 Additional information can be found in Guide F1220 and Refs (1-5).2

1.7 The sections in this guide appear in the following sequence:

Section

Introduction

Scope

1

Referenced Documents

2

Terminology

3

Significance and Use

4

Procedure

5

Rationale

Appendix X1

Keywords

6

References

1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.