Sec. 28-8. - Central dispatch.

(a)

EMS Dispatch Responsibility. EMS dispatch shall be responsible for overall coordination of emergency ambulance dispatch. Unless Section 28-10 applies, all Code 2 and Code 3 ambulance calls for service shall be dispatched by the EMS dispatch center.

(b)

Required Communication Equipment. Each ambulance certified under this chapter shall be equipped with appropriate and properly maintained communications equipment approved by the EMS agency to maintain continuous communication with EMS dispatch. Each ambulance crew shall be equipped with a personal paging receiver to facilitate communication with EMS dispatch. Each ambulance certified under this chapter shall be equipped with appropriate and properly maintained communications equipment to communicate with acute care hospitals. All communication equipment shall be maintained by the owner or franchisee.

(c)

Dispatch Policy Approval. Medical dispatch policies shall be reviewed by the fire EMS committee and the sheriff, and approved by the EMS agency. General dispatch policies affecting ambulance services shall be reviewed by the EMS agency and the fire EMS committee, and approved by the sheriff.

(Ord. No. 4386 § 1, 1991.)

Sec. 28-9. - Ability to respond.

(a)

EMS Dispatch Advisory. Ambulance services shall keep EMS dispatch advised at all times of any circumstances which may change the level of service or capability of its service to provide emergency response. This includes, but is not limited to, changes in personnel and equipment status.

(b)

Availability of Ambulances.

(1)

An ambulance available for emergency service is one which has a crew of at least two (2) certified persons with the ambulance and which is ready at that time to be dispatched. An ambulance may also be considered available for emergency service when its crew is capable of reaching the ambulance and can depart to the scene within three (3) minutes of receiving a call from EMS dispatch. An ambulance which is occupied by a patient is not considered available for emergency service and will not be dispatched under this policy except in dire emergency when no other ambulance is available to be dispatched or the estimated time of arrival to the scene by another ambulance is excessive and the patient's well-being will not be adversely affected.

(2)

Each ambulance company is to immediately notify EMS dispatch every time it does not have at least one (1) ambulance available for emergency service.

(Ord. No. 4386 § 1, 1991.)

Sec. 28-10. - City and fire district dispatch.

Ambulances owned and operated by cities or fire districts within the county EMS area may utilize their own dispatch systems in coordination with Sonoma County EMS dispatch. All calls not received in a PSAP will be dispatched by Sonoma County EMS dispatch, unless written permission granted through the director of public health allows for an alternate arrangement. Ambulance personnel will maintain communication with EMS dispatch to keep them informed of the call status throughout the call. If EMS dispatch is aware of ambulance resources which are closer to a call than those dispatched by a city or fire district, EMS dispatch may cancel the responding unit and send the closest unit. Cities which do not operate municipal ambulance services receiving EMS calls through their PSAP will transfer the call to EMS dispatch.

(Ord. No. 4386 § 1, 1991.)

Sec. 28-11. - Code 3 operation (red light and siren).

A decision to use Code 3 shall be made by the ambulance attendant is conformance with California Highway Patrol regulations. EMS dispatch shall be notified of Code 3 and any change in code level.

(Ord. No. 4386 § 1, 1991.)