ASTM F1221-89(1995)e1

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e1
Designation: F 1221 – 89 (Reapproved 1995)
Standard Guide for
Interagency Information Exchange
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1221; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
e NOTE—Section 6 on Keywords was added editorially November 1995.
INTRODUCTION
This guide has been developed to address the need to provide for effective information exchange
between agencies involved in responding to emergency medical services (EMS) situations.
Communications in the context of this guide refers to the communications that need to occur (1)
prior to the EMS event, (2) during the EMS event, and (3) after the EMS event. Communications in
this guide includes face-to-face communications, telecommunications, and written communications.
Prior to EMS events, the agencies that need to work closely together in emergency medical
situations need to hold face-to-face meetings in order to develop communication plans that include an
interagency communications component. These communication plans need to include written
protocols outlining how the emergency response agencies will interface with each other during EMS
events.
During the actual event, the agencies need to communicate either directly between emergency units,
or through dispatch centers, or face-to-face (for example, communications related to implementing
protocols or communications regarding decision making between agencies’ senior officials, or
combination thereof. After an emergency, there is a need for the agencies to critique the response. This
may include face-to-face meetings to review the events, written critique reports of the emergency
events, and revisions to the written protocols as may be found necessary by review of the events. (See
the Rationale in Appendix X1.)
1. Scope 1.7 The sections in this guide appear in the following
sequence:
1.1 This guide covers the planning, operations, and evalua-
Introduction Section
tion phases of interagency communications as part of a
Scope 1
comprehensive EMS system.
Referenced Document 2
1.2 This is a guide for interagency communications within
Terminology 3
Significance and Use 4
an EMS system. Interagency communications involves the
Procedure 5
EMS responder and support agencies whose primary mission is
Rationale Appendix X1
not to deliver prehospital emergency medical care.
Keywords 6
References
1.3 The primary focus of this guide is to address interagency
communications necessary for ongoing EMS responses.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.4 The guide also addresses interagency communications
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
in any major EMS incident, including man-made or natural
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
disasters.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.5 The recommendations for drills/exercises for the evalu-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ation of interagency communications during an EMS event are
2. Referenced Documents
also incorporated into this guide.
1.6 Additional information can be found in Guide F 1220
2.1 ASTM Standards:
and Refs (1-5).
F 1220 Guide for Emergency Medical Services System
(EMSS) Telecommunications
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-30 on Emergency
3. Terminology
Medical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.04 on
Communications.
3.1 Descriptions of Terms:
Current edition approved March 31, 1989. Published May 1989.
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the references at the end of this
guide. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 13.01.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F 1221
3.1.1 citizen access—act of requesting emergency assis- conducted at a minimum of once annually. This drill should be
tance for a specific event. used to evaluate procedures, protocols, communication path
3.1.2 dispatch—act of sending emergency resources in re- availability, grade of service, and communication path activa-
sponse to a specific event. tion time. The exercise plans shall include performance param-
3.1.3 interagency communication evaluation phase— eters that will permit evaluation of interagency communica-
interagency communications following an EMS incident for tion, procedures, protocols, communication paths, and
evaluation purposes. executive times.
3.1.4 interagency communication operations phase— 5.2 Interagency Communications Operation Phase:
interagency communications during an EMS incident for
5.2.1 Off-Line Communications—Documents developed in
operational purposes.
the planning phase are used for training and on-line reference
3.1.5 interagency communication planning phase—
to implement operational procedures. Documents shall include
interagency communications prior to an EMS incident for
information on agencies such as law enforcement, fire protec-
planning purposes.
tion, public utilities, special response agencies, and public
3.1.6 interagency communications—communications that
information. This material shall uniquely identify each agency
take place between EMS responders and agencies, nonmedical
and provide an interagency protocol for each agency. Each
in nature, that respond in conjunction with emergency medical
protocol shall clearly identify resources by: who, what, when,
services.
and where for each EMS response.
3.1.7 intra-agency communications—communications that
5.2.2 On-Line Communications—On-line methods which
take place between agencies, medical in nature, within an EMS
include face-to-face, telephone, teleconference, one-way, and
system.
two-way radio shall be identified for each of the following
3.1.8 ongoing EMS incident—any EMS incident that is
elements of an EMS response for interagency communications:
managed without multiple EMS response units.
5.2.2.1 EMS Access—Any agency which receives requests
3.1.9 significant EMS incident—any EMS incident requir-
for EMS assistance (for example, citizens, public safety
ing multiple EMS response units including: multiple-casualty
personnel) shall have immediate direct access to the EMS
incidents, man-made or natural disasters.
dispatcher.
3.1.10 support agency—any agency providing nonmedical
5.2.2.2 E
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