ASTM F1220-95(2022)

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.
Designation: F1220 − 95 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Guide for
Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS)
Telecommunications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1220; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
Operational Considerations 8.3
Goals and Objectives for EMSS Communications 9
1.1 This guide covers telecommunications practices and
Goal 1—State EMSS Communication Should Meet 10
performance standards required to support all of the functions Recognized Standards for Functional Performance
Goal 2—Local EMSS Communications Should Be 11
of community EMSS on a statewide basis. It defines state
Compatible with, and Should Not Interfere with, EMSS
planning goals and objectives for EMSS communications.
Communications in Neighboring Area
Goal 3—Local EMSS Communications Systems 12
1.2 Thisguideisforplanning,coordinating,integrating,and
Should Be Compatible with, and Should Not Interfere
evaluating telecommunications resources statewide to satisfy
with, Other Types of Communications Systems
Goal 4—EMSS Communications Systems Should 13
the functional needs of comprehensive community EMSS
Make Maximum Use of State and Common Resources
systems.
Where Appropriate, Cost Effective, and Authorized
Goal 5—The State Should Act as the Representative 14
1.3 To facilitate a two-tiered planning approach recom-
of Local EMSS in Dealing with Federal Agencies and
mended for EMSS communications, this guide identifies those
National Organizations
Goal 6—The State Should Have a Program for 15
communications system features that should be coordinated on
Positive Management of Its EMSS Communications
a statewide basis and defined in statewide (first tier) EMSS
Activities
communications planning guidelines. Local (second tier)
Emergency Medical Radio Services (EMRS) Radio Appendix X1
Frequencies (MHz)
EMSS communications plans prepared in accordance with the
Acronyms and Glossary for EMSS Communications Appendix X2
statewide guidelines should then be tailored to satisfy local
References
EMSS needs while providing compatibility and interoperabil-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ity of communications with other EMSS.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.4 The sections in this guide appear in the following
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
sequence:
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
Section mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
Scope 1
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Referenced Documents 2
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Terminology 3
Summary of Guide 4
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Significance and Use 5
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Functions and Categories of EMSS Communications 6
Telecommunications Functions 6.1 Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Telecommunications Categories 6.2
EMSS Functional Communications Requirements 7
2. Referenced Documents
General Information 7.1
Citizen Access 7.2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
EMSS Vehicle Dispatch and Coordination 7.3
F1031 Practice for Training the Emergency Medical Tech-
Medical Coordination/Direction 7.4
Interservice Communications 7.5 nician (Basic)
Radio Frequency Spectrum and Service Requirements 8
F1149 Practice for Qualifications, Responsibilities, and Au-
Radio Frequencies 8.1
thority of Individuals and Institutions Providing Medical
EMSS Radio Service Coverage 8.2
Direction of Emergency Medical Services
F1221 Guide for Interagency Information Exchange
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F30 on Emergency
Medical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.04 on
Communications. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2022. Published September 2022. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as F1220 – 95 (2014). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/F1220-95R22. theASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1220 − 95 (2022)
F1229 Guide for Qualification and Training of EMS Air 5. Significance and Use
Medical Patient Care Providers
5.1 In situations in which the coordination of EMSS com-
F1254 Practice for Performance of Prehospital Manual De-
municationsamongpoliticalsubdivisionsaffectsthehealthand
fibrillation (Withdrawn 2007)
safety of the state’s population, it is appropriate for state
F1258 Practice for Emergency Medical Dispatch
government to take a coordinating role. Statewide planning for
F1287 Guide for Scope of Performance of First Responders
coordinated use of radio frequencies for EMSS communica-
Who Provide Emergency Medical Care
tions is specifically needed.
F1381 Guide for Planning and Developing 9-1-1 Enhanced
5.2 The state is the logical unit to formulate the statutory
Telephone Systems (Withdrawn 2008)
and regulatory framework for EMSS planning. State planning
F1418 Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Techni-
for area-wide EMSS communications provides authority to
cian (Basic) in Roles and Responsibilities (Withdrawn
accomplish coordination in the use of available radio
2007)
frequencies, thus promoting multiagency cooperation to best
F1453 Guide for Training and Evaluation of First Respond-
serve the public needs.
ers Who Provide Emergency Medical Care
F1517 GuideforScopeofPerformanceofEmergencyMedi-
5.3 With statewide planning, communities, counties, and
cal Services Ambulance Operators
multicounty EMSS regions are provided with guidance to
F1552 Practice for Training Instructor Qualification and
achieve the performance goals and objectives of their EMSS
Certification Eligibility of Emergency Medical Dispatch-
communications systems.
ers
5.4 The statewide EMSS communications performance
F1560 Practice for Emergency Medical Dispatch Manage-
goals and objectives in Sections10–15 address specific roles
ment
of state governments in EMSS communications systems plan-
2.2 Federal Standards:
ning. These performance goals and objectives should be
CommunicationsAct of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 405) (as amended)
considered by states for evaluating, planning, and implement-
Title47 UnitedStatesCodeofFederalRegulations(47CFR)
ing of acceptable EMSS communications statewide.
on Telecommunications
6. Functions and Categories of EMSS Communications
3. Terminology
6.1 Telecommunications Functions—Thereport“Communi-
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
cations in Support of Emergency Medical Services,” given in
3.1.1 goal—a statement of broad direction, general purpose,
Ref (1), defines the following EMSS functions that require
or intent. A goal is general and timeless and is not concerned
telecommunications:
with a specific achievement within a given time period.
6.1.1 Medical emergencies requiring EMSS response
3.1.2 objective—astatementofdesiredaccomplishmentthat
should be reported immediately to appropriate community
can be measured within a specified time frame and under
agencies that manage and control EMSS resources and ser-
determinable conditions.The attainment of an objective moves
vices.
the system toward a directly related goal.
6.1.2 Appropriate EMSS resources should respond to hu-
3.1.3 Communications terminology used in this guide and
man health emergencies at any time and place.
references are defined in Appendix X2, Acronyms and Glos-
6.1.3 Recognition of the need for and immediate response
sary for EMSS Communications.
by EMSS resources to life-threatening and serious injuries and
illness should be provided within a time period that will ensure
4. Summary of Guide
the greatest saving of lives and reduction of morbidity.
4.1 This guide identifies the functions and requirements of
6.1.4 EMSS and other health agencies and professionals
EMSS telecommunications. Observance of the state EMSS
should marshal their individual and collective resources (staff,
communications planning goals and objectives contained in
equipment, supplies, and facilities) and coordinate their re-
this guide permits planning and implementation of compatible,
sponses in the shortest effective time to meet individual and
interoperable, and reliable local EMSS communications which
mass medical emergency needs.
meet local needs while not interfering with the needs of
6.1.5 Emergency medical dispatchers should have special
adjoining EMSS.
training to provide guidance and direction to persons at the
scene of a medical emergency pending arrival of trained
4.2 EMSS communications should satisfy all of the perfor-
mance goals and objectives specified by those who use it and prehospital EMSS personnel.
those who are served by it. However, many constraints such as 6.1.6 EMSS must be coordinated with other community
costs, politics, demographic and social preferences, existing public safety emergency response services.
legislation, and time, limit what can be achieved.
6.1.7 The use of EMSS facilities (emergency departments,
intensive care, and coronary care units, burn and trauma
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org.
4 5
AvailablefromU.S.GovernmentPrintingOfficeSuperintendentofDocuments, The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the references at the end of this
732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401. guide.
F1220 − 95 (2022)
facilities, and so forth) should be coordinated so as to avoid 7.2.1 The EMSS communications system should have the
preventable delays in access to definitive emergency medical ability to receive and process any incoming calls that report
care.
emergencies and request emergency medical assistance. Per-
6.1.8 For life-threatening and serious medical emergencies sons should be able to summon help rapidly in an emergency
and in other instances requiring invasive prehospital emer- situation. They should be able to call for police, fire, rescue,
gency medical care, appropriate physiological data and patient and other emergency aid promptly, without confusion, and
assessment information should be collected and transmitted without familiarity with a particular community. Local,
from the site of the emergency to the EMSS facility providing statewide, and nationwide uniformity is needed to accomplish
on-line medical direction. this objective.
6.1.9 Telecommunications relating to EMSS should be
7.2.2 For several years, numerous governmental
recorded, documented, saved, and used by EMSS managers to
commissions, legislative bodies, private organizations, and
review, evaluate, revise, and reorganize EMSS as necessary to
citizen groups have recommended the establishment of a
meet changing conditions and needs.
single, universal “Nationwide 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone
6.1.10 Telecommunications should exist between EMSS
Number” to meet this need for improved emergency commu-
facilitiesandtransportvehiclesforsafeinterhospitaltransferof
nications. The achievement of this recommendation was stated
patients with life-threatening and serious medical emergencies.
as a matter of national policy in Bulletin No. 73-1 “National
6.1.11 Telecommunications should be used as needed, to
Policy for Emergency Telephone Number ‘911’” issued by the
improve utilization of all EMSS resources and to prevent or
Executive Office of the President on March 21, 1973. The
mitigate adverse effects of medical emergencies.
“nine-one-one” concept provides a single number that is easy
to use and remember. Moreover, implementation of the three-
6.2 Telecommunications Categories—Based on the above
digit emergency telephone number 9-1-1, encourages coordi-
EMSSneeds,thefollowingcategoriesofinformationexchange
natedeffortsbetweenthoseprovidingcommunicationsservices
requiring telecommunications are defined in Ref (1) as being
and emergency responses. The 9-1-1 concept should be in-
necessary to support of EMS operations.
cluded in EMSS communication planning with other methods
6.2.1 EMSS Access—Exchanges of information related to
of citizen access, primarily for its impact on response time and
public access for reporting emergency medical situations to
enhanced coordination among participants. Citizen access
appropriate EMSS response organizations.
communications primarily uses telephones, both public and
6.2.2 EMSS Dispatch and Control—Exchanges of informa-
private, to call 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP).
tion related to reducing response time, such as alerting,
7.2.3 On the nation’s highways, citizen access to EMSS is
dispatching, and controlling the movement of EMS vehicles.
facilitated by use of mobile communications services that
6.2.3 Medical Coordination/Direction—Exchanges of infor-
enable drivers to rapidly report observed motor vehicle acci-
mation related to the emergency patient and his care, such as
dents and other emergency conditions to public safety service
transmission of physiological information and exchange of
providers. In areas having cellular telephone coverage, motor
patient assessment information and treatment information be-
vehicle occupants with cellular telephones may make direct
tween EMS personnel at the scene and physicians providing
calls to the local 9-1-1 PSAP. This use of cellular telephones
on-line medical direction.
for accessing public safety services is being facilitated through
6.2.4 EMSS Resource Coordination—Exchanges of infor-
rule changes initiated in 1994 by provisions of the Federal
mation necessary for the effective coordination of all EMS
Communications Commission Rules under RM-8143 Docket
resources.
No. 94-102, to ensure compatibility of cellular 9-1-1 calls with
6.2.5 Interservice Coordination—Exchanges of information
enhanced 911 emergency calling systems. Also, Citizen Band
for coordination of EMS activities with police, fire, govern-
(CB) mobile radio operators can report observed emergencies
ment agencies, and other resources, such as public utilities and
to volunteer CB base station radio monitors who in turn relay
private contractors.
the information to approp
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