ASTM F1221-89(2006)

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Designation: F1221 − 89 (Reapproved2006)
Standard Guide for
Interagency Information Exchange
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1221; 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.
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.
BeforeEMSevents,theagenciesthatneedtoworkcloselytogetherinemergencymedicalsituations
need to hold face-to-face meetings 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.
Duringtheactualevent,theagenciesneedtocommunicateeitherdirectlybetweenemergencyunits,
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 1.5 The recommendations for drills/exercises for the evalu-
ation of interagency communications during an EMS event are
1.1 This guide covers the planning, operations, and evalua-
also incorporated into this guide.
tion phases of interagency communications as part of a
comprehensive EMS system. 1.6 Additional information can be found in Guide F1220
and Refs 1-5.
1.2 This is a guide for interagency communications within
an EMS system. Interagency communications involves the 1.7 The sections in this guide appear in the following
EMSresponderandsupportagencieswhoseprimarymissionis sequence:
not to deliver prehospital emergency medical care.
Section
Introduction
1.3 Theprimaryfocusofthisguideistoaddressinteragency
Scope 1
communications necessary for ongoing EMS responses. Referenced Document 2
Terminology 3
1.4 The guide also addresses interagency communications
Significance and Use 4
in any major EMS incident, including man-made or natural Procedure 5
Rationale Appendix X1
disasters.
Keywords 6
References
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F30 on Emergency
Medical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.04 on
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Communications.
Current edition approved March 1, 2006. Published March 2006. Originally
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as F1221 – 89 (2001). The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the references at the end of this
DOI: 10.1520/F1221-89R06. guide.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1221 − 89 (2006)
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 5.1.1 Methods—A plan is needed for the coordination of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- interagency communication activities during ongoing and sig-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. nificant EMS responses.This plan must include alternatives for
events which exceed or overwhelm the systems’ communica-
2. Referenced Documents
tion capability. Contingency plans for diminished system
2.1 ASTM Standards:
capabilities, due to equipment or other failures, should also be
F1220 Guide for Emergency Medical Services System
addressed. The following methods should be used to develop
(EMSS) Telecommunications
the plan:
Meeting notices
3. Terminology
Meeting documentation
Interagency communication agreement documents
3.1 Definitions:
Interagency communication protocols
3.1.1 citizen access—actofrequestingemergencyassistance
Public information documents
for a specific event.
At a minimum one or more of the following communication
3.1.2 dispatch—act of sending emergency resources in re-
processes shall be used annually to develop, review, or amend,
sponse to a specific event.
or combination thereof, interagency communication docu-
ments and protocols: face-to-face, telephone, or teleconfer-
3.1.3 interagency communication evaluation phase—
ence.
interagency communications following an EMS incident for
5.1.2 Drills—Interagency communication drills shall be
evaluation purposes.
conducted at a minimum of once annually. This drill should be
3.1.4 interagency communication operations phase—
used to evaluate procedures, protocols, communication path
interagency communications during an EMS incident for
availability, grade of service, and communication path activa-
operational purposes.
tion time.The exercise plans shall include performance param-
3.1.5 interagency communication planning phase—
eters that will permit evaluation of interagency
interagency communications before an EMS incident for
communication, procedures, protocols, communication paths,
planning purposes.
and executive times.
3.1.6 interagency communications—communications that
5.2 Interagency Communications Operation Phase:
take place between EMS responders and agencies, nonmedical
5.2.1 Off-Line Communications—Documents developed in
in nature, that respond in conjunction with emergency medical
the planning phase are used for training and on-line reference
services.
to implement operational procedures. Documents shall include
3.1.7 intra-agency communications—communications that
information on agencies such as law enforcement, fire
take place between agencies, medical in nature, within an EMS
protection, public utilities, special response agencies, and
system.
public information. This material shall uniquely identify each
3.1.8 ongoing EMS incident—any EMS incident that is agency and provide an interagency protocol for each agency.
managed without multiple EMS response units. Each protocol shall clearly identify resourc
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